Freedom Of The Press … Sunshine Week Editorial
By CHRIS WOOD, PresidentRecognizing that a representative government is dependent upon an informed electorate, the intent of the legislature in enacting the Inspection of Public Records Act is to ensure, and it is declared to be the public policy of this state, that all persons are entitled to the greatest possible information regarding the affairs of government and the official acts of public officers and employees. It is the further intent of the legislature, and it is declared to be the public policy of this state, that to provide persons with such information Read More
Letter To The Editor: How Ironic …
By ANDREW DELOREYWe have a GOP president that likely has many undisclosed conflicts of interest regarding his domestic and international business relationships. He has assaulted the first amendment by threatening and excluding the media. The media is diverse and every president has adversaries; that is by design. He has assaulted the first amendment by discriminating
Bill Promoting Use Of Local Inspectors Gets Concurrence And Awaits Governor’s Signature
STATE News:Egolf Hails Passage Of Sweeping Ethics Reform
HOUSE DEMOCRATS News:Officials Brief County Council On Library System
Library Board Chair Jennifer Baker and Library Manager Steven Thomas present the board’s Fiscal Year 2017 work plan and details about the County library system and board to the Los Alamos County Council during its regular meeting Tuesday night at the White Rock Fire Station. During the presentation, Baker reported that in FY 2017, more than 391,000 items were checked out of the libraries and the library system had more than 333,000 visitors. Councilor Antonio Maggiore commended the library board for its work. ”ou guys run some fantastic libraries here,” he said. Read More
Udall, Heinrich Invite Energy Secretary Rick Perry To Visit New Mexico National Laboratories
U.S. SENATE News:
WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senators Tom Udall and Martin Heinrich sent a letter to Energy Secretary Rick Perry inviting him to visit Los Alamos and Sandia National Laboratories in New Mexico.
“The work at Los Alamos and Sandia National Laboratories is critical to meeting DOE’s mission of assuring national security through stewardship of the nuclear weapons stockpile, nuclear non-proliferation, and homeland security,” wrote the senators. “The labs also have extensive strategic partnerships with other federal agencies and private stakeholders that contribute Read More
Beware The Ides Of March: A Warning For All Republics
By JAMES ROBINSON On this day, 2061 years ago, Roman Dictator Julius Caesar was brutally assassinated by Roman Senators in the Roman Senate.
The event was the culmination of Caesar’s victory in the Civil War with his rival Consul Pompey the Great. After the victory, Caesar contributed on to a regime change in Egypt, and returned to Rome as triumphant leader. As he concentrated his power, Caesar reportedly denied the offer to make him King of Rome. He reportedly did this three times. Instead, Caesar took to Roman law, and had himself declared dictator for 10 years, and then for Read More
Letter To The Editor: Concerns With County Financial Disclosure Forms And Public Access Procedures
By EDWARD BIRNBAUMThe Feb. 3 issue of the Los Alamos Daily Post had a story (link), which caught my eye regarding the violation of the Code of Ethics in Hobbs as reported by State Auditor Tim Keller. Apparently, Hobbs public officials were not filing the required financial disclosures and perhaps more importantly, were not recusing themselves from voting on official business issues when their personal financial interests were involved.
Members of the County Council and the Board of Public Utilities here in Los Alamos are responsible for making decisions involving many millions Read More
Bill To Help Workers Care For Sick, Elderly Relatives Heads To Senate Floor
STATE News:
- Caregiver Leave Act Allows Employees to Use Already-Provided Sick Leave for Caregiving
Rep. Debbie Armstrong’s Caregiver Leave Act, HB 86, is headed to the Senate floor for a final vote after it passed the Senate Judiciary Committee Tuesday, moving the widely supported bill, which would allow workers to also use sick leave that is already provided by their employers to cover absences for caregiving, one step closer to the governor’s desk.
“Too many New Mexicans are in the Sandwich Generation,” Armstrong said. “My kids are grown, but my 88-year-old mother lives with me. We need to Read More
Letter To The Editor: Proposal For Workable Firearms Transfer Background Check Law
By KHALIL SPENCER
Los Alamos
A couple of us have thought of a background check proposal that might accomplish most or all of what we really want but with far less acrimony. So here is an idea if this is to be revisited again and assuming for the moment that the present bills are not resurrected. I’ve stolen some ideas from a colleague (with thanks) but modified them with my own additions, so any rotten fruit should be thrown at me alone. Here would be the basis of the law.
