Political News

Senators Heinrich & Luján Urge President Biden To Prioritize Funding For Free & Fair Elections In FY 2025 Federal Budget

U.S. Sen. Martin Heinrich

U.S. SENATE News:

WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. Senators Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.) and Ben Ray Luján (D-N.M.) sent a letter urging President Biden to include significant funding for election grants in the upcoming Fiscal Year (FY) 2025 federal budget.

These resources would help state and local governments with the administration and security of federal elections, including to maintain and improve election infrastructure, keep pace with emerging technology such as artificial intelligence, and enhance cybersecurity to combat new threats.

“With the 2024 elections Read More

Governor Signs Housing, Infrastructure Bills Into Law

From the Office of the Governor:

SANTA FE — Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham signed bills into law Wednesday that will help address New Mexico’s need for housing and infrastructure, including roads, bridges, water and broadband. 

“These bills are going to make a huge difference in the state’s ability to take advantage of every dollar when it comes to infrastructure opportunities,” Gov. Lujan Grisham said.  

The governor signed three critical housing and infrastructure bills during a signing ceremony at the New Mexico Capitol on Wednesday.  

House Bill 177, New Mexico Match Fund, sponsored by Reps. Read More

CVNM On Signing Of New Mexico Match Fund Into Law

CVNM News:

SANTA FE — Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham signed HB 177 NM Match Fund into law Wednesday.

The legislation, sponsored by Rep. Dixon (HD-20), Rep. Armstrong (HD-49), Rep. Herrera (HD-41), Sen. Campos (SD-8), and Sen. Woods (SD-7), will deliver critical resources to more than 2,800 entities statewide and help New Mexico compete with other states vying for historic federal funding made possible by the Inflation Reduction Act and Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act.

In response, Conservation Voters New Mexico (CVNM) Climate & Energy Director Samantha Kao issued the following Read More

U.S. Sen. Martin Heinrich Cosponsors Legislation To Protect Americans’ Right To Access IVF

U.S. Sen. Martin Heinrich

U.S. SENATE News:

WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. Sen. Martin Heinrich (D-N.M) has cosponsored the Access to Family Building Act, which would protect every American’s right to access in-vitro fertilization (IVF) and other assisted reproductive technology (ART) services that millions need to have children.

Introduced by U.S. Senators Tammy Duckworth (D-Ill.) and Patty Murray (D-Wash.), this legislation would establish a statutory right to access IVF and other ART services, effectively pre-empting any state effort to limit such access and ensuring no hopeful parent—or Read More

Governor Seeks New Mexicans To Apply For Professional Board And Commission Vacancies

Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham

From the Office of the Governor:

SANTA FE — Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham invites members of the public to consider serving on professional boards and commissions that help state government operate more effectively for New Mexicans.

These volunteers play a vital role in the regulation and oversight of professional industries in the fields of commerce, education, health, cultural affairs, public safety, the environment, and more. Serving on these boards provides a unique opportunity for residents of New Mexico to learn about the various functions of state government Read More

Vasquez On Bipartisan ‘Public Lands In Public Hands’ Act

U.S. Rep. Gabe Vasquez (D-NM)

STATE News:

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Feb. 27, 2024, U.S. Rep. Gabe Vasquez (D-NM) announced the introduction of the bipartisan Public Lands in Public Hands Act. Vasquez partnered with Republican U.S. Rep. Ryan Zinke from Montana on the legislation.

The Public Lands in Public Hands Act follows Vasquez’s commitment to maintaining public access to public land by banning the sale or transfer of most public lands managed by the Department of the Interior and U.S. Forest service except under specific conditions and where required under previous laws.

