Politics

Jack R. Fox Unanimously Confirmed As Secretary Of New Mexico Department Of Veterans’ Services

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Jack R. Fox

STATE News:  

SANTA FE—Retired New Mexico Army National Guard Brigadier General Jack R. Fox was unanimously confirmed today by the New Mexico Senate as Secretary of the New Mexico Department of Veterans’ Services.

The vote by the full Senate followed Secretary Fox’s confirmation hearing at 8:30 a.m., before the Senate Rules Committee.

Gov. Susana Martinez appointed him to the position following the resignation of Timothy L. Hale in November 2014.

“As a native New Mexican, I am honored and humbled to be given this chance to serve my state’s veterans and their families,” Read More

MapLight: Platts’ Nuclear Conference – $60 Million In Lobbying From Top Five Companies

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MAPLIGHT News:

WASHINGTON, D.C.—Top representatives of the nuclear energy industry gathered in Washington, D.C., last week for the Platts’ Annual Nuclear Energy Conference. Scheduled speakers were industry heavyweights like Bill Pitesa, the chief nuclear officer at Duke Energy, and David Brown, the senior vice president for federal government affairs at Exelon.

Since Jan. 1, 2013, the top five U.S. nuclear power operating companies and the Nuclear Energy Institute have spent a combined $60.4 million on lobbying Congress and federal agencies.

MapLight Read More

Udall Announces Support For Investing Portion Of $14B Permanent Fund In Early Childhood Education

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Sen. Tom Udall

STATE News:

U.S. Sen. Tom Udall, D-N.M., recently challenged state lawmakers to address the needs of New Mexico’s children and he proposed using the Land Grant Permanent Fund to benefit the state’s youngest citizens’ education needs.

Udall has endorsed the constitutional amendment proposal to invest 1.5 percent of the more than $14 billion in the Land Grant Permanent Fund to expand early childhood education in New Mexico. He urged New Mexico legislators to pass the Joint Resolution, which would put the proposal on the statewide ballot allowing voters to decide on this investment Read More

Congressional Delegation Shares Los Alamos Celebration Of Manhattan Project National Historical Park

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U.S. Sen. Tom Udall speaks to the importance of the Manhattan Project National Historical Park as Council Chair Kristin Henderson and Los Alamos Historical Society Executive Director Heather McClenahan listen at left. Photo by Carol A. Clark/ladailypost.com

From left, former Councilor Fran Berting, paleontologist Ralph Chapman and his wife Linda Deck, director of the Bradbury Science Museum listen to Sen. Tom Udall. Photo by Carol A. Clark/ladailypost.com

 

By CAROL A. CLARK
Los Alamos Daily Post

Members of the New Mexico Congressional Delegation including Sen. Tom Udall, Sen. Read More

President’s Science Advisor Is At Your Fingertips

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Dr. John Holdren

WHITE HOUSE News:

Have a question about our changing climate? You’ve got the President’s science advisor at your fingertips.

Since November, Dr. John Holdren has been encouraging the public to ask him anything about climate change on social media using the hashtag #AskDrH.

You’ve been asking — and he’s been answering. Most recently, students asked what the U.S. is doing to prepare for future storms, and how we can cut carbon dioxide emissions without hurting our economy — among other critical questions.

Watch video here.

“No Read More

Udall Asks Legislators To Prioritize Child Well-Being

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Sen. Tom Udall

STATE News:

SANTE FE – More than one-third of New Mexico’s children live below the poverty line and U.S. Sen. Tom Udall, D-N.M., called on state lawmakers last week to address this problem during his address to a joint session of the New Mexico Legislature.

“Our state is dead last in overall child well-being and next to last in education, in children’s health and economic well-being. This troubles all of us. It has to change. The future of our state – and not just for our children, but for our economy – depends on changing it,” Udall said. “How do we fix it? It takes money, of course. Read More

Legislation That Bans E-Cigarette Sales To Minors Passes House Floor

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Rep. Monica Youngblood

STATE News:

SANTA FE – The State House of Representatives unanimously passed legislation that would make it illegal for minors to buy e-cigarettes.

“It is important that we do not have our kids falling victim to a vaping addiction,” said Rep. Monica Youngblood, the bill’s sponsor.

Currently, state law does not prohibit the sale of e-cigarettes to minors, while 39 other states do. This legislation will prevent minors anywhere in New Mexico from buying e-cigarettes.

“This is commonsense change that will go a long way to protect our kids. I am glad the House passed Read More

Cisneros: Rio Grande Trail Proposal Provides Chance To Showcase New Mexico

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Sen. Carlos Cisneros

STATE News:

SANTA FE – Sen.  Carlos Cisneros offered support of Rep. Jeff Steinborn’s bill to create a Rio Grande Trail Commission.

“This (bill) was introduced to create a Rio Grande Trail Commission to establish a 500-mile trail that will run through New Mexico, from Colorado to Texas,” Cisneros said. This trail, which can be used for hiking, biking, and horseback riding, will give us a chance to show off our state.

“It will complement our national monuments, showcase our diverse landscapes and will open up a fresh venue for tourism. It takes vision to carry out a task Read More

Sen. Howie Morales Introduces Legislation to Make Sense of Gasoline Prices

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Sen. Howie Morales

STATE News:

 SANTA FE – The recent downward fluctuation of oil and gas prices put state lawmakers in a bind for planning next year’s budget but at least one senator is concerned about the general inconsistency in fuel prices statewide as well as within the state’s largest city.

Sen. Howie Morales, D-Catron, Grant and Socorro, introduced “NMSU Retail Gas Prices Study,” which requests that such drastic differences in gasoline retail prices be studied by the New Mexico State University (NMSU) College of Business.

According to Morales’ bill, during the period February Read More

House Bill Will Close ‘Vaccination Loophole’

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Rep. Deborah Armstrong
 
STATE News:

Legislation to protect New Mexico children from loopholes in current law regarding vaccination exemptions was introduced Wednesday.

Long time health-care advocate and member of the House Health Committee Rep. Deborah Armstrong, D-Bernalillo, introduced the bill. The change she proposes would maintain exemptions for documented medical reasons and for members of recognized religious organizations that oppose vaccinations.

However, the so-called “personal beliefs” exemption, which the New Mexico Department of Health estimates accounts Read More