Politics

New Mexico’s $1.5 Billion Road Bonding Bill Passes House

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From the Office of the Governor:

SANTA FE — Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham’s $1.5 billion transportation bonding package cleared the New Mexico House of Representatives on Friday, sending the measure to the governor’s desk and positioning the state to tackle a massive backlog of road and bridge projects.

The bonding package creates a stable, predictable funding source for state road construction for years to come and frees up general fund money to support local road construction and maintenance. The package also positions the state to better match federal infrastructure funding, which can Read More

New Mexico Medical Society Addresses HB 99

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From the New Mexico Medical Society:

SANTA FE — The New Mexico Medical Society (NMMS) is encouraged that HB 99 has advanced out of the House Health & Human Services Committee, reflecting bipartisan recognition that New Mexico must act to stabilize access to healthcare and address the growing physician shortage.

At the same time, the Medical Society is deeply concerned about an amendment adopted in committee that leaves a considerable number of healthcare organizations exposed to uncapped punitive damages.

Protecting access to care requires a coherent and consistent medical liability Read More

Scenes From ICE Protest By Students At Ashley Pond Park

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Local student co-organizerAbel Sayre speaks to the crowd of students gathered this afternoon to protest ICE. Photo by John McHale/ladailypost.com

Co-organizerAbel Sayre speaks to students gathered this afternoon to protest ICE. Photo by John McHale/ladailypost.com

Scene from the ICE protest held today by students at Ashley Pond Park. Photo by John McHale/ladailypost.com

Scene from the ICE protest held today by students at Ashley Pond Park. Photo by John McHale/ladailypost.com

Scene from the ICE protest held today by students at Ashley Pond Park. Photo by John McHale/ladailypost.com Read More

New Mexico House Republicans Unveil Tax Plan To Protect Paychecks, Support Families, And Help Seniors Keep More Of What They Earn

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From New Mexico House Republican:

SANTA FE — House Republicans are rolling out a comprehensive Tax Relief Plan focused on one simple goal: letting New Mexicans keep more of their own money.

Families across our state are working harder, paying more, and getting less in return. Our tax plan takes a different approach. Instead of growing government, we are cutting taxes on work, supporting family choice, and protecting retirement income.

Protecting Paychecks and Rewarding Work

Work should be rewarded, not penalized. Our tax plan includes HB 264, a major piece of legislation that updates New Read More

Santa Fe World Affairs Forum To Present ‘Trillion Dollar War Machine: Rethinking Security At Home & Abroad’

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William D Hartung

SFWAF News:

Santa Fe World Affairs Forum (SFWAF) invites the community to a SFWAF lunch program discussion with Senior Researcher William D Hartung of The Quincy Institute on the “Trillion Dollar War Machine: Rethinking Security at Home & Abroad”.

The event is 12-2 p.m., Friday, Feb. 20, in the Board Room (Rm #223), at Santa Fe Community College.

Hartung focuses on the arms industry and the US military budget. He was previously director of the Arms and Security Program at the Center for International Policy and the co-director of the Center’s Sustainable Defense Task Force. Read More

U.S. Sen. Ben Ray Luján Announces DOJ Launch Of Radiation Exposure Compensation Act Online Claims Portal

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From the Office of U.S. Sen. Ben Ray Luján:

Washington, D.C. – U.S. Sen. Ben Ray Luján (D-N.M.) announced that the U.S. Department of Justice has launched a new online portal for Radiation Exposure Compensation Act (RECA) claims, implementing the recently extended and expanded program.

Prior to the launch of this online portal, Sen. Luján and the New Mexico Delegation sent an open letter to New Mexico’s holders of health care records, birth and death records, tax records, school records and any other necessary records to request their full cooperation in delivering long overdue justice for Read More

New Mexico Department Of Workforce Solutions Launches Statewide Leadership Training To Address Homelessness

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NMDWS Cabinet Secretary Sarita Nair

NMDWS News:

ALBUQUERQUE — A new statewide leadership training series launched today as the state aims to strengthen New Mexico’s response to homelessness and housing instability.

The five-session series will cover leadership, data storytelling, equitable staffing, financial stewardship, and trauma-informed critical incident debriefing. The initiative combines expert-led training with facilitated peer conversations, creating space for leaders to share proven strategies, align efforts and address real-time challenges facing communities Read More

Anti-Gun Trafficking Bill Would Hold New Mexico Firearm Dealers Accountable

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By NICHOLAS GILMORE
The Santa Fe New Mexican

Sponsors of a controversial Senate bill that would ban some types of semi-automatic rifles and place new security regulations on firearms retailers argue New Mexico law doesn’t provide adequate oversight of gun dealers. 

“We regulate alcohol and cannabis more strictly than we regulate gun dealers,” Rep. Andrea Romero, D-Santa Fe, told a Senate committee this week. “This just simply asks dealers to do what responsible businesses already do.”  

But Senate Bill 17 has ignited impassioned opposition from Republicans Read More

House Bill Would Expand Medicare Consumer Protections

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ALTSD News:

SANTA FE – State aging and insurance officials are urging lawmakers to support Senate Bill 21 and strengthen consumer protections for Medicare enrollees who have Medigap coverage.

The bill would allow beneficiaries enrolled in Original Medicare and Medigap supplemental to change Medigap plans during an annual open enrollment period, preventing insurers from denying coverage based on pre-existing conditions.  The bill is sponsored by Senators Liz Stefanics, Pete Campos, Rex Wilson, Martin Hickey, and Representative Tara Lujan.

“Everyone deserves access to quality healthcare—especially Read More

Senate Leader Wirth ‘Feeling Positive’ About Getting Big Bills To Gov. Lujan Grisham

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By DANIEL J. CHACÓN
The Santa Fe New Mexican

Three priority pieces of legislation Democrats set a goal of getting to the governor’s desk by the halfway mark of the 30-day session made it across the Senate in a flash.

But the bills have yet to even get a hearing in the House.

Senate bills 1, 2 and 3 cleared the chamber by the fourth day of the session last week, handing Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham an early victory in her legislative agenda for the last session of her second term.

As of Wednesday afternoon, only SB 2 — a $1.5 billion road bonding package — was scheduled for a committee hearing. It is set Read More