The bill also requires Read More

Heinrich, Colleagues Call For Legislative Solution To Protect Access To Medicare Services

U.S. Sen. Martin Heinrich

U.S. SENATE News:

WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. Sen. Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.) called on Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) and Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) to advance a legislative solution to support access to Medicare services by avoiding a devastating cut to provider reimbursement rates 

Medicare physician payments were cut by 3.4 percent Jan. 1, 2024. The rising cost of practicing medicine has led some health care professionals to limit the number of Medicare patients they serve and exacerbated the already severe health care provider Read More

New Mexico House Speaker Javier Martínez To Convene Law Enforcement, Elected Leaders, Community Advocates On Public Safety And Behavioral Health Solutions

Speaker Javier Martínez

NMDP News:

ALBUQUERQUE — New Mexico House Speaker Javier Martínez announced Tuesday that he will convene law enforcement officials, state and city leaders and community advocates to develop carefully vetted policy solutions to improve public safety and address mental and behavioral health needs in Albuquerque and throughout New Mexico. 

This working group will build on the progress made by leaders from law enforcement, city and county agencies, faith communities, and advocacy organizations who held a series of meetings last summer to address youth involvement Read More

Denish: Observations Of Some Legislative Highs And Lows

By DIANE DENISH
Corner to Corner

© 2024 New Mexico News Services

Wins, losses, surprises, and stunning moments. It’s all part of what has become known as “sausage making” during a legislative session.

In an earlier column I noted the number of bills that were introduced in the recent 30-day session – 685 to be exact (not including resolutions and memorials.) That number is lower than in recent sessions. Only 72 of those bills made it through both chambers. A handful have been signed and others await the Governor’s signature or veto.

HB1, which is always the first to pass a session, covers the expenses Read More

NMHED Announces 6,270 New Mexicans Receive Forgiveness Of Federal Student Loans

NMHED News:

SANTA FE — The New Mexico Higher Education Department announced Monday that 6,270 New Mexicans have received forgiveness of their federal student loans via President Biden’s SAVE loan forgiveness plan and fixes to the Public Service Loan Forgiveness Plan (PSLF).

This amounts to $267.1 million in debt discharged statewide as a result of the Biden Administration’s action. The federal government also forgave the loans of 5,410 New Mexico borrowers last year due to fixes to the longstanding PSLF Plan, totaling $260.2 million. Nationwide, 806,000 borrowers received $39 billion Read More

USDA Webinar: How To Apply For Broadband Funding

USDA News:

STAKEHOLDER ANNOUNCEMENT

ReConnect Program Webinar: Notice of Funding Opportunity Round 5

Presented by USDA Rural Development’s Rural Utilities Service, this webinar will be held 1-2:30 p.m. (EST) Wednesday, March 6 provide information about the ReConnect Program and will cover the recently published Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO).

This webinar will include:

  • A brief overview of the ReConnect Program
  • The current Funding Opportunity Announcement
  • A summary of changes from NOFO 4 to NOFO 5
  • Next steps and important dates
  • An opportunity to ask questions about the NOFO

Register Read More

Robinson: Feel-Good Tax Bill Has Much To Like But Stops Short Of Solving Bigger Problems

By SHERRY ROBINSON
All She Wrote
© 2024 New Mexico News Services

Legislators passed a pretty good tax package this year, but instead of responding thoughtfully to the big picture, they simply rolled together a bunch of individual bills. They got in some pet tax credits while ignoring longstanding problems and creating one new irritant for businesses and economic development.

House Bill 252 “modernizes the tax code” and “enables working New Mexicans to hold on to more of what they earn,” said its sponsor, House Taxation and Revenue Committee Chair Derrick Lente, D-Sandia Pueblo.

There is much Read More

LANL: Floodplain Assessment Issued For County Waterline And San Ildefonso Pueblo Fiber Optic Cable

LANL News:

This floodplain assessment has been prepared for two projects by two separate proponents in Los Alamos County.

Portions of the project are located on Department of Energy property. One project is the construction and operation of a new water supply line within the right-of-way of New Mexico Highway 4 (N.M. 4) by Los Alamos County’s Department of Public Utilities. The other project is the installation of a fiber optic conduit and cable within the right-of-way of N.M. 4 and New Mexico Highway 502 (N.M. 502) by Pueblo de San Ildefonso.

The two project proponents are working together to Read More

REIA-NM To Host Electrify New Mexico Conference

ENM News:

ALBUQUERQUE — The Renewable Energy Industries Association of New Mexico (REIA-NM) will host a one-day Electrify New Mexico conference Thursday, April 4 at the Sid Cutter Pilots Pavilion at Balloon Fiesta Park.

