Political News

Los Alamos Public School Staff Returns to Work

Several groups met with Los Alamos Public School staff  returning back to school Friday after the summer break. During a breakfast at Los Alamos High School, Los Alamos Co-op General Manager Steve Watts, left, shared information about the Co-op and Lisa Wismer, right, and other UNM-LA staff  talked with State Rep. Stephanie Garcia Richard, center, about her ongoing support of the UNM-LA mil levy vote that is coming up next month. Students return to work Wednesday. Courtesy photo

The Los Alamos Public Schools’ all staff breakfast was held at the high school with exhibits by Read More

Letter to the Editor: UNM-LA a Great Resource for Seniors

UNM-LA a Great Resource for Seniors
By Colleen Hanlon
Los Alamos

I am a believer in the value of education. I am going to support the upcoming UNM-Los Alamos mil-levy, and I have been encouraging the people I meet to join me in this effort.

Why do I support the mil-levy increase for UNM-LA, and how have I benefited directly from UNM-LA?

About six years ago I registered (at the $5 Senior Rate) to audit a class in Native American Film Studies. I was a little timid about who my classmates would be, and how they would feel about an almost 70 year old in their class.

Well, it was a memorable experience. We enjoyed Read More

‘Make It In America’ Added to Agenda

CONGRESSIONAL News:

WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Rep. Ben Ray Luján announced that legislation he has introduced to increase partnerships between businesses and national laboratories has been included as part of House Democrats’ Make It In America Agenda (MIIA.)

Luján’s legislation authorizes a dedicated fund to provide for the government’s share of Cooperative Research and Development Agreements (CRADA) that support maturing lab technology and transferring it to the private sector. The bill will help foster relationships between businesses and national laboratories that can help spur Read More

Udall Unveils Major Legislation to Reform FISA Courts

U.S. SENATE News:

WASHINGTON D.C. – U.S. Tom Udall, D-N.M., joined by Senators Richard Blumenthal, D-Conn., and Ron Wyden, D-Ore., unveiled two bills that would ensure FISA courts properly balance the need to protect national security with constitutional and statutory requirements to safeguard individual rights to privacy and liberty.

The first bill, the FISA Court Reform Act of 2013, would create a Special Advocate with the power to argue in the FISA courts on behalf of the right to privacy and other individual rights of the American people. The second bill, The FISA Judge Selection Reform Read More

Heinrich Includes Amendment Expanding Tech Development

Sen. Martin Heinrich

U.S. SENATE News:

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Tuesday, July 30,  U.S. Sen. Martin Heinrich, D-N.M., a member of the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation, successfully included an amendment to S. 1317, the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) Reauthorization Act of 2013, to expand the development and testing of new space technologies within NASA’s Flight Opportunities Program. 

The NASA Reauthorization Act of 2013, including Sen. Heinrich’s amendment, passed the committee and can now go to the Read More

Education is at Heart of Community’s Identity … UNM-Los Alamos is Our College

At last year’s candidate’s forum, Michelle Hall discussed her desire to help steer UNM-LA through challenging times. Photo by Carol A. Clark/ladailypost.com
 
Education is at Heart of Community’s Identity … UNM-Los Alamos is Our College
“I have not met more dedicated faculty and staff at any University than UNM-Los Alamos.” -Michelle Hall
 
By CAROL A. CLARK
Los Alamos Daily Post

Michelle Hall recalled one thing that really impressed her about Los Alamos when she moved here in 2003 – the community’s commitment Read More

Udall: We Need a Functioning FEC to Reform our Campaign Finance System

U.S. SENATE News:

WASHINGTON – U.S. Sen. Tom Udall, D-N.M. called for a functioning Federal Election Commission (FEC) to enforce federal campaign finance laws.

His remarks came during a hearing of the Senate Committee on Rules & Administration to consider President Obama’s nominees to serve on the FEC.

“As you know, I am a strong supporter of reforming our campaign finance system. I believe one important step is to have a functioning FEC, where all six seats are filled with commissioners in terms that haven’t expired. Regrettably, that hasn’t been the case for quite a while,”
Read More

Democrats Clean Up N.M. 502

From left, Michael Redondo, Mike Wheeler, David Griggs, Karyl Ann Armbruster, Paul Frederickson and George Chandler were among the crew from the Democratic Party of Los Alamos who cleaned up N.M. 502 Saturday. Photo by John Hofmann

DPLA News:

The Democratic Party of Los Alamos County cleaned up N.M. 502 from mile marker two to mile marker three near the Los Alamos Airport Saturday.

