Political News
Legislative Roundup: 26 Days Remaining In Session
Legislative Roundup
SFNM News:
Governor on guns: Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham spoke on Friday about proposed gun legislation, saying it’s possible to protect Second Amendment rights as well as improve public safety. “My message is we have an opportunity to do both,” she told reporters. “Why wouldn’t we?”
Lujan Grisham has put on her agenda an initiative, filed as House Bill 7 and Senate Bill 5, that would allow for extreme-risk protection orders, letting law enforcement obtain a court order to remove guns from people considered dangerous.
Best of both worlds? Lujan Grisham also spoke about
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State Politics 2020 Legislative Session Legislative Roundup
Optimism Marks Opening Of 2020 Legislative Session
Members of the New Mexico National Guard present the colors as the 2020 Legislative Session gets underway Tuesday in Santa Fe. Photo by Carol A. Clark/ladailypost.com
New Mexico Commissioner of Public Lands Stephanie Garcia Richard and Dist. 43 Rep. Christine Chandler, both of Los Alamos gather for a photo at the opening of the legislative session Tuesday at the Roundhouse in Santa Fe. Photo by Carol A. Clark/ladailypost.com
By CAROL A. CLARK
Los Alamos Daily Post
caclark@ladailypost.com
SANTA FE – The 30-Day Session of the 54th New Mexico Legislature got underway Tuesday at the Roundhouse.
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State Politics Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham Rep. Christine Chandler New Mexico Legislature House Speaker Brian Egolf Land Commissioner Stephanie Garcia Richard
U.S. Supreme Court Action On Abortion Could Prompt Special Session Of New Mexico Legislature
The Roundhouse in Santa Fe. Photo by Carol A. Clark/ladailypost.com
By DANIELLE PROKOP
The New Mexican
Democrats in the state Senate say they still don’t have enough votes to repeal an old, unenforceable abortion ban that remains in New Mexico law.
They believe a failed effort in the 2019 legislative session — when a handful of conservative Democrats joined Republicans to block it — could see the same results in this year’s 30-day session.
But with the U.S. Supreme Court poised to hear a Louisiana case that is expected to test the landmark 1973 decision in Roe v. Wade, Senate Democrats and
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State Politics New Mexico Legislature House Bill 51 Roe v. Wade U.S. Supreme Court
Tesuque Pueblo Eyes Film Production Facility To Meet What State Says Is Rising Demand
By JENS ERIK GOULD
New Mexican
Tesuque Pueblo is actively pursuing plans to turn its old Camel Rock Casino into a film production facility after the space was used last year for the movie production of News of the World, starring Tom Hanks.
The Pueblo of Tesuque Development Corp. is in talks with scouts for film and television companies about using the location for future productions, said Timothy Brown, the entity’s president and CEO. The former casino, located off U.S. 84/285, could be used on a short- or long-term basis or rented to a major production company, he said.
“We feel it’s a
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Politics Tesuque Pueblo Albuquerque Studios Netflix Amazon Hulu News of the World Tom Hanks
Legislative Roundup: Days Remaining In Session 29
Legislative Roundup
New Mexican
Days remaining in session: 29
Bring out the guillotines: Climate activists rallied outside the Roundhouse prior to the governor’s address Tuesday, demanding action on global warming and an end to fracking. Amid a crowd of around 100 people, there was drumming, and one protester, Bobbe Besold of Santa Fe, danced while holding a giant skeleton and a sign that read “Extraction is Extinction.”
At one point, activists placed three young people’s heads in three fake guillotines, with angled blades held up by ropes attached to blocks of
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State Politics Legislative Roundup New Lexico Legislature
House Speaker Brian Egolf Shares Priorities For 2020 Legislative Session In Opening Remarks Tuesday
Speaker of the House Brian Egolf opens the 30-Day Session of the 54th New Mexico Legislature Tuesday at the Roundhouse in Santa Fe. Photo by Carol A. Clark/ladailypost.com.
NMDP News:
SANTA FE — Speaker of the House Brian Egolf (D-Santa Fe) opened the 30-Day Session of the 54th New Mexico Legislature Tuesday with remarks asserting House priorities for the 2020 Legislative Session.
Focused on passing a responsible budget that continues investing and uplifting a generation from poverty through education, House Democrats are also committed to securing a better future through economic diversification
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State Politics Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham Speaker of the House Brian Egolf 54th New Mexico Legislature
Governor Issues Second State Of State Address
Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham delivers her State of the State Address this afternoon before a joint session of the House and Senate at the State Capitol. Photo by Carol A. Clark/ladailypost.com
From the Office of the Governor:
SANTA FE – Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham issued her second annual State of the State address today at the Roundhouse.
