Politics

Legislators Ask AG to Expand Investigation of Controversial Lease Award

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New Mexico Roundhouse

STATE News:

SANTA FE—A group of 14 state legislators, prompted by information learned in the Senate Rules Committee (SRC) this week, sent a letter to the Attorney General Thursday requesting that the office expand its investigation of the controversial lease award to The Downs Racetrack & Casino.

The letter, signed by eight senators and six representatives, is based upon statements made public from three former and current State Fair Commissioners, all Republican appointees of Gov. Susana Martinez. Current State Fair commissioner Kenneth “Twister” Smith, Read More

Senate Passes Legislation to Help State Permanent Fund

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State News:

With bipartisan support, the Senate passed legislation Saturday that, if voters approve, will allow state investors to take greater advantage of a burgeoning global economy, which throughout the last decade has proven to outperform current investment strategies required by law.

Senate Joint Resolution 4 (SJR4) seeks to let voters decide whether to amend the state constitution to remove the current 15 percent cap on what can be invested on international securities. Since the cap on foreign investment was put into place in 1992, the global economy has grown tremendously and New Read More

‘Helping Our Middle Class Entrepreneurs’ Act Introduced

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U.S. Rep. Michelle Lujan Grisham

U.S. HOUSE News:

WASHINGTON, D.C.—U.S. Rep. Michelle Lujan Grisham, N.M.-1, has introduced the Helping Our Middle Class Entrepreneurs (HOME) Act (H.R. 4052), legislation to support small businesses and encourage entrepreneurship.

Specifically, the bill would simplify the income tax filing process for small business owners who operate primarily out of their homes by creating a permanent $1,500 standard home office deduction. According to the U.S. Small Business Administration, home-based enterprises make up 52 percent of all small businesses.

Currently, Read More

Bill to Crack Down on Rampant Copper/Metal Theft Unanimously Passes House

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Rep. Bobby Gonzales

NM HOUSE News:

Legislation allows for arrest, prosecution, and sentencing for disruption of Communications and Utilities

SANTA FE—A bill that criminalizes the theft of or intentional damage to communications and utilities, including copper theft, has passed the House of Representatives by a vote of 60-0. 

House Business and Industry Committee Substitute for House Bill 239 (Disruption of Communications and Utilities) as amended, sponsored by Rep. Roberto “Bobby” Gonzales, D-Taos, makes it a crime if the theft or damage creates a public safety hazard or causes Read More

Skandera Fails to Receive Confirmation Recommendation

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Hanna Skandera

NM SENATE News:

SANTA FE–Hanna Skandera failed to receive a favorable recommendation for confirmation as New Mexico’s Public Education Department Secretary in a Senate Rules Committee hearing today.

A motion for “No Recommendation” stalled in a 5-5 vote. A motion to recommend her confirmation to the full Senate failed on a 4-6 vote. Another motion to reject her confirmation was made but failed to receive a second. The effect of the tie vote means that the full Senate will not consider her nomination for confirmation.

Rules Chair Sen. Linda Lopez, D-Bernalillo, did not take public Read More

Today Marks 129 Presidents’ Days

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Happy Presidents’ Day:

Presidents’ Day is an American holiday celebrated on the third Monday in February. Originally established in 1885 in recognition of President George Washington, it is still officially called “Washington’s Birthday” by the federal government.

Traditionally celebrated Feb. 22—Washington’s actual day of birth—the holiday became popularly known as Presidents’ Day after it was moved as part of 1971’s Uniform Monday Holiday Act, an attempt to create more three-day weekends for the nation’s workers.

While several states still have individual holidays honoring Read More

Steinborn Introduces Bill to Study Water Conservation

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 Rep. Jeff Steinborn 

STATE News:

Legislation Brings Together Top Water Programs at NMSU and UNM to Study Best Water Conservation Ideas Across the Globe

SANTA FE—In an effort to develop new ideas to better conserve our limited water resources, Rep. Jeff Steinborn, D-Dona Ana, has introduced House Memorial 83 to conduct a significant far reaching study. HM 83 (Assess Best Water Conservation Practices) would bring together the New Mexico State University Water Resources Research Institute (WRRI) and University of New Mexico Utton Transboundary Resources Center (UTRC) to “conduct Read More

Legislation Passed to Address Kirtland Fuel Spill

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Rep. Sheryl Williams Stapleton

NM HOUSE News:

SANTA FE–The New Mexico Congressional delegation is being asked to fund and assemble an independent task force of experts to address the Kirtland Air Force Base bulk fuel spill cleanup—the largest toxic spill into a public water supply in U.S. history (Associated Press 2012). 

House Consumer and Public Affairs Substitute for House Joint Memorial 13, sponsored by Rep. Sheryl Williams Stapleton (D-Bernalillo-19), was passed Friday in the House of Representatives by a vote of 39-16. 

The findings are to be reported by November 2014 Read More

Jobs Bill Gets Unanimous Vote in House

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Speaker of the House W. Ken Martinez

NM HOUSE News:

SANTA FE–The pledge to create jobs in New Mexico has picked up steam in the House of Representatives. House Bill 273a (Economic Development Grant & Program), an initiative put forth by the bipartisan interim Jobs Council, passed the House on a vote of 67-0. 

HB 273a creates a grant program that allows the Economic Development Commission (EDC), which is attached to the Economic Development Department (EDD), to make grants to local economic development organizations. 

The grants will be used to hire economic development professionals Read More

Bill to Establish Bilingual Seal Passes House

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House Majority Leader Rick Miera

NM HOUSE News:

SANTA FE–Legislation that would cement New Mexico’s reputation as the nation’s leader in bilingual multicultural education has passed the House of Representatives with a unanimous vote 67-0.

House Bill 330 “Diploma Seal of Bilingualism,” sponsored by House Majority Leader Rick Miera, D-Bernalillo establishes a State Seal of Bilingualism-Biliteracyon New Mexico Diplomas of Excellence. It honors graduates who are proficient in speaking and writing a language other than English. 

Several school districts and individual Read More