Politics

Udall, Heinrich Welcome PILT Extension in Farm Bill

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U.S. SENATE News: 

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senators Tom Udall and Martin Heinrich announced Wednesday that the Farm Bill conference report, made public last night, includes one year of funding for the critical Payment in Lieu of Taxes (PILT) Program. The news provides relief for rural counties in New Mexico, which face major budget cuts if PILT is not extended.

The senators were among a bipartisan coalition who wrote to Farm Bill negotiators to request an extension of the program, which expired at the end of last year with no plan for renewal. PILT compensates counties that host large amounts Read More

Bill to Fully Staff CYFD Gains Bipartisan Support

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Sen. Michael Padilla

N.M. Senate News:

Santa Fe, NM — Sen. Michael Padilla, D-Bernalillo, has introduced bipartisan legislation to fully staff the Children, Youth and Families’ (CYFD) Protective Services Division. The Social Worker Loan for Service Act will provide a pipeline of certified social workers to meet the caseloads for children in protective services.

“This legislation will dramatically reduce caseloads for social workers at CYFD,” Padilla said.

The plan calls for CYFD to select individuals to pursue bachelor’s and master’s degrees in social work programs at New Mexico higher Read More

CYFD Officials Snub Senate Rules Committee

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Sen. Linda Lopez

NM SENATE News:

SANTA FE—Representatives from the state Children, Youth and Families Department (CYFD) chose not to attend a Monday morning Senate Rules Committee hearing, which they were invited to, on a high-profile Senate Memorial regarding foster families, child abuse and children’s protective services.

“One of Gov. Susana Martinez’s favorite buzz words is ‘unacceptable,’ and I wonder if she will once again find it unacceptable that her own appointees running the Children, Youth and Families Department chose not to answer questions regarding a bill that directly Read More

N.M. House Seeks Federal Holiday Designation for Native Americans

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Rep. Roberto Gonzales

STATE News:

SANTA FE–By a vote of 70-0, the New Mexico House of Representatives approved a measure, which would seek the designation of the national “Native American Heritage Day” as a federal public holiday. 

House Memorial 4 sponsored by Rep. Roberto “Bobby” Gonzales, D-Taos) encourages the state’s congressional delegation to advocate for the legal public holiday in honor of Native American people. 

This memorial recognizes Native Americans’ historic and contemporary experiences and their substantial contributions to the United States’ cultural, Read More

Udall Urges Support for Privacy and Civil Liberties Oversight Board Recommendations

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U.S. Sen. Tom Udall

U.S. SENATE News:

WASHINGTON – Wednesday U.S. Sen. Tom Udall urged support for the recommendations of the Privacy and Civil Liberties Oversight Board, issued as part of a report on the constitutionality of the NSA’s spying program.

Among other findings, the board, which was created by Congress, concluded that the NSA’s bulk telephone surveillance program is illegal and ineffective.

 In June, Udall led a bipartisan call for an independent review by the Privacy and Civil Liberties Oversight Board on the impact of the NSA’s spying program on Americans’ constitutional Read More

Udall Statement on State of the Union Address

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U.S. Sen. Tom Udall

 

U.S. SENATE News:

 

WASHINGTON – U.S. Sen. Tom Udall issued the following statement after attending President Obama’s State of the Union address Tuesday evening:

 

“Like many New Mexicans, I’m frustrated by the tough economic recovery. People in our state are still working to pull themselves out of the recession. Now is a time for bold but practical ideas that will support middle class families and ensure they can afford to buy a house and educate their kids. I was pleased tonight to hear the president pledge to roll up his sleeves to make real changes Read More

Bill Targets Repeat DWI Offenders

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Rep. Elizabeth Thomson

STATE News:

SANTA FE–The requirements to get a driver’s license reinstated for DWI offenders would become more difficult to meet under House Bill 10 sponsored by Rep. Elizabeth “Liz” Thomson, D-Bernalillo. 

HB 10 requires an additional fee of $75 (currently $25), completion of the license revocation period, and tighter ignition interlock removal requirements. 

Under the current law, a DWI offender is required to use an ignition interlock on their car for a minimum of one year regardless of the blood alcohol readings registered on the interlock.  Read More

Los Alamos Officials Attend 2014 Chamber Legislative Reception in Santa Fe

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Los Alamos Commerce and Development Board Chair Bill Wadt, left, and LANL Community Programs Office Executive Director Kurt Stenhaus joined a number of Los Alamos officials at Monday’s 2014 Chamber Legislative Reception together with legislators, business people, chambers and business groups from around New Mexico. The event was held at the Santa Fe Convention Center at which guests sampled hors d’ouvres from Santa Fe’s finest restaurants, made connections and networked. Photo by Carol A. Clark/ladailypost.com

Dist. 43 Rep. Stephanie Garcia Richard of White Rock Read More

President Delivers State of the Union Address Tonight

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President Obama’s Chief Speechwriter Cody Keenan takes over the White House Instagram account to give Americans a look inside the process. See more behind the scenes photos here. Courtesy/WH

WHITE HOUSE News:

Tonight at 9 p.m. ET, President Barack Obama will deliver his State of the Union Address. Watch online with an enhanced version of the graphics and charts of the President’s plan for 2014 at WhiteHouse.gov. RSVP here.

Including President Obama’s 2013 address, there have been a total of 92 in person Annual Messages/State of the Union Addresses.

Origins and Authorization Read More

$3.7 Million Aimed at Turning Around New Mexico’s Lowest Performing Schools

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Rep. Ben Ray Luján

U.S. CONGRESSIONAL News:

WASHINTON, D.C. – U.S. Rep. Ben Ray Luján of New Mexico’s Third highlighted Monday that New Mexico has been selected to receive funding under the U.S. Department of Education’s School Improvement Grant (SIG) Program. A grant of $3,754,213 will help in the effort to turn around persistently low achieving schools in the state.

“There is no better investment we can make in our young New Mexicans than providing them with a good education,” Luján said. “We have the responsibility to ensure that our children have proper support Read More