Politics

Ranchers May Sign up for Farm Bill Drought Disaster Aid within 60 Days

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U.S. SENATE News:

WASHINGTON, D.C.—U.S. Senators Tom Udall and Martin Heinrich announced that the U.S. Dept. of Agriculture will soon enable livestock producers to sign up for disaster assistance, which the senators helped to pass in the Farm Bill earlier this month.

The assistance is being expedited—signups will begin in 60 days—at the request of Udall, Heinrich and several other senators from western states, where producers have been struggling with several years of drought. The program provides assistance to ranchers who experienced grazing and livestock losses due to natural disasters Read More

Senate Finance Approves Substitute Budget Bill

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NM SENATE News:

SANTA FE–A substitute bill for the General Appropriations Act (SB 313), which proposes a $6.2 billion budget package, was approved by the Senate Finance Committee (SFC) and is now on its way to the Senate Floor for debate.

The substitute bill was presented to SFC Sunday with an amended proposal of $17.5 million appropriated to the Department of Education for the Administration’s education reforms. The budget has an increase from last fiscal year of 5 percent in spending and a reserve of 8.7 percent.

The committee’s action to propose a budget is in response to the stalemate within Read More

Senate Passes Minimum Wage Constitutional Amendment

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Sen. Richard C. Martinez

STATE News:

SANTA FE—In a 24-17 vote, Senate Joint Resolution 13 (SJR 13), which proposes a constitutional amendment to raise the minimum wage in New Mexico, has passed the Senate. The resolution will now be making its way to the House Floor.

The bill’s sponsor, Sen. Richard C. Martinez, D-Los Alamos, Rio Arriba, Sandoval & Santa Fe, said he couldn’t be happier that his fellow senators recognized the importance this resolution carries.

“Raising the minimum wage is the right thing to do and passing this resolution is a great thing for the people of New Mexico who will Read More

Amendment Would Cover Fund Gap in Hospital Solvency Bill

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Sen. Tim Keller

LEGISLATIVE News:

SANTA FE—Earlier this week, the Senate Public Affairs Committee (SPAC) passed a substitute bill for three senate bills focused on hospital solvency. The bill allows counties to impose an excise tax of 1/12 percent of gross receipts and requires that no action for collection of claims shall be allowed against any patient deemed indigent.

SPAC Chairman, Sen. Ortiz y Pino, D-Bernalillo said that no one was completely happy with the substitute bill, which represented a compromise.

“But there is still a bit of a gap of about $10 million that we’re hoping the state Read More

Tom Church Confirmed as NMDOT Cabinet Secretary

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Tom Church

STATE News:

SANTA FE–The State Senate unanimously confirmed Tom Church Friday as the Cabinet Secretary of the New Mexico Department of Transportation. Church was appointed as Cabinet Secretary-Designate by Gov. Susana Martinez in April 2013.

Church has extensive experience in the NMDOT. The many roles he’s served in at the department include chief of staff, deputy secretary of business and financial operations, deputy director of administrative services and quality management bureau chief.

“Secretary Church has demonstrated his knowledge and expertise in the transportation Read More

Officials Comment on Radiation at Waste Isolation Pilot Plant

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Operators prepare drums of contact-handled transuranic waste for loading into transportation containers. Courtesy/energy.gov

STATE News:

CARLSBAD—U.S Senators Tom Udall and Martin Heinrich issued the following statement after an air monitor detected higher than usual radiation levels around 11:30 p.m. Friday on the underground levels of the Waste Isolation Pilot Plant (WIPP) in Carlsbad:

“We are in close contact with officials at the Department of Energy and WIPP, and we will continue to monitor the situation as more information becomes available. The safety of WIPP personnel Read More

House Highlights from Saturday, Feb. 15

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STATE News:

House Highlights from Saturday, Feb. 15:

On the Floor

● House Bill 330, Diploma Seal of Bilingualism sponsored by House Majority Leader Rick Miera (D-Bernalillo-11), has passed in the House of Representatives by a vote of 67-0. HB 330 provides for a State Seal of Bilingualism-Biliteracy on New Mexico Diplomas of Excellence for graduates who are proficient in speaking and writing a language other than English. HB 330 requires the Public Education Department to adopt rules to establish criteria for students to earn the state seal of bilingualism-biliteracy. It now heads to the Senate. Read More

Stand Up Against Violence Toward Women

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‘I want to see a world where those who commit gender crimes are treated with outrage while those who survive are treated with empathy and respect. I want a world where the media and social norms reinforce how wrong it is for a man to take advantage of a woman’s space, mind or body. Where boys and men are taught to behave and stand up for their sisters, friends and partners, and girls/women are taught that they can go where they want, wear what they want and be who they are without fear of attracting the ‘wrong kind of attention.’ I want a world where all creatures on this planet are respected, Read More

State Fair Director Avoids Subpoena

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Dan Mourning. YouTube PrintScreen/Rob Nikolewski 

STATE News:

SANTA FE–New Mexico State Fair Director Dan Mourning avoided a threatened subpoena from Senate Rules Committee (SRC) Chair Linda M. Lopez, D-Bernalillo, by showing up to a Thursday morning hearing.

After a string of absences, Mourning finally spoke about State Fair business, specifically the ongoing issue of the controversial racetrack and casino lease awarded to the Downs at Albuquerque.

Two previous SRC hearings left glaring gaps of information about the State Fairgrounds after senators heard previous testimony Read More

Democrat Lawrence Rael Files Candidacy for Governor

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Lawrence Rael officially files candidacy for Governor. Courtesy/Rael Campaign

ELECTION News:

Lawrence Rael has filed with the Secretary of State’s Office to become a Democratic candidate for governor of New Mexico.

“Growing up in a tiny town in Northern New Mexico, in the kind of poverty too many of New Mexico’s children are battling—few would have imagined that I would be here today,” Rael said. “Before I believed in myself, I was surrounded by a community that believed in me. That’s why I believe we can be a global leader in renewable energy. I believe we can work together Read More