The Santa Fe New Mexican Staff:
Senate demands new leaders for WNMU: Senators on Friday called on Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham to hasten her selection of new regents to govern the embattled Western New Mexico University.
During Friday’s floor session, senators criticized Lujan Grisham’s delay in appointing new regents after all but one resigned in recent months. The board stepped down amid significant political pressure — including from the governor — following allegations of improper university spending involving former president Joseph Shepard.
“One single student regent is writing the checks for an entire university,” Sen. Crystal Brantley, R-Elephant Butte said. “… We have got to stop this. If we thought it was bad before, could you imagine the chaos that’s happening because the governor is not taking action?”
Sen. Katy Duhigg, D-Albuquerque, who is the chair of the Senate Rules Committee, which considers executive appointments before they go to the full body, said the panel was waiting expectantly on those nominations.
“As soon as I get any appointments from the Governor’s Office, we will prioritize those hearings. We have not gotten anything yet,” she said.
Lawmakers confirm new aging and long-term services secretary: The Senate unanimously voted to make veteran drug policy advocate Emily Kaltenbach Cabinet secretary of the New Mexico Aging and Long-Term Services Department on Friday.
“As a former cabinet secretary of this department, I understand the level of leadership it takes to do the job,” Lujan Grisham said in a statement after the vote. “Emily has already begun to make significant strides in improving how we serve our seniors, and her experience, commitment and compassion will continue to drive that progress in the years ahead.”
Kaltenbach has been serving the agency since early November. She replaced Jen Paul Schroer, who stepped down from the agency in September after being in the role for a year.
“She’s a native New Mexican who understands the importance of taking care of ancianos, [or seniors],” said Sen. Leo Jaramillo, D-Española during debate of the confirmation.
Kaltenbach will make $200,000 per year in the role.
House votes to help caregivers: A large bipartisan majority of House members voted Thursday for a bill that would launch a pilot program to help financially support grandparents and other relatives raising the child of a family member.
House Bill 252, which passed 53-8, would create a Kinship Caregiver Support pilot programs in Rio Arriba, Santa Fe, Taos, McKinley, and Doña Ana Counties, aiming to help 50 families in each area picked based on household income and children’s needs, according to a news release from House Democrats. Yearly reports would be submitted to the Legislative Finance Committee assessing the program.
“Tens of thousands of kids across New Mexico are being raised by their grandparents or relatives other than their biological parents,” lead sponsor Rep. Susan Herrera, D-Embudo, said in a statement. “We need to ensure that the family members who are stepping up to care for these children have the support they need to make ends meet and raise young people who are equipped to thrive.”
The bill now heads to the Senate.
Quote of the day: “I don’t want anybody to think that my dog, Cisco, is going to qualify.” —Rep. Art De La Cruz, D-Albuquerque, asking who qualifies as a family member under a revamped paid family and medical leave bill during Friday’s floor debate of House Bill 11.