State

Luján Addresses 50th Anniversary of War on Poverty

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President Lydon B. Johnson

CONGRESSIONAL News:

WASHINGTON D.C. – Rep.  Ben Ray Luján, D-N.M., released the following statement Wednesday on the 50th anniversary of President Lyndon B. Johnson’s “War on Poverty.”

“Fifty years ago, in a State of the Union Address, President Johnson declared ‘War on Poverty’ and brought to the conscience of a nation the plight of millions of Americans who were suffering from hunger, unemployment, and a lack of economic opportunity.  He focused attention on those for whom the American Dream had fallen out Read More

SGR: Time to Make Jobs a Top Priority

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By Rep. Stephanie Garcia Richard
Los Alamos, Santa Fe, Sandoval & Rio Arriba

A recent economic evaluation of the states, conducted by Bloomberg, found that New Mexico’s economic health has declined from being in the top ten from 1995-2007 to dead last, today. This summer, the Jobs Council, comprised of Legislators and representatives from the private and public sector, was formed to come up with a strategy to get New Mexico back on track. As a Legislator, whose district has been directly affected by the decline in revenue and jobs, it has been a unique and rewarding opportunity to participate

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Hot Issues Include Education and Jobs for 30-Day Session

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Rep. Stephanie Garcia Richard speaks at the podium to residents gathered at Fuller Lodge Wednesday evening for the annual Legislative Preview as Senators Carlos Cisneros and Richard Martinez listen at right. Photo by Carol A. Clark/ladailypost.com
 
Los Alamos Public Schools Assistant Superintendent Gerry Washburn discusses education as AAUW President Helena Whyte, left, and Think New Mexico’s Kristina Fisher look on. Photo by Carol A. Clark/ladailypost.com
 
By BONNIE J. GORDON
Los Alamos Daily Post

The League of Women Voters of Los Alamos and the American Association

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N.M. Legislative Finance Committee Presents Budget Recommendations

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N.M. LEGISLATURE NEWS:

SANTA FE — Friday, the Legislative Finance Committee (LFC) held a press conference to present the budget recommendations for the 2014 Legislative Session. Spending calls for $6.15 billion from the general fund, which is $253.5 million more than is expected to be spent in the current fiscal year.

LFC Chairman, Rep. Luciano Valera, D-Santa Fe, opened the press conference, providing a rundown of the priorities for the upcoming fiscal year. Job creation, education, public employee retention and healthcare were at the core of the list.

Legislators agreed that bipartisanship Read More

Soules Files Bill to Increase N.M. School Funding

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Sen. Bill Soules

N.M. Senate News:

Santa Fe—Sen. Bill Soules, D-Dona Ana, has pre-filed Senate Bill 54 for this year’s upcoming session that would dramatically increase the funding for public schools in New Mexico. The bill requests a funding increase of more than $350 million dollars to meet the requirements of the state constitution that requires the Legislature to sufficiently fund public schools.

Based on an independent 2008 study by the American Institute for Research, an independent comprehensive study of the New Mexico public school funding formula showed that New Mexico public Read More

Senate Majority Office Responds to Gov.’s Budget Proposal

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Senate Majority Floor Leader Michael Sanchez

STATE News:

SANTA FE – Today, Gov. Susana Martinez announced her spending recommendations for next fiscal year’s budget. Her $6.07 billion proposal is about $80 million less than the $6.15 billion recommendations proposed by the Legislative Finance Committee (LFC) last week.

LFC proposed pay raises for all state and education workers, while Martinez’s recommendations only call for raises to be given to a certain percentage of state workers and merit pay for educators. Merit pay still continues to be an issue that many Democrats Read More

Governor Introduces Fiscal Year 2015 Budget

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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

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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.

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New Year’s Resolution: Save for College in 2014, Borrow Less in Future

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Secretary of Higher Education Jose Garcia

STATE News:

  • NM Higher Education Secretary encourages parents to invest in children’s future through state 529 college savings plan

SANTA FE – As a new year begins, Secretary of Higher Education Jose Garcia is encouraging parents to make their New Year’s resolution count – by opening a state 529 college savings plan and investing in their kids’ future.

“So many students have to grapple with crushing debt from their student loans. But it doesn’t have to be that way,” Garcia said. “As a parent, you can save your children a whole lot of problems by investing Read More

Governor Unveils Proposals to Aid High Tech Start-ups

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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