Politics

Governor Introduces Fiscal Year 2015 Budget

by

STATE News:

  • State Budget Geared to Reform Education, Increase Pay for Entering and High-Performing Teachers, Expand Health Care Workforce and Grow Economy

 

Santa Fe —Today, Gov. Susana Martinez announced her Fiscal Year 2015 budget proposal, which continues the Governor’s commitment to responsible budgeting, particularly during uncertain economic times at the national level.  The Governor’s budget calls for significant investments in education reform and a commitment to tackling pressing economic issues head-on – including expanding the health care workforce Read More

Legislative Preview Wednesday at Fuller Lodge

by

Staff Report

The League of Women Voters of Los Alamos and the American Association of University Women will hold a Legislative Preview 7-9 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 8 at Fuller Lodge, with refreshments at 6:30 p.m. The public is invited to participate.

Rep. Stephanie Garcia Richard and Senators Carlos Cisneros and Richard Martinez have all agreed to attend and share their views on the upcoming session. Also, Kristina Fisher will explain Think New Mexico’s jobs creation initiative and Los Alamos Public Schools Assistant Superintendent Gerry Washburn will discuss the proposed education legislation.

Read More

Lujan Grisham Urges Renewal of Federal Unemployment Insurance

by

U.S. Rep. Michelle Lujan Grisham

CONGRESSIONAL NEWS:

ALBUQUERQUE – U.S. Rep. Michelle Lujan Grisham, N.M.-01 continues to urge Congress to renew federal unemployment insurance following a report finding that the expiration of the program on Dec. 28 has already cost the New Mexico economy more than $1.7 million.  

The analysis, prepared by the House Ways and Means Committee Democrats, spells out how much federal funding each state is going without in the first week since the federal Emergency Unemployment Compensation (EUC) program expired.

In New Mexico, 6,000 jobseekers lost an Read More

Governor Unveils Proposals to Aid High Tech Start-ups

by

Gov. Susana Martinez

STATE News:

ALBUQUERQUE—Gov. Susana Martinez announced Friday, the latest in a series of proposals designed to attract and develop new research, innovation and high-tech firms in New Mexico. 

Specifically, the Governor is proposing to improve the tax treatment of innovation activities by expanding the use of the Angel Investment Credit, allowing for greater private investment in small New Mexico start-ups, and reforming the Technology Jobs Tax Credit and the current, relatively unused Research and Development Small Business Tax Credit to better support Read More

Republican Women Meet Jan. 9

by

GOP News:

The Los Alamos Federated Republican Women will hold a meeting noon-2 p.m. Jan. 9 at the home of Donna MacDonald in the Ridge Park Condos, 1003 Oppenheimer. 

Open parking is in any uncovered, striped slot. Members are reminded to bring non-perishable food items and toiletries for charity donations.

For further information, contact Donna MacDonald at 505.662.4001. Read More

Senator Introduces Legislation Eliminating Secretary of Education Post

by

Sen. Michael Padilla

State News:

SANTA FE — Sen. Michael Padilla, D-Bernalillo, a member of the Senate Education Committee, has introduced Senate Joint Resolution 2 (SJR2), proposing education reforms that will, in Padilla’s words, “take politics out of public education in New Mexico.”

This legislation calls for: the elimination of the Secretary of Education position in the Governor’s Cabinet, implements a non-partisan State Board of Public Education, calls for the creation of a state superintendent of public education hired by the board, and places public education in the hands of education Read More

New Mexico Nationally Recognized for Improved Tax Fairness

by

Gov. Susana Martinez

STATE News:

SANTA FE – Gov. Susana Martinez announced that New Mexico has been recognized by the Council On State Taxation (COST), a national nonpartisan taxpayer watchdog group, for a dramatic improvement in state tax administration.

The group has upgraded New Mexico’s rating from a D to a B after the state adopted several reforms to simplify the tax code, making it fairer and more user-friendly. COST monitors and rates every state on tax appeal processes and administrative practices based on fairness of tax laws and regulations for tax administration.

“This new rating Read More

Lujan Grisham Urges Extension of Federal Unemployment Insurance

by

Rep. Michelle Lujan Grisham

U.S. CONGRESSIONAL NEWS:

WASHINGTON, D.C. – With 1.3 million Americans losing all of their federal unemployment insurance Dec. 28, Rep. Michelle Lujan Grisham, N.M.-01, is urging an extension of the program.

Friday, she announced that she is cosponsoring the Emergency Unemployment Compensation Extension Act of 2013 (H.R.3546), legislation that would extend the current Emergency Unemployment Compensation program through the end of 2014. In addition to the 6,000 long-term unemployed New Mexicans who are slated to lose their unemployment insurance Saturday, Read More

Proposed Bills Require Oversight and Competitive Bid for Behavioral Health Contractors

by

STATE News:

SANTA FE – New Mexico’s Legislative Health and Human Services Committee (LHHSC) has endorsed legislation, which requires more transparency and accountability of performing behavior health audits and secures avenues to keep in-state providers in business, while tightening up procurement policy.

Senate Majority Whip Tim Keller, D-17 Bernalillo, proposed the bills as a result of the behavioral health audit catastrophe this year, implementing a freeze of Medicaid dollars to 14 behavioral health providers throughout the state.

“It has become abundantly Read More

Luján, Lujan Grisham Introduce Legislation to Protect Native American Seeds

by

Courtesy/nativeseeds.org

U.S. CONGRESSIONAL News:

WASHINGTON, DC – U.S. Reps. Ben Ray Luján, N.M.-03 and Michelle Lujan Grisham, N.M.-01, both members of the Congressional Native American Caucus, have introduced legislation to help preserve Native American seeds used for cultural, religious, medicinal, ceremonial and agricultural purposes.

The Native American Seeds Protection Act of 2013 (H.R. 3782) would allow tribes, working in conjunction with qualified research entities, to obtain grants from the U.S. Department of Agriculture to conduct research, education and training Read More