Politics

54th Annual Legislative Session Begins Noon Today

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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. Read More

New Mexico Congressional Delegation Makes Requests Regarding PFAS And Plan For Next Steps

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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 Read More

Marco Serna Releases Education Position Paper

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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. Read More

New Mexico Delegation Recognizes Sandia National Laboratories Contributions To State Economy, Jobs

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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 Read More

Sierra Club Rio Grande Chapter Announces Early Endorsements For Environmental Champions

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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 Read More

New Mexico Ethics Watch Releases Comprehensive Lobbying Report On Tales Of Film, Firearms And Fumes

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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 Read More

Q&A: Congressional Candidate Teresa Fernandez

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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 Read More

Udall Votes For US-Mexico-Canada Trade Agreement

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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 Read More

Preview Of 2020 Legislative Session

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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. Read More

Governor Seeks Applicants For Gambling Council

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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
Read More