Judge Sylvia LaMar Speaks With Local Democrats
Judge Sylvia LaMar with Los Alamos Democratic Party Chair Mike Wheeler and Party Secretary Carlotta McInteer. Photo by Carl Newton
DPLA News:
New Mexico’s 1st Judicial District Judge Sylvia LaMar spoke at the monthly meeting of the Democratic Party of Los Alamos March 21.
LaMar discussed her judicial docket, which includes hearing domestic cases each Wednesday in the district courtroom of the Los Alamos Justice Center.
Before she was appointed by Gov. Susanna Martinez last November, LaMar practiced domestic relations and personal injury law in Santa Fe for many years.
Following Read More
Signed! Río Grande del Norte a National Monument
New Mexico’s Río Grande del Norte. Photo by Bob Wick/BLMCounty Democratic Convention 7 p.m. Wednesday
DEMOCRATIC PARTY News:
The Democratic County Convention is 7 p.m. Wednesday, March 27 at Fuller Lodge. Refreshments will be provided.
Monday: Udall to Host Río Grande del Norte White House Proclamation Celebration in Taos
U.S. SENATE News:NM Delegation Applauds Creation of Río Grande del Norte Monument
Río Grande del Norte. Courtesy photoLuján Urges House Leaders to Include IDEA Funding Provision in Continuing Resolution
Rep. Ben Ray Luján
U.S. CONGRESSIONAL News:
- Senate-Passed Provision Could Significantly Benefit New Mexico
WASHINGTON. D.C. – U.S. Rep. Ben Ray Luján of New Mexico’s Third District sent a letter to House Speaker John Boehner and House Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi today urging them to support the inclusion of an import provision in the final continuing resolution (CR) that addresses IDEA funding.
Rep. Nancy Pelosi
The Senate-passed CR includes a provision that changes the penalty for states that fail to meet the maintenance of effort requirement for IDEA funding (Individuals Read More
Los Alamos County Clerk Says Same-Sex Marriage Not Yet Legal in New Mexico
By GREG KENDALL Santa Fe Mayor David Coss announced that he believes same-sex marriage is legal in New Mexico and is encouraging city and county clerks to issue marriage licenses to same-sex couples.
Santa Fe City Attorney Geno Zamora and City Councilor Patti Bushee also voiced their support for gay marriage.
“Marriage law in New Mexico is gender-neutral and does not define marriage as between a man and a woman,” Zamora said. “New Mexico already recognizes valid marriages performed in other states between same-sex couples; it would violate our state’s Read More
GOP Central Committee Meets Thursday
The Los Alamos GOP Central Committee will hold its regular monthly meeting at 7 p.m. Thursday, March 21, at UNM-LA in room 220.Central Committee members are encouraged to attend. All Republicans are welcome. Read More
2013 Legislative Session Recap
STATE News:
Legislative Session Recap
SANTA FE – After 60 long days, the 2013 Legislative Session drew to a close Saturday, March 16.
Democratic lawmakers in the House of Representatives passed a majority of the agenda they laid out at the beginning of the 51st legislative session.
This success would not be possible without the help of House Republicans. Together, Representatives in the New Mexico House were able to put politics aside and work in a bipartisan manner to prioritize good policies for New Mexicans.
“I am proud of the hard work the House of Representatives has accomplished in the 2013 Read More
Fire Stations and Law Enforcement Sites To Become Safe Havens
STATE News:
- HB 374 waiting for Governor’s Signature
SANTA FE – Distraught parents who want to give up their unwanted infants now have another place where they can drop them off and keep them safe.
Legislation sponsored by Rep. Emily Kane (D-Bernalillo-15) expands Safe Haven sites to include fire stations and law enforcement locations such as police or sheriff’s departments.
House Bill 374a “Safe Haven for Infants Site Definition” is now awaiting the Governor’s signature after passing the Senate on Wednesday.
“It’s a very compassionate bill,” Kane said. “We wanted Read More
Luján Questions DOE Officials About Hanford Waste Going to New Mexico
U.S. CONGRESSIONAL News:
WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Rep. Ben Ray Luján of New Mexico’s Third District and a member of the House Energy and Commerce Committee questioned officials from the Department of Energy Wednesday. https:////www.youtube.com/watch?v=KBY9C4ZHQR4&feature=youtu.be
He questioned the officials on their plans to move millions of gallons of highly radioactive waste from the Hanford site in Washington state to New Mexico for storage at the Waste Isolation Pilot Plan (WIPP.)
