News New Mexico: 04/07/11

Copper thieves target Rail Runner

From KOB-TV.com - By Sharon Erickson, KOB Eyewitness News 4 and Magdalena Sharpe, KOB.com - Rail Runner officials say a recent act of vandalism may have been an easy fix but could have led to major safety issues. Officials say four pieces of copper wire were ripped from the tracks Thursday morning alerting the trains signal system. The wires are used to send a low voltage signal to trains so without the signal trains were forced to run at restricted speeds of 20 miles per hour causing some major delays for early morning Rail Runner riders. Rail Runner official Augusta Meyers says the vandals could face federal charges. "This is a homeland security issue. If these people or person is discovered, that person could be charged under federal laws, because it affects the safety of the minute public when you are talking about public transportation," Meyers tells KOB Eyewitness News 4. The pieces of copper wire stolen cost about eight dollars a piece, so luckily repairs only cost around $30. read more

No pity for citizens who ignored Social Security facts

From 575 Magazine - Ever been to marriage counseling and said to the counselor that you, yourself, do not intend to change your behavior at all? That you insist the other person must be the one to change because you are not changing? How did that work out for your marriage? No one is changing in the debate about our national debt. Take the case of social security. For forty years social security has been a Ponzi scheme with no money being saved. Everyone in the media, in Congress and most everyone else know this. We have no right to look surprised because we knew it was happening. All money collected for Social Security is spent in the year it is collected and an IOU is issued that says: "When Michael reaches the time when he is due any Social Security benefits tax the citizens of that year for his benefits because we did not save any of his contributions." In every Ponzi scheme initially people get money. Then at some point the money runs out. Welcome to 2011. Now it is time for the recriminations. At some point the geezers and geezerettes are just out of luck since they ignored for 40 years the scam that Congress was running. read column

Governor Signs a Bunch - Vetoes a Few

Susana Martinez

SANTA FE - Governor Susana Martinez announced today that she has signed House Bill 310, legislation that provides electronic classroom materials to New Mexico’s schools. “New Mexico’s students deserve a world-class education along with the materials required to provide the best possible learning environment,” said Governor Martinez. “This legislation will give our children access to electronic materials that will enhance their educational experience and allow schools to use the best available technology in the classroom.” Governor Martinez also signed Senate Bill 432, prohibiting state and local government employees who are involved in the contracting process from subsequently being employed by that contractor. “New Mexicans deserve to know that their government is operating in the best interest of the taxpayer,” she continued. “Any situation in which an individual acts on behalf of the government to secure a contract and then goes to work for that contractor should raise significant red flags. This legislation will help to ensure that government employees who oversee the use of taxpayer dollars are not spending them for personal gain.”

Children Families and Youth Building in Santa Fe

Additionally, the Governor signed three early childhood education initiatives - Senate Bill 120, the Early Childhood Care and Education Act; Senate Bill 167, dividing appropriations for pre-kindergarten education between the Public Education Department and the Children, Youth, and Families Department; and Senate Bill 605, expanding the number of providers eligible for pre-kindergarten services.

The Governor also vetoed House Bill 298, stating, “It is unacceptable to allow sex offenders to work as janitors, assistant coaches, and in other supervised positions around children without having to register their place of employment.” She has spoken to Attorney General Gary King, who shares her concerns about this legislation, and they are committed to working together to pass stronger sex offender registration legislation that brings New Mexico into compliance with the Adam Walsh Act in the next legislative session. Governor Martinez also signed the following legislation into law:

HB 123, Compensation for Parts Under Warranty

HB 170, Land Grant Trustee Election Changes

HB 187, Expanded-Function Dental Auxiliaries

HB 440, Advanced Energy Tax Deduction for Some Leases

HB 470, Underpayment of Estimate Tax Penalty Changes
HB 478, Water Utilities Payments in Advance
SB 036, Compensation for Parts Under Warranty
SB 037, Prescription Drug Donations
SB 041, Health Care Student Intern Liability Coverage
SB 101, Require Responses to Medical Board Subpoenas
SB 119, Retirement Beneficiary Designation of Spouse
SB 146, Update Uniform Acts Relating to Property
SB 155, Private Landfill Term of Permits
SB 198, Insurance Code Fees and Changes
SB 260, Fees in Dental Insurance Plans
SB 262, Construction Commission Inspector Authority
SB 285, Amend Child Placement Agency Licensing Act
SB 337, Precinct Consolidation for Certain Elections
SB 349, Allow Donations from Private Sources
SB 367, Local Govt Perm Fund, Additional Investment
SB 369, Public Records Provisions Reorganization
SB 377, Professional Psych Licensure Requirements

Education Building in Santa Fe

SB 393, Insurance for Electronic Devices

SB 403, Election Code Language Standardization

SB 436, Oil and Gas Withholding Info to Legislature

Governor Martinez vetoed the following legislation:

