Politics

Governor Signs Bill Protecting Parental Rights of Deployed Service Members

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Gov. Susana Martinez

 

STATE News:

 

ALBUQUERQUE—Gov. Susana Martinez signed into law Saturday legislation that protects the parental rights of deployed service members.

 

SB 130, the Service Member Child Custody Act, ensures that child custody arrangements cannot be modified while a parent is deployed for military service. The increased deployment of service members in recent years has raised difficult child custody issues that profoundly affect both children’s welfare and service members’ ability to serve their country efficiently.

 

“With this new law, our Read More

Senators: Assess Risk; Deploy Mobile Monitors to WIPP

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Waste Isolation Pilot Plant (WIPP) in Carlsbad. Courtesy/wikipedia

U.S. SENATE News:

WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S Senators Tom Udall and Martin Heinrich sent a letter to Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator Gina McCarthy Thursday asking her to provide public health analysis and deploy mobile environmental monitoring units to the Waste Isolation Pilot Plant (WIPP) in Carlsbad.

The mobile monitors would conduct independent tests and help respond to questions that have arisen from the community about safety following the Feb. 14 radiation leak at WIPP.

“The health and Read More

Jaret McDonald Announces Candidacy For Sheriff

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Jaret McDonald
 
By CAROL A. CLARK
Los Alamos Daily Post

Jaret McDonald has announced his candidacy for sheriff of Los Alamos County.

“I’ve always been interested in public office and keep up with local and national politics,” McDonald told the Los Alamos Daily Post. “My goal has been that I want to go further than this in public service, but this is where I want to start … I want to make a difference in my community.”

McDonald, 42, has worked at Los Alamos National Laboratory for approximately 20 years as a contractor and employee and is now a superintendent Read More

Secretary of State Dianna Duran Keynote Speaker At Los Alamos GOP Dinner

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Secretary of State Dianna J. Duran

GOP News:

The Republican Party of Los Alamos will hold a fundraising dinner at 6:30 p.m. Wednesday, March 26 at the Research Center, 4200 W. Jemez Road. 

Secretary of State Dianna Duran will be the keynote speaker. Price is $50 per person. Checks should be made payable to Republican Party of Los Alamos and mailed to P.O. Box 832, Los Alamos. 

For more information, contact GOP Chair Robert Gibson at 505.662.3159.

About Secretary of State Dianna Duran:

New Mexico Secretary of State Dianna J. Duran was born in Tularosa, attended public schools there, Read More

Heinrich Votes to Advance Veterans Benefits Package

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U.S. Sen. Martin Heinrich

U.S. SENATE News:

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Tuesday, Sen. Martin Heinrich, D-N.M. voted to advance an omnibus veterans bill that includes key provisions he fought for on behalf of veterans and military families across New Mexico.

S.1982, the Comprehensive Veterans Health and Benefits and Military Retirement Pay Restoration Act, introduced by the Chairman of the U.S. Senate Committee on Veterans’ Affairs Senator Bernie Sanders, and cosponsored by Heinrich, passed by a vote of 99-0 today. clearing the way for a Senate debate on the bill.

The omnibus veterans Read More

Councilor Rick Reiss Launches Election Campaign

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Councilor Rick Reiss

By CAROL A. CLARK
Los Alamos Daily Post

Rick Reiss has announced his candidacy to retain his seat on the Los Alamos County Council. Reiss was appointed to the Council in September 2012 to fill an unexpired term.

“I want to continue serving as a County Councilor because I am really enjoying it,” Reiss told the Los Alamos Daily Post. “I have a conservative perspective and enjoy working on the many projects and programs we provide the community.”

He explained that it has taken the better part of a year to fully appreciate the breadth of the effort of serving Read More

New Mexico House Majority Leader Rick Miera To Retire Dec. 31

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House Majority Floor Leader Rick Miera

SANTA FE—House Majority Floor Leader Rick Miera has announced he will not seek reelection as the New Mexico State Rep. in Dist. 11 (the downtown corridor of Albuquerque) – a position he has held for the last 24 years.  

Miera says the decision was a difficult one since he has dedicated so much of his life to the legislative process, especially involving the issues of educational equity, juvenile justice and health care access issues. However, he feels the time is right to pass the torch.

“I have made a difficult decision to step down from State Read More

Valle de Oro Urban Wildlife Refuge Funding Clears Senate

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Valle de Oro Urban Wildlife Refuge. Courtesy/USFWS

N.M. SENATE News:

SANTA FE–Senate Memorial 36 sponsored by Sen. Michael Padilla, D-Bernalillo, cleared the Senate.

The legislation seeks to complete the final phase of funding for the Valle de Oro Urban Wildlife Refuge located along the Rio Grande River in the southern portion of Bernalillo County. Eighty acres remain to be purchased to complete the project, and the legislation will ask the federal government to make this purchase.

“This legislation is going to protect this land forever,” Padilla said. “This land will provide excellent Read More

Alternative Fuel Legislation Goes to Gov.

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Rep. Roberto “Bobby” Gonzales

LEGISLATIVE News:

SANTA FE–House Bill 30 sponsored by Rep. Roberto “Bobby” Gonzales, D-Taos and Sen. Tim Keller, D-Bernalillo, cleared both chambers after passing the Senate floor Thursday and heads to the governor for signature.

The legislation adjusts and equalizes tax rates among different fuel types, eliminates outdated obstacles to alternative fuel use and streamlines administrative processes. House Bill 30 has the endorsement of the Legislative Transportation Infrastructure Revenue Subcommittee.

The alternative fuel industry has been seeking Read More

‘Stop Fracking’ Say 25 Health Professionals

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ENM News:

ALBUQUERQUE–Environment New Mexico delivered a letter from 25 doctors, nurses and other health professionals in New Mexico Thursday to President Obama asserting that fracking should be stopped, given the overwhelming threats to public health.

Environment New Mexico’s federal arm, Environment America, and its other state affiliates delivered similar letters to decision-makers from more than 1,000 health professionals nationwide.

The letters, which include signers from all 50 states, come as public awareness of the health and environmental impacts of fracking is on the Read More