Report: New Mexico 17th Highest In Unfair Tax System
Courtey/NMVC
NMVC News:
ALBUQUERQUE—A new study released today by the Institute on Taxation and Economic Policy (ITEP) ranks New Mexico 17th in the nation in terms of having an unfair state and local tax system.
This means that 33 states have tax systems that are considered more equitable than ours.
The study, Who Pays?, analyzes tax systems in all 50 states and factors in all major state and local taxes, including personal and corporate income taxes, property taxes, sales and other excise taxes. New Mexico is among the states with a high negative tax inequality index—meaning its tax system actually Read More
Maestas Barnes To File Bill For Amber Alert System
Rep. Sarah Maestas Barnes
STATE News:
SANTA Fe – In an effort to protect New Mexico’s children, Rep. Sarah Maestas Barnes, R-Bernalillo County, announced today that she plans to file legislation that will require all cell phone and pager companies to issue Amber Alerts. Under current New Mexico law, there is no requirement.
“When a child goes missing, we need to do everything we can to find them and bring them back home safely,” Maestas Barnes said. “The Amber Alert System saves lives – that is why it’s so critical that we expand the service to reach all New Mexicans who have a cell phone.”
The Read More
James To File Legislation For Tougher Child Abuse Laws
Rep. Conrad James
STATE News:
SANTA FE — Rep. Conrad James, R-Bernallio County announced today that he plans to file legislation that will toughen penalties for convicted child abusers and those whose abuse contributes to the death of a child.
“We should always fight to protect our children and hold those who harm them accountable for their heinous actions,” James said. “When we toughen child abuse laws, especially abuse that kills a child, we send a strong message that harming our children will not be tolerated.”
Currently, those who intentionally beat a child to death face life in prison Read More
Los Alamos Republican Party Meets Jan. 15
GOP News:
The Republican Party of Los Alamos County will hold its regular meeting at 7 p.m., Thursday, Jan. 15 at UNM-LA Room 610.
The public is welcome to attend a presentation by Mark Jones, Jody Benson and Iris Chung about a possible ban on single-use plastic bags in Los Alamos County. A business meeting will follow the presentation.
For more information, contact Robert Gibson at 505.662.3159. Read More
Harrison: Fixing The Broken Campaign System
By VIKI HARRISON, Executive DirectorFor the past six months, Common Cause New Mexico and the Foundation for Open Government have been traveling the state, talking to folks from Las Cruces to Farmington about the heavy price New Mexicans pay due to the influence of money in politics.
I was in Los Alamos recently talking about our legislative agenda – which is aimed directly at the role money plays in both campaigns and policy making.
While many of the biggest contributions made by donors to PACS and candidates are hidden from view – the effects of them are plain:
- insufficient
Municipal League Aims To Fix Food Tax For Good
By William F. Fulginiti,SANTA FE – The New Mexico Municipal League is backing efforts in the upcoming legislative session to reverse the painful consequences of a 2004 law that repealed taxes on retail food sales and medical services to reduce the tax burden of our state’s low-income residents.
The law did not help the disadvantaged, and it hurt the state by spurring a rush to increase other taxes meant to compensate cities and counties for the loss of revenue. The result is higher gross receipts taxes (GRT) — potentially more than 9 percent Read More
Luján Applauds Law To Help Prevent Veteran Suicides
U.S. Rep. Ben Ray Luján
U.S. CONGRESSIONAL News:
WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Rep. Ben Ray Luján of New Mexico’s Third District applauded the unanimous passage of legislation in the House last night to help prevent suicide among our nation’s veterans.
The Clay Hunt Suicide Prevention for American Veterans Act expands access to mental health services and increases the capacity and efficiency of VA care to address the needs of veterans returning home from war. The bill passed the House last Congress, but did not receive a final vote in the Senate before the end of last Read More
Santa Fe Joins Independent Redistricting Movement
CCNM News:
In March 2014, the voters in Santa Fe passed a ballot measure to create an Independent Citizens’ Redistricting Commission, and last month the Santa Fe City Council established procedures for the Commission per the City Charter.