HB 267, Amend Medical Malpractice Act

HB 298, Sex Offender Registration Requirements

HB 311, Uniform Consequences Conviction Act

HB 415, Invest in Small Budget New Mexico Films

SB 333, Amend Medical Malpractice Act

HB 343, Political Subdivision Qualifications to Tax

Obama Vows to Force Government Shutdown

Barack Obama and Joe Biden at White House

Washington Times - The White House has vowed to veto the short-term spending bill House Republicans voted on this afternoon that would provide a budgetary “safety net” while the parties work on a long-term deal. Hours later the House passed the safety net bill anyway on a mostly party-line 247-181 vote. Without a short-term extension, lawmakers face two options: either reach a deal on a broad bill to fund the government for the rest of this year, or else have the government shut down as of midnight Friday. “If presented with this bill, the president will veto it,” the White House said in an official statement of policy objecting to the House’s offer. The White House said it was “a distraction from the real work” on reaching a broader agreement. Read full story here: News New Mexico

Libyan Rebels Killed Accidentally, Again

President Obama with Military Leaders

BBC News - Doctors in Ajdabiya told the BBC at least 13 rebel fighters had been killed by the strike on a rebel tank position. The BBC's Wyre Davies reports chaotic scenes on the outskirts of Ajdabiya, with rebel forces in retreat reporting being hit by Nato air strikes. It is the third such incident in recent days involving international forces deployed to protect Libyan civilians. One rebel commander told the BBC he saw at least four missiles land among rebel fighters. Many people have been killed and many more have been injured, he said. Civilians are reported to be fleeing Ajdabiya in their thousands, according to the latest wire reports, after rumours spread that pro-Gaddafi forces were preparing to attack the city.

President Obama with Nobel Peace Prize

Meanwhile, a relief ship carrying emergency supplies of food and medicine has arrived in the besieged rebel-held city of Misrata, in western Libya. The rebels had been taking a group of tanks, armoured vehicles and rocket launchers near the front line between the towns of Ajdabiya and Brega in more than 30 transporters. Nato, with all the equipment they have - is this the second mistake? Is it really a mistake or something arranged secretly?” Whether or not a Nato pilot mistook all of that heavy armour for pro-Gaddafi weaponry remains unclear. Following the apparent Nato attack, ambulances were seen heading in the opposite direction, towards the hospital in Ajdabiya. There is considerable anger among rebel troops after what appears to have been a terrible mistake. They are asking why rebel units were hit, when they could be seen clearly advancing in a westerly direction towards the front line. "It is unbelievable," said one Benghazi resident. "Nato, with all the equipment they have - is this the second mistake? Is it really a mistake or something arranged secretly?" Read full story here: News New Mexico

Duran Will Not Release Voter Fraud Documents

Steve Terrell

Roundhouse Roundup - Secretary of State Dianna Duran made a startling announcement last month during a legislative hearing on whether voters should be required to show photo identification at the polls. Duran said in cross-checking voter registrations with a state Motor Vehicle Division database, her office had found 117 foreign nationals who had registered to vote. All listed Social Security numbers on their voter registrations that didn’t match up with their names. What’s more, Duran said, at least 37 of those people had actually voted in state elections. So who are these people who might have committed voter fraud? The secretary of state won’t say. The day after that hearing, I submitted a request to Duran’s office under the state Inspection of Public Records Act for copies of the 117 voter registrations, plus any records she had that indicated 37 of those people had voted.

Dianna Duran

After the 15-day response deadline allowed under the law, I was notified last week that my request was denied. Citing state and federal privacy laws relating to MVD records, Secretary of State’s Office records custodian Christiana Sanchez wrote, “Based upon advisement of our legal counsel, the records are prohibited from release. “Moreover, the Secretary of State’s Office does not maintain the original voter registration forms for registered voters,” the denial letter stated. “The original forms are maintained by the county clerks in each county. There are approximately 1.16 million registered voters in the state of New Mexico. Therefore, while we anticipate a future comprehensive review of voter registration forms, we cannot provide copies of any voter registration forms that meet your requested criteria at this time.” Of course I hadn’t asked to see all 1.16 million forms, just the 117 she talked about at the legislative hearing. And I would have settled for only those for the 37 apparently illicit voters. Read full story here: Roundhouse Roundup

Steve Pearce in Las Cruces Saturday

Steve Pearce

Congressman Steve Pearce will be holding a “Congressional Coffee” meeting this Saturday, April 9th, at 8:30am. The event will be held at La Iguana Restaurant, 139 N. Main, in Las Cruces (575-523-8550). Members of the public are highly encouraged to attend and visit with Congressman Pearce on any issue, concern, or idea. The press is also welcome. NewsNM Note - Steve Pearce will appear on News New Mexico Monday morning April 11th at 7:00am.

Fifty-Nine Bodies Found in Tamaulipas

CBC News - Fifty-nine bodies were found buried Wednesday in a series of pits in the northern Mexico state of Tamaulipas, near the site where suspected drug gang members massacred 72 migrants last summer, officials said. The discovery came as thousands of demonstrators thronged major Mexican cities to protest drug violence, including some who thought the government bore some responsibility for the bloodshed.

Security forces investigating reports that a passenger bus had been hijacked in the area conducted a raid that netted 11 suspected kidnappers and freed five kidnap victims. Then they made a grisly discovery — a total of eight pits, containing a total of 59 corpses. One of the pits held 43 dead. The bodies are being examined to determine whether they were bus passengers who were reportedly abducted March 25, the Tamaulipas state government said in statement in which it "energetically condemned" the crimes. Read full story here: News New Mexico

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