1. It is of material and social benefit to society to verify that a person unknown to you is not a prohibited person before selling or transferring Read More
Heinrich: GOP Healthcare Plan Disastrous As Expected
U.S. Sen. Martin HeinrichUdall Celebrates Sunshine Week By Advocating Open Government, Defending Free Press
U.S. Sen. Tom Udall
U.S. SENATE News:
WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. Sen. Tom Udall, will today mark Sunshine Week — a national initiative to educate the public on the importance of an open and transparent government — by advocating for transparency in our government, defending the critical role of the free press, and calling for campaign finance reform to shine a light on dark money in politics.
Starting at 10 a.m. ET, Udall will join Senate Democrats and experts at a press conference to call for increased government transparency and accountability in an age of “alternative facts.” Udall will give remarks Read More
New Teacher Evaluation System Passes Senate
STATE News:
SANTA FE – On a strongly bipartisan basis, the New Mexico Senate today passed legislation to develop a new system for evaluating teachers and principals that relies less heavily on students’ scores on controversial standardized tests. By a vote of 30-7, with both Democratic and Republican support, SB 34 was passed by the Senate.
The bill, sponsored by Sen. Howie Morales of Silver City, also was amended to include language offered by Republican Sen. Craig Brandt from the historic Senate override earlier in the day of the Governor’s veto of teacher sick days legislation. Read More
Bill To Allow Pharmacists To Dispense Interchangeable Biosimilar Medicines Passes Senate
NM SENATE News:Bills Limiting School Testing And Restricting Use Of Restraint And Seclusion Head To Governor
STATE News:
- Bills Aim to Improve the Quality of Student Life at New Mexico Schools
SANTA FE – Monday night, the House concurred with two bills to improve the quality of student life at New Mexico schools.
House Bills 185 and 75 will now head to the Governor’s desk. House Bill 185 sets limits on the amount of time that students spend taking standardized tests.
“This bill puts teaching ahead of testing, and makes sure students aren’t missing out on valuable classroom time,” said Rep. Joanne Ferrary (D-Las Cruces), one of the bill’s sponsors. “We can’t continue to waste money and Read More
Senate Sends School Restraint Bill To Governor
Rep. Jim Smith
SENATE News:
SANTA FE – This afternoon, the Senate approved House Bill 75, a bill to limit the use of restraint and seclusion techniques in schools. The bill, sponsored by Rep. Jim Smith (R-Bernalillo, Sandoval and Santa Fe), passed on a bipartisan 30 to 4 vote.
House Bill 75 specifies conditions when restraining and seclusion techniques may be permitted in schools, and it requires New Mexico’s public schools to adopt policies and procedures for the use of restraint and seclusion techniques in their school safety plans. The bill also requires that schools develop procedures for Read More
McMillan To Testify At House Armed Services Panel
LANL Director Charlie McMillan
Staff Report
The public will get a first glimpse under the hood of the next era of American nuclear weapons this week, when key officials in the complex stand for questions during a hearing of a House Armed Services subcommittee scheduled for Thursday.
Los Alamos National Laboratory Director Charlie McMillan is set to be among those appearing before the Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations. The meeting at the Capitol in Washington, D.C. will address “Oversight Review of Infrastructure Needs and Projects Ready for Immediate Implementation in the Nuclear Read More
Anti-Hazing Bill Advances Past House
Rep. Monica Youngblood
STATE News:
SANTA FE – This afternoon, the House of Representatives passed House Bill 427, a bill sponsored by Rep. Monica Youngblood (R-Bernalillo) to prevent hazing in New Mexico’s schools. The House approved the bill by a 56 to 2 vote.
Youngblood’s bill would require every New Mexico educational institution to adopt, post, and enforce a hazing prevention policy. The bill defines what actions are considered hazing and lists the areas that hazing policies need to address to ensure the policies are consistent statewide.
According to recent statistics, forty-eight Read More
Udall Celebrates Women’s History Month
U.S. Sen. Tom Udall House Passes Bill Benefitting New Mexico Businesses
STATE News:
- HB 356 Uses LEDA Funds to Create Jobs & Promote Local Businesses
SANTA FE — The New Mexico House of Representatives passed House Bill 356, which uses Local Economic Development Act (LEDA) funds to increase local economic growth and create jobs.
HB 356 sponsored by Representatives Rudy Martinez (D-Grants) and Daymon Ely (D-Corrales), targets $2 million in investment dollars specifically for resident businesses in both rural and urban New Mexico.
“When our small businesses thrive, our state thrives,” Rep. Martinez said. “This piece of legislation prioritizes New Read More