Thirteen volunteers picked up 15 bags of trash including:

  • soda and beer cans,
  • fast food containers and wrappers,
  • part of a car bumper,
  • a large plastic car part,
  • heavy electrical electrical cable,
  • broken pieces
Read More

Udall Advances Two Bills Supporting NM Small Businesses

Sen. Tom Udall, D-NM hosts New Mexico Chamber leaders at a meeting on economic development on Capitol Hill. Courtesy photo

U.S. SENATE News:

WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Sen. Tom Udall, D-NM, Friday announced two bills to help New Mexico small businesses grow in the tough economy and continue to create jobs.

The bills, the Helping Our Middle Class Entrepreneurs (HOME) Act and the Expanding Opportunities for Main Street Act, are the result of Udall’s conversations with small business owners across New Mexico about ways the federal government can streamline contracting and reduce unnecessary red Read More

Excitement Builds at Friday’s Concert as Smith’s Marketplace Prepares for Tuesday’s Groundbreaking

Marsha Gilford, Vice President of Public Affairs of Smith’s Food & Drugs spoke to the crowd at Friday’s Summer Concert in Mari Mac Plaza. Smith’s sponsored Friday’s concert and Gilford is in town from the corporate office in Salt Lake City, Utah for Tuesday’s groundbreaking ceremony of the new Smith’s Marketplace on Trinity Drive. Photo by Carol A. Clark/ladailypost.com

Officials recognize local Smith’s General Manager John Roberts including from left, Superintendent Gene Schmidt, School Board President Jim Hall, Councilor Pete Read More

Local Leaders Visit WIPP

From left, Los Alamos County Councilor Rick Reiss, Rep. Stephanie G. Richard and Councilor Kristin Henderson. Courtesy Photo
 
Staff report
 
State Rep. Stephanie Garcia Richard and Los Alamos County Councilors Kristin Henderson and Rick Reiss visited the Waste Isolation Pilot Plant outside of Carlsbad Tuesday.
 
Along with other regional and state elected officials, the trio visited with Los Alamos National Laboratory and WIPP management and observed operations as LANL TRU Waste continues to be delivered to the nuclear waste internment facility.
 
The visit was
Read More

Luján Addresses Cost of Inaction on Climate Change

CONGRESSIONAL News:

WASHTINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Rep. Ben Ray Luján of New Mexico’s Third District and a member of the Safe Climate Caucus spoke on the House floor Thursday about the increasing costs of climate change and the need to take action. 

The Safe Climate Caucus is a group of Democratic members who are highlighting the need for action on climate change through daily floor speeches and other activities. Click here to watch Luján’s speech.

“Mr. Speaker, as fires across the West grow more intense and super storms in the United States do more damage, it is clear that the cost of inaction on Read More

Chamber Leaders Join Udall for Economic Development Meeting on Capitol Hill

Sen. Tom Udall, D-N.M., center, met with President/CEO Alex O. Romero of the Albuquerque Hispano Chamber of Commerce and CEO Laura E. Sanchez of the NM Green Chamber of Commerce Wednesday to talk about growing the New Mexico economy. Courtesy photo
 
U.S. SENATE News:

WASHINGTON, D.C.–U.S. Sen. Tom Udall, D-N.M., hosted two New Mexico chamber of commerce leaders Wednesday on Capitol Hill for a discussion on job creation and economic recovery.

President/CEO Alex O. Romero of the Albuquerque Hispano Chamber of Commerce and CEO Laura E. Sanchez of the New Mexico Green Chamber of Commerce Read More

Udall Calls for Reform to Fix Broken Senate

U.S. SENATE News:

WASHINGTON –Tuesday, following a rare meeting of Republicans and Democrats to discuss how to end unprecedented obstruction, U.S. Sen. Tom Udall, D-N.M., said he was hopeful that the Senate would move forward to confirm several nominees for key administration positions.

But he added that “obstruct and delay” has become the norm, and said a permanent change in the Senate rules must be made so the Senate can get work done for the American people.