The governor launched the second session of the 54th New Mexico Legislature with a speech
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State Politics Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham Roundhouse State of the State Address New Mexico Legislature
New Mexico Counties Push For Jail, Sheriff Funding
By AMANDA MARTINEZ
New Mexican
An organization that represents New Mexico county governments is pushing the state Legislature to increase reimbursements to counties for the rising costs of transporting state prisoners and providing behavioral health care to state inmates housed in county jails and youth centers.
The Santa Fe-based nonprofit New Mexico Counties is seeking a more than $6 million increase to the County Detention Facility Reimbursement Fund, which now stands at $2.3 million a year.
State law allows county sheriff’s offices to charge the state per diem and mileage expenses
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State Politics New Mexico Counties Housing and Transporting State Prisoners
Governor, Staff Gear Up For State Of State Address
Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham
By MICHAEL GERSTEIN
New Mexican
On the roughly eight-hour flight from Chicago to Dublin, Ireland, Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham’s speechwriter and top communications staffer started a draft of what will be her second annual address to the Legislature.
Six hours and 6,000 words later, Tripp Stelnicki closed his laptop and braced himself to meet his sister’s fiancé in Ireland.
Since then, Stelnicki said, the document has run the gantlet, viewed and honed by the governor’s chief of staff, John Bingaman, senior adviser Dominic Gabello and the governor
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State Politics Gov. Michelle Lijan Grisham State of the State
54th Annual Legislative Session Begins Noon Today
Legislative Roundup:
The New Mexican
Days remaining in session: 30
In the beginning: The 54th annual legislative session begins at noon today at the state Capitol on the corner of Paseo de Peralta and Old Santa Fe Trail.
Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham is scheduled to give her State of the State address outlining her initiatives on the floor of the House of Representatives, though that event generally occurs later in the afternoon.
Musical political chairs: The Senate’s Committee on Committees meets at 10 a.m. Tuesday in Room 326 to discuss assignments. Members will choose a successor for Sen.
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State Politics 2020 Legislative Session Roundhouse
New Mexico Congressional Delegation Makes Requests Regarding PFAS And Plan For Next Steps
CONGRESSIONAL DELEGATION News:
WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. Senators Tom Udall (D-N.M.) and Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.) and U.S. Representatives Ben Ray Lujan (D-N.M.), Deb Haaland (D-N.M.) and Xochitl Torres Small (D-N.M.) wrote a letter to Secretary of Defense Mark Esper requesting that the Department of Defense’s (DoD) release a plan for next steps to ensure New Mexican communities and dairy farms in close proximity to Cannon Air Force Base receive access to a clean water supply and a reimbursement of incurred filtration expenses.
The delegation also requested DoD work on plans to purchase
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State Politics New Mexico Congressional Delegation PFAS Damages Act Cannon Air Force Base
Marco Serna Releases Education Position Paper
By MARCO SERNA
Candidate for Congress
District 3
“Education is the most powerful weapon, which you can use to change the world,” Nelson Mandela said.
More than anytime in history, we must heed his advice and make basic changes to our education system if we are going to maintain our economic and moral leadership around the world.
The United States entered the 21st Century as the world’s sole superpower. We had the third-largest population with 327 million people, the largest economy and the second-largest higher-education system.
As recently as 20 years ago, the United States was ranked No.
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Education Politics Marco Serna CD3
New Mexico Delegation Recognizes Sandia National Laboratories Contributions To State Economy, Jobs
NM CONGRESSIONAL DELEGATION News:
WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. Senators Tom Udall (D-N.M.) and Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.), and U.S. Representatives Ben Ray Luján (D-N.M.), Deb Haaland (D-N.M.) and Xochitl Torres Small (D-N.M.), commended findings from a 2019 economic-impact analysis released Wednesday, which found that Sandia National Laboratories (SNL) is responsible for creating 1,100 new jobs while contributing $509 million to New Mexico businesses and $96.6 million in state gross receipt tax revenue.
The Economic Impact Report also found that SNL contributes $784 million to small
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State Politics Sandia National Laboratories SNL New Mexico Congressional Delegation
Sierra Club Rio Grande Chapter Announces Early Endorsements For Environmental Champions
SIERRA CLUB News:
ALBUQUERQUE — The Rio Grande Chapter of the Sierra Club Friday issued its early 2020 endorsements of incumbent legislators who are leading environmental champions, including Dist. 43 Rep. Christine Chandler of Los Alamos.