The event will bring together New Mexico business leaders, renewable energy thought leaders, elected officials, local government representatives, policy analysts and other subject matter experts to help New Mexico leverage the billions of dollars of federal and state incentives to support the transition to a clean energy future. Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham is anticipated Read More

As Farm Bill Negotiations Progress, Luján Hosts U.S. Senate Agriculture Committee Staff On Tour Of New Mexico Agriculture Industry

U.S. Sen. Ben Ray Luján hosts staff members from the U.S. Senate Committee On Agriculture, Nutrition & Forestry to Don Bustos’ Farm in Santa Cruz to meet with a local farmer and discuss the challenges and opportunities that small, minority producers face in New Mexico. Courtesy photo

Luján and Senate Agriculture Committee staff members traveled to NMSU Agriculture Science Center farm in Alcalde to meet with NMSU staff to discuss the importance of farming in rural New Mexico in relation to sustainability for Habitats, wildfire and forest recovery. Courtesy photo

U.S. SENATE News:

MORA Read More

Heinrich, Hickenlooper, Padilla, Rosen, Cortez Masto Push For Significant Investments In Geothermal Energy

U.S. SENATE News:

WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. Sen. Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.), a member of the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee, joined U.S. Senators Alex Padilla (D-Calif.), Jacky Rosen (D-Nev.), Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.), and John Hickenlooper (D-Colo.) in sending a letter to Senate Appropriations leadership calling for $118 million for the Department of Energy’s (DOE) Geothermal Technologies Office to be included in the Fiscal Year 2024 Energy and Water Development Subcommittee Appropriations Bill.

The letter further requests that the bill specify at least $100 million Read More

Tales Of Our Times: Our Nation Devised Means To Use Differences Of Opinion

Tales Of Our Times
By JOHN BARTLIT
Los Alamos

Free speech is an endless dilemma. Each of us wants to have it our way. That is, we speak as we see fit, but others should tell the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth. Yet, finding what is largely true is hard. It requires testing claimed evidence by some known standard, such as science or law. The glare of constant troubles caused by slivers of speech leaves us blind to the epic dividends of free speech.  

Contrast how much data the law requires in commerce to that in a working democracy. As the days rumble toward next November, the time is right Read More

Marco Serna Announces Candidacy For 1st Judicial DA

Marco Serna

From Marco Serna for First Judicial District Attorney Campaign:

SANTA FE — Former First Judicial District Attorney Marco Serna announces his candidacy for the same office.

As a dedicated prosecutor with more than 14 years of experience, Serna has gained a comprehensive understanding of the challenges and complexities our criminal justice system faces. ­“The current DA has enacted selective self-serving policies that fail to understand these complexities which has not only eroded the public’s trust in the judicial system, but it has also left families without justice, and Read More

Savannah River Site Tops 15M Gals. Salt Waste Processed

In its first three years of operation, the Salt Waste Processing Facility processed approximately 7.5 million gallons of tank waste, significantly contributing to the liquid waste program’s output of 15 million gallons of radioactive salt waste since 2008. Courtesy/SRS

AIKEN, S.C. — The Savannah River Site’s (SRS) liquid waste program has processed more than 15 million gallons of radioactive salt waste since 2008 through the work of three major facilities.

To reach this milestone of 15 million gallons processed, SRS has relied on the Salt Waste Processing Facility (SWPF) for the past three Read More

LeDoux: Let’s Work Together To Tackle Our Big Issues


Sam LeDoux for Española City Council District 4. Courtesy/Sam LeDoux

By SAM LEDOUX
Española City Council Candidate
District 4

As we approach the end of the 2024 municipal elections, we all should be demanding better politics. Far too often in our current political climate cultural issues, petty personal issues, and tribalism dominate our discourse. Meanwhile, some of the most important issues of our time such as the housing affordability crisis, the opioid epidemic, the huge increase in homelessness, and crumbling infrastructure not only go unaddressed but aren’t even spoken about.

Politicians Read More

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