“Common Cause New Mexico (CCNM) was thrilled to see the independent redistricting measure pass in Santa Fe, and enjoyed working hand-in-hand with the League of Women’s’ Voters of Santa Fe County on the ballot measure and subsequent Council meetings to ensure the procedures are fair, transparent and independent,” CCNM Executive Director Viki Harrison Read More
Los Alamos High School Graduate Becomes First Woman President Of Croatia
Kolinda Grabar-Kitarovic
A Los Alamos High School graduate has been elected the first woman president of Croatia.
Kolinda Grabar-Kitarovic, 46, graduated from Los Alamos High School in 1986.
“This is a wonderful story of success by one of our alumni to realize this great achievement – it speaks to her character to take on this kind of challenge,” LAPS Superintendent Dr. Gene Schmidt said. “Mrs. Dorothy (Dee) Wilson was her counselor and describes her as very enthusiastic, a fun person who was not shy and who wanted Read More
Governor Introduces Fiscal Year 2016 Budget
Gov. Susana Martinez
STATE News:
- Budget Targets Funding Toward Initiatives That Would Create Jobs, Reform Education and Increase Student Achievement, and Improve Child Well-Being
LAS CRUCES — Today, Gov. Susana Martinez announced her Fiscal Year 2016 budget proposal, which targets funding toward initiatives designed to grow the State’s economy and improve the education and general well-being of New Mexico children.
According to the latest meeting of the consensus revenue forecast committee, projected revenues exceed this year’s spending – by roughly $141 million, and due to proper Read More
Heinrich Opposes Keystone XL Pipeline
U.S. Sen. Martin Heinrich delivers statement to Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources. Video Screen Shot
U.S SENATE News:
WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Sen. Martin Heinrich, D-N.M., voted Thursday against advancing legislation to approve the Keystone XL Pipeline during a markup in the Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.
Heinrich, who also is a member of the Climate Action Task Force, is a lead proponent of reversing the effects of climate change and an advocate for developing homegrown energy resources. He cited that according to the U.S. State Department’s Read More
ACI Approves 2015 Legislative Agenda
ACI News:
- New Mexico Business Leaders Meet to Discuss Priorities, Goals
ALBUQUERQUE – More than 70 business leaders from throughout New Mexico convened Thursday at the semi-annual board and membership meeting of the New Mexico Association of Commerce and Industry (ACI), the statewide business advocate.
The group discussed the upcoming legislative session and voted on a detailed policy agenda that ACI will support during the upcoming legislative session. ACI’s President and CEO, Dr. Beverlee McClure, said she and ACI’s advocacy staff are ready to get to work.
“Businesses Read More
2015 Legislative Preview Reveals Tough Challenges
From left, Dist. 43 Rep. Stephanie Garcia Richard, Sen. Carlos Cisneros, Rep. Jim Smith and Common Cause NM Executive Director Viki Harrison at Thursday’s Legislative Preview at Fuller Lodge. Photo by Carol A. Clark/ladailypost.com
Dist. 43 Rep. Stephanie Garcia Richard discusses the upcoming legislative session. Photo by Carol A. Clark/ladailypost.comLooking at the upcoming legislative session, which begins Jan. 20, Dist. 43 Rep. Stephanie Garcia Richard described it as, “a brave new world for all of us.”
For the first time in 62
School Board And UNM/LA Advisory Board Candidate Forum Wednesday At Fuller Lodge
LWVLA News:
The League of Women Voters of Los Alamos will hold a forum for Los Alamos Public Schools and UNM-Los Alamos Advisory Board candidates in Fuller Lodge, 7-9 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 14, (with refreshments at 6:30 p.m.).
Members of the Los Alamos High School Hilltalkers debate team will assist at the event as timekeepers and microphone facilitators.
