The Santa Fe New Mexican Staff:
Top prosecutor resigns at Trump’s request: The U.S. Attorney for New Mexico, Alexander M.M. Uballez, stepped down Friday at the request of President Donald Trump.
Uballez, who was nominated by former President Joe Biden in January 2022 and confirmed by the U.S. Senate that May, is among more the 20 U.S. attorneys who the Trump administration asked to resign.
“Today, I say farewell to a Department that I love,” Uballez said Friday in a statement.
“Together, we have made our community safer by delivering swift and certain justice to the most prolific violent offenders, human and drug traffickers, and child abusers,” he said. “We have saved lives by intervening to prevent violence and by supporting those who strive to return to our community from incarceration. Most importantly, we fought to build a community united in the pursuit of justice for all by choosing prevention before punishment, delivering consequences but not indignity, and seeking redemption not isolation.”
Raul Bujanda, special agent in charge of the FBI’s Albuquerque field office, lauded Uballez, saying he served the people of New Mexico with honor and distinction and was “an incredible partner in our mission to protect the American public.”
Bill to raise cigarette tax amended: Cigarette smokers can breathe a cough of relief.
A bill proposing to raise the tax on cigarettes and tobacco products is no longer as far-reaching as originally proposed. Senate Bill 20, which the Senate Tax, Business and Transportation Committee advanced on a 4-3 party-line vote Tuesday, now only calls for increasing the tax on tobacco products such as e-cigarettes, e-liquids and nicotine pouches.
Even then, the proposed increase on these products was slashed from 67.5% of the wholesale price in the original bill to 40%.
The sponsor, Sen. Martin Hickey, D-Albuquerque, axed the proposal to raise New Mexico’s current cigarette tax of $2 per pack to $3, as well as proposed tax increases on different types of cigars. Hickey said he amended his bill to try to gain more support amid pressure from the tobacco industry and also because it is still designed to prevent youth from smoking.
“The reason for this bill is a youth health bill,” he said after the committee vote. “There are studies that show that if you vape, you’re seven times more likely to go on to cigarettes. … I didn’t want any confounding factors to derail the bill.”
House asks feds to keep college program alive: The House voted unanimously Tuesday to ask the federal government to continue to fund programs that help low-income students go to college.
TRIO programs in New Mexico get about $13.5 million in federal funding per year, according to House Joint Memorial 3, which declares Friday “New Mexico TRIO Programs Day.”
“In New Mexico thousands of students rely on these programs to overcome barriers to higher education,” said Rep. Angelica Rubio, D-Las Cruces, the sponsor of the measure. One of them was Rubio, who flunked her first semester of college at New Mexico State University.
“Overwhelmed and not knowing how to navigate the system, I nearly gave up,” she said.
With help, she said, she turned things around, graduating from NMSU and going on to get a master’s degree.
“They make higher education possible for students who might otherwise fall through the cracks,” she said.
House votes to help tipped workers: The House voted 61-5 Tuesday afternoon to pass a bill banning employers from deducting credit card processing fees from the tips paid to tipped employee.
“Protecting your rightfully earned wages is an important and commonsense step we can take to help make life better and more affordable for you and your family,” Rep. Art De La Cruz, D-Albuquerque, the lead sponsor of House Bill 22, said in a statement.
The bill has an emergency clause, meaning if it also passes the Senate by at least a two-thirds vote it will take effect as soon as the governor signs it. The bill’s sponsors include four Democrats and one Republican, Rio Rancho Rep. Joshua Hernandez.
Santa Fe gets some love: The House of Representatives took a bit of time Tuesday to mark “Santa Fe County Day,” with several county commissioners in the gallery for the occasion.
Rep. Rebecca Dow, R-Truth or Consequences, said she misses her small-town home but she also loves being in Santa Fe for the session and especially the shopping opportunities.
“Thank you guys for being so hospitable and it’s such a beautiful city to visit,” she said.
“You took the words out of my mouth except the shopping part,” joked House Speaker Javier Martínez, D-Albuquerque. Martínez said Santa Fe is one of his favorite places and “the people are just amazing.”
The House also lauded chef Fernando Ruiz, a current James Beard award nominee and champion of several Food Network who opened his restaurant Escondido last year. House members praised Ruiz both for his cooking and his work to help other formerly incarcerated people.
“When I look at him, I see his wings, as he’s one of our angels here who’s watching over our people and our public and doing incredible things,” said Rep. Tara Lujan, D-Santa Fe.
State-tribal compact schools bill gets green light: A bill that would allow for the creation of state-tribal compact schools received unanimous approval from the Senate Finance Committee on Tuesday.
“Everybody else has tried to decide what is best for our children, and I think this bill is a turning point in this state to allow tribes to focus on their language,” said sponsor Sen. Benny Shendo Jr., D-Jemez Pueblo.
Senate Bill 13 would amend state code to create state-tribal education compact schools, authorizing the Public Education Department to enter into compacts with Indian nations, tribes and pueblos to create language and culture-based schools, according to a bill summary from the Legislative Finance Committee.
Quote of the day: “I think this is a good opportunity for me to say, ‘Build baby build.’ (House members clap.) You all get extra capital outlay.” —House Speaker Javier Martínez, D-Albuquerque, speaking in favor of House Memorial 3, a measure sponsored by House Minority Leader Gail Armstrong, R-Magdalena, declaring Tuesday New Mexico Home Builders Association Day.