“The candidates on this list have sponsored critical environmental legislation and have outstanding voting records over the last three years on pro-environment bills. They have proven they are committed to protecting our climate, water, land and wildlife here in New Mexico,” said Richard Barish, Sierra Club Rio Grande Chapter political chair.
“Because
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State Politics Environment Rio Grande Chapter Sierra Club Rep. Christine Chandler
New Mexico Ethics Watch Releases Comprehensive Lobbying Report On Tales Of Film, Firearms And Fumes
NMEW News:
New Mexico Ethics Watch (NMEW), a nonprofit dedicated to promoting ethics in governance and public life, has released its report, Lobbyists and Their Outsized Influence in New Mexico: Tales of Film, Firearms and Fumes.
The report takes a fresh look at lobbying and the New Mexico Legislature, examining monies spent and tactics used to influence votes regarding legislation on cannabis, firearms, film and tobacco-related products.
Using data from the Secretary of State’s Campaign Finance Information System (CFIS), the report paints a picture of the lengths to which lobbyists
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State Politics New Mexico Ethics Watch Lobbyists
Q&A: Congressional Candidate Teresa Fernandez
Congressional District 3 Candidate Teresa Leger Fernandez
By CAROL A. CLARK
Los Alamos Daily Post
caclark@ladailypost.com
Editor’s note: This is the eighth in a series in which the Los Alamos Daily Post presents the same set of questions to each of the candidates running for Congressional District 3, which serves the northern half of New Mexico.
Democratic candidate Teresa Leger Fernandez provided the following answers:
POST: Why do you believe you are qualified to represent New Mexico in Congress?
LEGER FERNANDEZ: I have spent the past 30 years working with and on behalf of our communities
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State Nation Politics Teresa Leger Fernandez District 3 Congressional Cadidate
Udall Votes For US-Mexico-Canada Trade Agreement
U.S. Sen. Tom Udall
U.S. SENATE News:
WASHINGTON, D.C. — Friday, U.S. Sen. Tom Udall (D-N.M.) voted to pass legislation to implement the new NAFTA, the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Trade Agreement.
He issued the following statement:
“I am glad that Democrats have included significant improvements for workers to the weaker agreement that was negotiated by the Trump administration, and I hope today’s vote will put President Trump’s chaotic and harmful trade policies behind us—at least when it comes to our southern border. New Mexico’s growing border economy is a bright spot for our state, and I believe
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Politics Tom Udall NAFTA U.S.-Mexico-Canada Trade Agreement
Preview Of 2020 Legislative Session
The 2020 legislative session begins noon Tuesday at the Roundhouse. Photo by Carol A. Clark/ladailypost.com
By ROBERT NOTT
rnott@sfnewmexican.com
Mix hundreds of legislative bills, resolutions and memorials into a 30-day legislative session designed to focus on the budget and you’ll likely come up with a recipe for some prioritizing, lots of stalling and some surprise winning bills breaking out in the final minutes.
Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham has announced an agenda for this year’s legislative session that focuses on education, the environment, public safety and health.
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State Politics 2020 Legislative Session
Governor Seeks Applicants For Gambling Council
Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham
STATE News:
SANTA FE — Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham is calling for applications to fill the statutory Compulsive Gambling Council.
All 15 members of the Compulsive Gambling Council are appointed by the governor and serve at her pleasure.
The positions that need to be filled include:
- A member of a fraternal organization that sponsors gambling;
- Two persons with expertise in the field of compulsive gambling;
- Two Native American representatives from a tribe or pueblo with gaming operations;
- Two representatives of the non-Native American gaming industry;
- Two representatives
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State Politics Compulsive Gambling Council
Reporters Without Borders USA Calls On Senate To Reverse Unprecedented Restrictions On The Press
Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, right, during a recent press conference in Washington, D.C. Courtesy/RSF
RSF News:
Reporters Without Borders (RSF) strongly condemns the restrictions the Senate Sergeant At Arms and the Senate Committee on Rules and Administration are imposing on Capitol Hill reporters during the impeachment trial for President Donald Trump.
RSF calls on the Senate Majority Leader to reverse these rules immediately.
Members of the press covering the Senate impeachment trial of President Trump, which began Jan. 16, are facing new “security measures” in the form
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Nation Politics Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell RSF First Amendment
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