Since 2009, Udall has called on the Senate to reform its rules – including by requiring a talking filibuster. 

“I have said for a Read More

Legislative Interim Committee Meetings Week of July 15

STATE News:

Upcoming Legislative Interim Committee Meetings

Week of July 15 – 19, 2013

SANTA FE–The following legislative interim committees are meeting the week of July 15 – 19, 2013.

July 15-17 — Indian Affairs Committee

Monday, July 15 — Pueblo of Isleta, Isleta Resort and Casino (Hotel), Ballroom C

Tuesday, July 16 — Pueblo of Santa Ana, Prairie Star

Wednesday, July 17 — Pueblo of Santo Domingo, Community Center, 1 Tesuque Street

Co-Chairs: Rep. Sandra Jeff (D-McKinley, San Juan-5) and Sen. John Pinto (D-McKinley, San Juan-3)

July 15–16 10 a.m. — Revenue Stabilization and Tax Policy Committee Read More

Udall Statement on Historic Gridlock in Washington

Sen. Tom Udall

U.S. Senate News:

WASHINGTON–U.S. Sen. Tom Udall, D-NM, issued the following statement on the need to end gridlock in Washington:

“I have said for a long time: the Senate is a graveyard for good ideas. Gridlock, hyper-partisanship, delay, obstruction – it all adds up to one thing: broken.

“I have been calling for changes in the Senate rules since I was elected to the Senate – for a simple reason: the Senate is not serving the American people. It’s not serving the people of my home state of New Mexico.

“What we’re seeing is historic abuse of the filibuster and Read More

Luján and Lujan Grisham Highlight Importance of LDRD Program at National Labs

CONGRESSIONAL News:

WASHINGTON, D.C. – New Mexico Representatives Ben Ray Luján and Michelle Lujan Grisham spoke on the House floor last night on the importance of the Laboratory Directed Research and Development (LDRD) program at the national laboratories. 

The members engaged in a colloquy with Energy and Water Appropriations Subcommittee Chair Rodney Frelinghuysen (NJ-11) and Ranking Member Marcy Kaptur (OH-9) to highlight the need to work together to prevent cuts to this program that supports research and development at the labs.

Click here to watch their remarks. Read More

$2.2 Million to Increase NM’s Health Insurance Enrollment

Sen. Tom Udall

U.S. Senate News:

WASHINGTON – U.S. Sen. Tom Udall, D-N.M., announced Wednesday that 15 community health centers across New Mexico will receive more than $2.2 million in grants to help enroll uninsured individuals into new affordable health coverage options that will go into effect Oct. 1.

Approximately 20 percent of New Mexico residents are uninsured.

The awards are issued by the Health Resources and Services Administration, within the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, and will allow the health centers to hire an additional 47 workers who will assist New Read More

TODAY: Udall to Speak on the Floor About Keeping Student Loans Affordable

U.S. SENATE News:
            
WASHINGTON – Today, U.S. Sen. Tom Udall of New Mexico will deliver remarks on the Senate floor about the need to find a comprehensive solution to keep loans affordable for college students in New Mexico and across the country.
 
The Senate is voting today on the Keep Student Loans Affordable Act of 2013. On July 1, because of Senate inaction, a temporary measure to keep interest rates low expired. As a result, the interest rates on new federal Stafford loans doubled from 3.4 percent to 6.8 percent.
 
Udall is a cosponsor
Read More

Upcoming Legislative Interim Committee Meetings

STATE News:

Upcoming Legislative Interim Committee Meetings

SANTA FE—The following legislative interim committees are meeting this week:

July 10 at 9 a.m. – Investments and Pensions Oversight Committee

  • Room 307, State Capitol, Santa Fe, New Mexico
  • Chair: Representative Jim Trujillo (D–Santa Fe–45)
  • Vice Chair: Senator George Muñoz (D–Cibola, McKinley, San Juan–4)

July 10-12 at 9 a.m. – Legislative Education Study Committee

  • Ruidoso High School
  • 125 Warrior Drive, Ruidoso, NM 88345
  • Chair: Senator John M. Sapien (D–Bernalillo, Sandoval–9)
  • Vice Chair: Representative Rick
Read More
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