State

Negotiations Heat Up Over How To Spend $7 Billion Budget

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Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham

By JENS GOULD
The New Mexican

One-third of the way through the 2020 legislative session, the House and Senate have yet to hear the state’s main budget bill. But as that moment draws nearer, a flurry of negotiations over how to spend more than $7 billion are heating up in committee meetings and behind closed doors.

Key talks involve bridging the gaps between the executive and legislative branches’ competing spending plans on education. A series of interviews on Thursday showed some of those discrepancies are being resolved, while others … well, not yet.

“The House dubbed

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HB11 ‘Reorganization Of PRC’ Introduced In House

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HOUSE DEMOCRATS News:

SANTA FE — House Bill 11 sponsored by Rep. Nathan Small (D-Las Cruces) and Linda Trujillo (D-Santa Fe) was introduced Thursday on the House floor. 

A good government bill, House Bill 11 reorganizes New Mexico’s Public Regulations Commission (PRC) to ensure consistency in decision-making, expertise in implementing state law, and security to PRC staff whose knowledge base is critical to the agency’s mission of ensuring the state is a leader and innovator in energy, infrastructure, health and safety, and industry.

“This bill modernizes the PRC to keep up with a Read More

National Commander Visits American Legion Post 90

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American Legion National Commander, William ‘Bill’ Oxford visits American Legion Post 90 Monday on Trinity Drive in Los Alamos. The Commander and his entourage arrived in the early afternoon and participated in a windshield tour of the technical areas of Los Alamos National Laboratory focusing on the historical aspect of the lab. The tour was followed by dinner at Post 90. Seated at the head table from left, American Legion National Historian James Mariner, New Mexico National Executive Committee Member Paul Espinoza, Commander Oxford at the speaker’s podium, Post 90 Commander Dan Mack, Read More

Legislative Roundup: 21 Days Left In Session

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The New Mexican:

Record approval: The Senate Conservation Committee unanimously passed two bills in a matter of minutes Thursday. Senate Bill 1 appropriates $1 million a year for the New Mexico Land Grant Council, which supports land grant issues, to hire another surveyor and property attorney.

The extra staff will help the council stay abreast of land grant surveys and challenges, said Sen. Sander Rue, R-Albuquerque, who introduced the bill. 

Senate Bill 69 appropriates $2.5 million to ensure New Mexico continues to get federal money from the Drinking Water State Revolving Fund to help

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Cain: Support SB 72, Which Reforms PERA Pension System

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By BURLY CAIN
State Director
Americans for Prosperity New Mexico

Dear Governor, Lt. Governor, Attorney General, Treasurer, Cabinet Secretaries, Senators, Representatives and Staff,

On behalf of Americans for Prosperity-New Mexico activists across the state, I urge you to support Senate Bill 72, which reforms the PERA Public Employees Retirement Association pension system, when it is voted on. This vote may be recorded in our 2020 session legislative scorecard.

Senate Bill 72 sponsored by Sen. George K. Munoz would institute much needed reforms to the Public Employees Retirement Association

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Open Primaries Act Passes First House Committee

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The Open Primaries Act passed the House State Government, Elections, and Indian Affairs Committee today at the Roundhouse in Santa Fe. Photo by Carol A. Clark/ladailypost.com

Legislative Session News:

SANTA FE – Today, House Joint Resolution 3, the Open Primaries Act, sponsored by Rep. Daymon Ely (D-Corrales) passed the House State Government, Elections, and Indian Affairs Committee.

New Mexicans continue to register in growing numbers without a party affiliation under the current state constitution. But these voters are barred from participating in primary elections.

A constitutional Read More

Bill To Tackle Auto Theft Problem Passes First Committee

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HOUSE DEMOCRATS News:

SANTA FE – Tuesday, House Bill 156, the Crime of Illegally Dismantling Stolen Vehicles Act, sponsored by Rep. Abbas Akhil (D-Albuquerque), Rep. Joy Garratt (D-Albuquerque) and Rep. Daymon Ely (D-Albuquerque), passed the House Consumer & Public Affairs Committee.

House Bill 509 addresses a major source of crime in New Mexico, especially in the Albuquerque metro area, by making it a felony to own or operate a “Chop Shop”.

“Chop Shops” are defined as places where an individual receives, stores, disassembles, or alters stolen motor vehicle parts to sell the parts for Read More

Legislative Roundup: 23 Days Remaining In Session

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The New Mexican:

Round up the usual suspects: Rep. Candy Spence Ezzell, R-Roswell, interrupted Tuesday’s House floor session to report a crime: Someone had stolen her cookie basket and left a ransom message on her phone saying if she didn’t deliver more cookies, the basket would be a goner.

She said she tracked the phone number back to staff members working for House Speaker Brian Egolf, D-Santa Fe. Egolf noted the presence of state police in the Roundhouse and said they’d get on the case right away.

Ezzell had a basket of fresh cookies on her desk soon thereafter.

Honoring Wes: The Read More