School Board Candidates:
- District 3: Nancy Ann Holmes, William Hargraves, Sheryl Nichols;
- District 4: Andrea Cunningham, Michael Fassbender; and
- District 5: Judy Bjarke-McKenzie, Jennifer McCumber.
All three LAPS districts are Read More
Common Cause Official Discusses Campaign Financing, Ethics In Government At Thursday’s Legislative Preview
Common Cause New Mexico Executive Director Viki Harrison, right, discusses the issues at Thursday’s Legislative Preview in Fuller Lodge. Listening from left, Rep. Stephanie Garcia Richard, Sen. Carlos Cisneros and Rep. Jim Smith. Photo by Carol A. Clark/ladailypost.com
Community members turn out for Thursday’s Legislative Preview in Fuller Lodge. Photo by Carol A. Clark/ladailypost.com
STAFF REPORT
- Editor’s Note: Read the discussion by Sen. Carlos Cisneros, Rep. Stephanie Garcia Richard and Rep. Jim Smith in Saturday’s edition of the Los
Udall Named Lead Democrat On Appropriations Subcommittee On Interior & Environment
U.S. Sen. Tom Udall
U.S. SENATE News:
WASHINGTON – Today, U.S. Sen. Tom Udall announced he will assume the role of the lead Democrat (ranking member) on the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on the Interior, Environment and Related Agencies.
The U.S. Department of the Interior manages America’s vast natural and cultural resources, and holds important jurisdiction in New Mexico through its leadership of the Bureaus of Land Management, Indian Affairs and Reclamation; the National Park Service; and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.
As ranking member, Udall will hold a key position Read More
Skandera Still Not Listening To Teachers Or Parents; Continues To Push Retention Despite Negative Effects
By Senate Majority Leader Michael S. SanchezSANTA FE – An op-ed by Education Secretary-Designate Hanna Skandera in the Albuquerque Journal this week asks voters to support the Governor’s continued agenda to end social promotion in New Mexico schools.
Skandera tells us that social promotion is a “failed policy” and that when children cannot read at grade level, they should be held back. It doesn’t matter that they may score extremely high in math, because she believes their reading score is the determining factor in whether they should proceed to the Read More
Poll Workers Train For School Board Election
Elections Manager Gloria Maestas trains poll workers this morning on voting machines for the Feb. 3 School Board. Courtesy/LAC
Poll workers from left, Fred Brueggeman, Bill McKerley, Erin Kennison and Collin Windle test the audio-visual ballot marking interface component on the ICE voting machine during today’s certification. Courtesy/LAC
COUNTY News:
The Los Alamos County (LAC) Clerk’s Office conducted poll worker training today for the Feb. 3 School Board Election.
Poll workers are entrusted with the responsibility of carrying out state mandated election procedures Read More
Heinrich Cosponsors Bill To Ensure Married Same-Sex Couples Are Treated Equally Under Federal Law
U.S. SENATE News:
- “Guaranteeing equal protection under the law is right and just.”
WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Sen. Martin Heinrich, D-N.M., cosponsored S. 29, the Respect for Marriage Act, a bill to ensure all legally-married, same-sex couples are treated equally under federal law.
The bill seeks to fully implement the Supreme Court’s decision striking down the discriminatory Defense of Marriage Act.
“All couples who have solidified their life-long commitment to each other through marriage deserve the same rights and responsibilities regardless of where they live,” Read More
Luján Statement At Start Of 114th Congress
Rep. Ben Ray Luján
CONGRESSIONAL News:
Washington, D.C. – Rep. Ben Ray Luján of New Mexico’s Third District released the following statement Tuesday after being sworn in as a member of the 114th Congress.
“As we start the new Congress it is a tremendous honor to serve the people of New Mexico and to have the opportunity to again represent our great state. In New Mexico we are a family, and to solve the challenges we face we need to work together, from every level of government to the private sector. We all have a role to play and I will be working hard in Washington and in the district Read More
