Politics

Legislation To Combat Elder Abuse Passes Committee

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HOUSE DEMOCRATS News:

A Task Force Would Study and Make Recommendations for Penalties for the Abuse of Senior Citizens and Adults with Disabilities

SANTA FE − House Memorial 10 sponsored by Rep. Deborah Armstrong (D-Albuquerque) today passed the House Health and Human Services Committee.

The memorial seeks to address the growing incidence of elder abuse and abuse of adults with disabilities. It directs the non-profit Senior Citizens Law Office to convene a task force to study abuse, especially financial, and recommend civil and criminal penalties to be enacted.

“Elder abuse – financial Read More

Legislative Roundup: 14 Days Remaining In Session

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Legislative Roundup
SFNM News:

Tell us what it costs: The House of Representatives unanimously approved a bill Thursday that would require private colleges to disclose the total estimated cost of attendance to prospective students.

House Bill 17, sponsored by Rep. Christine Chandler, D-Los Alamos, and Rep. Liz Stefanics, D-Cerrillos, is aimed at helping students make cost-efficient enrollment decisions and avoid “predatory recruitment practices”.

“Too many students are left with little choice but to go into untenable debt or give up on attending college because they don’t believe Read More

Senate Committee Passes ‘Red Flag’ Legislation

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Sen. Joseph Cervantes, D-Las Cruces

By ROBERT NOTT
The New Mexican

So-called ­“red flag” legislation narrowly cleared the Senate Judiciary Committee Wednesday by a vote of 6-5.

Senate Bill 5, also known as the Extreme Risk Firearm Protection Order Act, now moves to the Senate floor for consideration.

It would allow law enforcement officers to petition for a court order to take away a person’s firearms. A judge would require the person to give up their guns for 10 days — an order that could be extended to one year — if probable cause is found that the person poses a threat to themselves or others.

The Read More

New Mexico House Passes $7.6 Billion Spending Plan

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From left, Republican Reps. Kelly Fajardo of Los Lunas, Jim Townsend of Artesia, Rod Montoya of Farmington and Jason Harper of Rio Rancho announce an alternative state budget plan Wednesday that calls for less spending and higher reserves than legislation set to be considered by the full House. Photo by Jens Gould/The New Mexican

By JENS GOULD
The New Mexican

The state House approved a $7.6 billion budget bill Wednesday, after Republicans criticized it and proposed an alternate plan during a floor debate.

The House passed House Bill 2, the General Appropriations Act of 2020, by a vote of 46-24 Read More

Legislative Roundup: 14 Days Remaining In Session

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Legislative Roundup
SFNM News:

The bill, please: One thing state lawmakers love to do is introduce legislation. Wednesday, the midway point for this year’s 30-day session, also was the last day for legislators to file bills for consideration.

As of 5 p.m., they had filed over 725 bills, memorials and resolutions — many of which are unlikely to make it to a committee hearing, let alone pass through both chambers of the Legislature. The session ends at noon Feb. 20.

Makes census to me: The House of Representatives voted 68-0 Wednesday to approve Senate Bill 4, which appropriates a one-time Read More

Native American Activist Whose Politically Charged Prayer In House Sparked Ire Is Disinvited From Senate

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Native American activist Lee Moquino

By DANIEL J. CHACON
The New Mexican

A Native American activist who delivered a politically charged invocation in the state House of Representatives has been uninvited from giving the opening prayer Friday in the Senate.

Lee Moquino kicked off the floor session in the House Jan. 23 by telling state representatives they were standing in “occupied indigenous space” and that Chaco Canyon in northwestern New Mexico should be protected from oil and gas drilling — a major revenue source for the state of New Mexico.

His invocation reportedly upset some lawmakers. Read More

Legislative Roundup: 16 Days Remaining In Session

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Legislative Roundup
SFNM News:

Bear and grin it: A character portraying one of New Mexico’s more famous residents — Smokey Bear — showed up Tuesday at the state Capitol. Lawmakers honored him for his efforts in preventing wildfires.

Last year marked Smokey’s 75th birthday. Many people know the story of a cub rescued from a wildfire in the Capitan Mountain in 1950s, which was made a symbol of forest fire prevention by officials of the U.S. Forest Service.

But the Forest Service actually decided in August 1944 to use a fictional bear named Smokey to represent efforts to prevent wildfires. Read More

Senate Unanimously Approves Bill To Cut Prescription Drug Costs

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Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham

From the Office of the Governor:

SANTA FE – Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham on Tuesday issued the following statement after Senate Bill 1, authorizing the state’s pursuit of the importation of lower-cost wholesale prescription drugs from Canada, passed the Senate unanimously:

“Too many New Mexico families can’t afford medication. Too many families either skip filling their prescriptions or ration the medicine they have. This is unacceptable. And so I am thrilled that we are one step closer to meaningfully cutting prescription drug costs for New Mexico families. 

Read More

Ringside Seat: Public Money No Longer Pays Clergy To Deliver Prayer At Daily Opening Of House Floor Session

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By MILAN SIMONICH
Santa Fe New Mexican

Brian Egolf, speaker of the state House of Representatives, has done something that might be politically incorrect but is sure to be popular with his members.

Egolf, D-Santa Fe, no longer is using public money to pay bishops, rabbis, priests and preachers to deliver a prayer in the House as it begins its daily floor session.

Now, House members themselves will give the invocation. All of them will offer the same message, give or take several useless adverbs.

Whether Democrat or Republican, the politician in solemn tones will ask for wisdom, divine guidance Read More

Bill To Create Middle And High School ‘Soft Skills’ Career Training Curriculum Passes House Education Committee

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The Roundhouse in Santa Fe. Photo by Carol A. Clark/ladailypost.com

STATE News:

SANTA Fe — House Bill 63, a bill to create a statewide, comprehensive, standards-based ‘soft skills’ program for high school and middle school students has passed the House Education Committee.

Sponsored by House Majority Leader Rep. Sheryl Williams Stapleton (D-Albuquerque), the bill makes a $4 million appropriation from the general fund to develop a curriculum and implement online courses tailored to meet the needs of New Mexico’s students and evolving job market. 

“We want an education system that prepares Read More