While the leaks at Hanford are an environmental disaster, moving this waste to Read More
House of Representatives Highlights March 15
STATE News:
New Mexico House Highlights:
On the Floor in the House
House Bill 550 (“Raise Minimum Wage for Tipped Employees”), sponsored by Rep. Phillip Archuleta (D-Doña Ana-36), passed the House by a vote of 34-31. It increases the minimum wage for tipped employees (like waiters and waitresses) from $2.13 to $3.25 to ensure that tipped employees make a fair wage.
House Transportation & Public Works Committee Substitute for House Bill 672 with emergency clause (“Public Peace, Health, Safety & Welfare”), sponsored by Rep. Bobby Gonzales (D-Taos-42), passed the House by a vote of Read More
Kendall: Martinez vs. Garcia Richard – Gotcha Politics or SOP?
Column by GREG KENDALLDid State House Rep. Stephanie Garcia Richard break her promise to voters? She vowed to help repeal the Richardson era driver’s license law that allows undocumented immigrants to obtain New Mexico driver’s licenses.
Gov. Susana Martinez and anonymous robo-callers would like you to believe that Garcia Richard broke her promise.
Martinez went live on Los Alamos radio station KRSN AM 1490 March 7 to make that claim directly to local voters. But it is not that simple.
House Bill 606, sponsored by Rep. Paul Pacheco (R-Bernalillo & Sandoval-23), Read More
Canine Cruelty Victim Melts Hearts at Roundhouse
David Card and his dog Taffy attended Animal Protection Voters of New Mexico Animal Lobby Day Feb 25 at the Roundhouse. Taffy was rescued after being abandoned and mistreated. Courtesy photoOn Feb. 25, 2013 the Animal Protection Voters (APV) of New Mexico held Animal Lobby Day at the state capital.
APVNM is the first statewide animal advocacy organization in the country.
Canine guest, Taffy, was abandoned and found on the side of the road, scarred on his back, emaciated and blind. No one was ever held responsible for discarding him like trash. Read More
Los Alamos Chamber Officials Discuss Local Business Climate With U.S. Sen. Heinrich’s Representative
U.S. Sen. Martin Heinrich’s Field Representative Mike Sullivan, right, met Monday with Los Alamos Chamber of Commerce Membership Coordinator Katy Korkos and Chamber Executive Director Kevin Holsapple at their Chamber Offices in downtown Los Alamos to hear about the local business climate and relay that information back to the Senator in Washington, D.C. Photo by Carol A. Clark/ladailypost.com Read More
UNM-LA Advisory Board Members Take Oath
Municipal Court Judge Alan Kirk swears in new UNM-LA Advisory Board Member Michelle Hall at the Monday, March 11 UNM-LA Advisory Board Meeting held at the college. Hall was elected to Position One on the Board in February. Photo by Bonnie J. Gordon/ladailypost.com
Newly elected UNM-LA Advisory Board Member John Hofmann is sworn in by Municipal Court Judge Alan Kirk Monday evening at the college. Hofmann was elected to Position Five on the Board in February. Photo by Bonnie J. Gordon/ladailypost.comRep. Stephanie Garcia Richard Votes on Driver’s License Bill and Urges Governor to Stop Playing Party Politics
STATE News:
SANTA FE – Saturday, March 9, the New Mexico State House Appropriations and Finance Committee convened to vote on HB 606 (driver’s licenses bill.)
After hearing testimony and expressing concern over the fiscal implications, the committee had a tied tabling motion on HB 606.
Democrat Rep. Stephanie Garcia Richard broke party rank and joined Republicans in voting against the tabling motion.
Garcia Richard again joined committee Republicans in voting in favor of passing the bill out of committee, but the vote failed through a second tie.
“I have been deeply concerned by Gov. Martinez’s Read More
Los Alamos Federation of Republican Women Meets March 14
LAFRW News:Governor Calls Out Rep. Garcia Richard
Gov. Susana Martinez
This morning on the KRSN AM 1490 morning show, Gov. Susana Martinez accused Rep. Stephanie Garcia Richard of breaking her campaign promise to voters in Los Alamos with regard to driver’s licenses for illegal immigrants (House Bill 606.)
Garcia Richard is on record during her campaign for favoring the repeal of the current law, which grants driver’s licenses to illegal immigrants, saying “It’s a bad law that needs to be changed.”
It appears Garcia Richard was trying to do just that through her vote yesterday. Read More
NM House of Representatives Highlights March 5
STATE News:
On the Floor
- House Education Committee Substitute For House Bill 27 (“Expand Lottery Scholarship Eligibility”) sponsored Rep. Sheryl Williams Stapleton, passed the House with a vote of 49-13. The legislation will extend the Legislative Lottery Scholarship eligibility to students who are accepted to attend a two-year state educational institution within two years of completion of a high school curriculum at a public or accredited private NM high school, receiving a high school equivalency diploma, beginning service in the US armed forces, or honorable service or medical