Politics

Udall Introduces Constitutional Amendment on Campaign Finance Reform

June 19, 2013 by Submitted by Carol A. Clark

U.S. SENATE News:

WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Sen. Tom Udall today introduced a constitutional amendment that would restore authority back to Congress, individual states and the American people to regulate campaign finance.

The constitutional amendment would reverse dangerous Supreme Court decisions like Buckley v. Valeo and Citizens United and rein in the unprecedented flood of secret money in the campaign finance system. It would allow Congress to regulate the raising and spending of money, including so-called “Super PAC” independent expenditures, while giving states

Udall Named Chair of Senate Appropriations Financial Services and General Government Subcommittee

June 15, 2013 by Submitted by Carol A. Clark

U.S. Sen. Tom Udall, D-N.M.

U.S. Senate News:

WASHINGTON, D.C.– U.S. Sen. Tom Udall has been named Chairman of the Senate Appropriations Financial Services and General Government Subcommittee.

Udall was named the new to lead the subcommittee by Sen. Barbara Mikulski, D-Md., Chair of the full Appropriations Committee. He succeeds Sen. Frank Lautenberg, D-N.J., who passed away June 3, 2013.

“As Chairman I look forward to the responsibility of ensuring taxpayers dollars are spent wisely and the interests of hardworking families in New Mexico are protected,” Udall said. “I am honored to build Read More

NM Delegation Introduces Bill to Strengthen STEM Fields

June 13, 2013 by Submitted by Carol A. Clark

Sen. Tom Udall

CONGRESSIONAL News:

WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Sen. Tom Udall and Martin Heinrich, along with Reps. Ben Ray Luján, Michelle Lujan Grisham and Steve Pearce announced Wednesday that they have introduced a bill to strengthen the nation’s Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) education and training programs in New Mexico and the U.S.

The STEM Support for Teachers in Education and Mentoring (STEM²) Act includes a package of initiatives designed to improve student interest and performance in STEM skills. It would help teachers and schools better

Udall Encouraged by Vote to Begin Comprehensive Immigration Reform Debate

June 12, 2013 by Submitted by Carol A. Clark

WASHINGTON, D.C.–U.S. Sen. Tom Udall (D-N.M.) issued the following statement Tuesday after voting to begin debate on the comprehensive immigration reform legislation, S. 744, the Border Security, Economic Opportunity, and Immigration Modernization Act:

“I was very encouraged with the strong, bipartisan vote to restart the debate on comprehensive immigration reform in the U.S. Senate.

“We still have a long way to go before immigration reform becomes law, and as it progresses in the Senate I will be looking to make sure it supports New Mexico’s interests as a

UNM-LA Files Resolution For Special Election

June 11, 2013 by Submitted by Carol A. Clark

UNM-LA Executive Director Dr. Cedric Page, center, and UNM-LA Advisory Board Chair Dr. Stephen Boerigter filed a resolution with Los Alamos County Clerk Sharon Stover this morning to officially record the special election for the college that will be held Sept. 17 in Los Alamos County. Photo by Bonnie J. Gordon/ladailypost.com

Staff Report

UNM-LA Executive Director Dr. Cedric Page and UNM-LA Advisory Board Chair Dr. Stephen Boerigter filed an election resolution this morning at the Los Alamos County Clerk’s Office to officially record a special election set for Sept. 17 in Los Alamos Read More

50th Anniversary of Equal Pay Act: New Mexico Women Make 79 Cents For Every Dollar Men Earn

June 11, 2013 by Submitted by Carol A. Clark

Women overall and across ethnic lines continue to earn less than men. Courtesy/U.S. Census

CONGRESSIONAL News:

WASHINGTON, D.C. – On the 50th Anniversary of the Equal Pay Act, U.S. Rep. Ben Ray Luján of New Mexico’s Third District is calling for Congressional action to help close the remaining wage gap between men and women.

“When the Equal Pay Act was signed in 1963, women earned 59 cents for every dollar earned by men. Now, women in New Mexico make 79 cents for every dollar earned by men, a discrepancy which affects not only women, but their families as well. While significant Read More

New Mexico Republican Politicians Land in Hoosgaw

June 10, 2013 by Submitted by Carol A. Clark

Former U.S. Rep. Heather Wilson, Dr. JR Damon, Albuquerque City Counselor Janet Arnold-Jones and U.S. Rep. Steve Pierce, with New Mexico Republican Party Chair John Billingsly standing in the back, wait to bail out of the politician pokey during Saturday’s Santa Fe Federated Republican Women’s picnic. Photo by P. Orlando Baca

GOP News:

New Mexico Republican Politicians Land in Hoosgaw

By BETTY ELLINGTON-SMITH

Saturday at a Santa Fe Federated Republican Women’s picnic, some prominent politicians were “arrested” on trumped up charges and thrown into a Jail called the “Politician Read More

Nancy Bartlit Receives 2013 Achievement Award

June 10, 2013 by Submitted by Carol A. Clark

Saturday, June 8 the Democratic Party of Los Alamos celebrated the annual JFK Banquet at de Colores Restaurant in Los Alamos. More than 100 local Democrats applauded the awarding of the 2013 Achievement Award to longtime Los Alamos historian Nancy Bartlit. Photo by David Griggs

Lunch with a Leader: Rep. Stephanie Garcia Richard

June 8, 2013 by Submitted by Carol A. Clark

Rep. Stephanie G. Richard

LWVLA News:

This month’s League of Women Voters Lunch with a Leader is 11:40 a.m. Thursday June 13 at Mesa Public Library.

Dist. 43 Rep. Stephanie Garcia Richard, D-Los Alamos, Sandoval, Rio Arriba and Santa Fe if the featured speaker. She is a native born New Mexican who grew up in Silver City, attended Columbia as a pre-med student but graduated with a degree in political science. Besides being active in politics, she has taught in several countries, in several states, and in both public and private schools. Richard now teaches 3rd grade in Pojoaque. She lives Read More

NM Delegation Introduces Bill to Protect Special-Ed Funding

June 8, 2013 by Submitted by Carol A. Clark

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Members of the New Mexico Congressional Delegation have introduced a bill to protect New Mexico’s future special education funding.

This week, the Department of Education ruled that New Mexico underfunded its share of the cost of educating students with special needs for the state fiscal year 2011. It determined New Mexico did not meet its financial obligations for special education spending by $34 million.

Under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), states must maintain their share of special education spending through a “maintenance of effort” Read More