Politics

Heinrich Votes to End Stalemate on Nominations

November 23, 2013 by Submitted by Carol A. Clark

U.S. Sen. Martin Heinrich

U.S. Senate News:

WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Sen. Martin Heinrich, D-N.M., issued the following statement after the Senate voted 52-48 to change its rules and end filibusters on presidential executive and judicial nominations, except to the U.S. Supreme Court:

“Opposition and obstructionism rather than accountability and deliberation have become far too common in Washington.

“Today, we put an end to Senate Republicans repeatedly blocking qualified judicial and public service nominees from receiving an up or down vote. But there is Read More

Governor Proposes $2 Million to Boost Water Research

November 23, 2013 by Submitted by Carol A. Clark

Gov. Susana Martinez

ALBUQUERQUE – Gov. Susana Martinez unveiled a proposal to invest an additional $2 million to boost water research and innovation in New Mexico.

Addressing the 58^th Annual New Mexico Water Conference via video, Martinez called on the New Mexico Legislature to allocate $2 million dollars in additional funding to the New Mexico Water Resources Research Institute (NMWRRI) during the upcoming legislative session. NMWRRI works to solve New Mexico’s pressing water problems through supporting research projects at New Mexico’s colleges and universities.

“Earlier this Read More

Governor Proposes $112 Million Capital Investment in Water Infrastructure

November 22, 2013 by Submitted by Carol A. Clark

Gov. Susana Martinez

STATE News:

ALBUQUERQUE–Governor Susana Martinez today proposed a $112 million capital investment in New Mexico’s water infrastructure. This investment amounts to approximately 60 percent of the capital outlay funding that will be available when the New Mexico Legislature convenes in January.

Martinez’s proposal prioritizes water investments in communities that are in danger of going dry, or struggling with poor water quality, as well as water projects such as watershed and dam rehabilitation to help communities survive and thrive economically.

“Unprecedented Read More

Bill Reducing Veterans Disability Claims Backlog Clears Committee

November 22, 2013 by Submitted by Carol A. Clark

U.S. Sen. Martin Heinrich

U.S. SENATE News:

WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Sen. Martin Heinrich, D-N.M., announced key progress in his continued effort to reduce the veterans disability claims backlog after the U.S. Senate Committee on Veterans’ Affairs earlier this week passed by a voice vote, S. 1581, the Veterans Programs Improvements Act of 2013.

The omnibus veterans bill includes language from S. 1148, the Veterans Benefits Claims Faster Filing Act, a proposal Senator Heinrich and Senator Dean Heller (R-NV) introduced in June.

“I’m pleased the committee took Read More

Luján Honors Native American Code Talkers

November 22, 2013 by Submitted by Carol A. Clark

Members of the Pueblo of Acoma at the National Museum of the American Indian during the presentation of medals to representatives of the Code Talkers. Courtesy photo

U.S. CONGRESSIONAL News:

WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Rep. Ben Ray Luján of New Mexico’s Third District joined members of the Pueblo of Acoma – including tribal leaders, veterans, and family members of Code Talkers – at the National Museum of the American Indian Thursday.

Luján released the following statement after Native American Code Talkers were awarded the Congressional Gold Medal for their service Read More

Democrat Lawrence Rael Joins Race for Governor

November 22, 2013 by Submitted by Carol A. Clark

Lawrence Rael

Staff Report

Joined by his wife, Kim, and their three children, Lawrence Rael announced Wednesday his candidacy for governor of New Mexico in 2014 in Santa Fe.

Rael serves as the president of the New Mexico Green Chamber of Commerce. He has been chief administrative officer of Albuquerque, deputy secretary of Transportation for the State of New Mexico and director of the Mid-Region Council of Governments, serving Bernalillo, Valencia, Torrance and Sandoval counties.

He issued the following statement to the press:

“My life has been shaped by the goodness and decency of New Mexicans Read More

Heinrich Challenges Effectiveness of Dragnet Surveillance Program in NSA Court Case

November 20, 2013 by Submitted by Carol A. Clark

U.S. Sen. Martin Heinrich

U.S. SENATE News:

WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senators Martin Heinrich, D-N.M., Mark Udall, D-Colo., and Ron Wyden, D-Ore., and members of the U.S. Senate Select Committee on Intelligence, today challenged the effectiveness of the National Security Agency’s bulk phone records collection program.

The senators’ amicus curiae brief, filed in the First Unitarian Church vs. National Security Agency U.S. District Court case, questioned a central premise of the government’s argument. The brief argues that after extensive review, the senators

Ben Lujan Honored Posthumously

November 20, 2013 by Submitted by Carol A. Clark

NMVC News:

ALBUQUERQUE—New Mexico Voices for Children is honoring four exceptional people at its annual Spirit of Hope Awards Ceremony this weekend. Speaker of the House Ben Lujan will be honored posthumously with the Alice King Public Service Award. Frank Sanchez, who is known, among other things, as one of the lead plaintiffs in New Mexico’s first successful Voting Rights Act lawsuit, will receive the Patty Jennings and Polly Arango Citizen Advocacy Award.

“Speaker Lujan really embodied the spirit of what a citizen legislator should be,” said Veronica C. García, Ed.D., Executive Read More

Rep. Garcia Richard Advocates for Veterans

November 17, 2013 by Submitted by Carol A. Clark

By STEPHANIE GARCIA RICHARD

Dist. 43 Representative

As some of you may know, I am a proud daughter of a World War II Veteran. My father’s service overseas and later back home helped shape my siblings and me. My Dad made sure I understood the value in dedicating one’s life to service, to protect and respect the rights of all Americans. My father and the millions of other men and women who willingly sacrifice for our rights are a driving force behind my determination to be a voice for the people in public office.

One of the things I enjoy most about being a State Representative are the opportunities

Bill Expanding White Sands Missile Range Clears Key Committee

November 16, 2013 by Submitted by Carol A. Clark

U.S. SENATE News:

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Thursday, a bill sponsored by U.S. Senators Martin Heinrich, D-N.M., Tom Udall, D-N.M., and John Cornyn, R-TX, to strengthen the missions at White Sands Missile Range and Fort Bliss cleared the Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.

Earlier this year Heinrich, a member of the committee, along with Senators Udall and Cornyn, introduced the bipartisan proposal that represents a three-party agreement between the two military installations and the Bureau of Land Management (BLM).

“This expansion to White Sands Missile Range is critical Read More