PRC reform may hit snag in Senate
State Dept. Issues New Travel Warning for Mexico
Judge Murphy Announces Retirement
Court documents show Murphy's decision to resign doesn't conclude that he's admitting guilt to the charges. Murphy says he's leaving the bench due to his age, health and legal case so that the division can be fully staffed for the benefit of district citizens.
Daredevil to Plunge From Outer Space
Obama Admin Appoints "Official Advocate" for Illegals
N.M Chile Crop Up After 40 Year Low
Millions Missing From N.M. Title Co.
House Set to Vote on Repeal of Drivers Licenses to Illegals
House Passes Budget 70-0
HB2 also puts a safe guard in place should revenue projections fall short. This provision allows the governor to make across-the-board spending cuts to adjust the budget. The automatic spending reductions would apply to most state agencies except Medicaid programs; the developmental disabilities support program; the law enforcement program of the department of public safety; the inmate management and control program of the Corrections Department and any agency that receives less than $5 million total in general fund appropriations under Section 4.
The bulk of the budget in HB2 would go toward public education and higher education, then health, hospitals, and human services.
· $2.45 billion for Public Education (increase of $89 million or 3.8 percent)
· $756.1 million for Higher Education (increase of $40 million or 5.5 percent)
· $905 million for Medicaid (increase of $38 million or 4.4 percent)
· $291 million for Dept. of Health (increase of $2.5 million)
· $207 million for Children, Youth and Families Dept. (increase of $12 million or 6.1 percent)
Chair of the House Appropriations and Finance Committee (HAFC), Rep. Henry “Kiki” Saavedra (D-Bernalillo, Valencia, Dist. 10) said, “We work real hard –Democrats and Republicans – to come up with a budget that’s balanced. This was a joint effort to do what is best for all New Mexicans.”
HB2 passed by a vote of 70 to 0. The budget plan now goes to the Senate.
The Spaceport America Visitor Experience Plan
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| Spaceport Vistor's Center Artist Rendering |
The Spaceport America Visitor Experience will be a professionally designed immersion into the excitement of the world's first purpose-built, commercial spaceport. Guests will be invited to explore the history, adventure, potential and inspiration of both the next space-age. Officials project attendance will grow to more than 200,000 visitors annually.
“The Welcome Centers are the “mission briefing” areas where guests become part of the spaceport crew, get updated on current activity, get their credentials and catch a shuttle,” said Allen. The shuttles, designed as traveling theaters are an integral part of the experience. Because Spaceport America is a part of a rich portfolio of regional tourism, the Welcome Centers will also feature a “regional trailhead” where guests can learn about and plan multi-day itineraries. Once guests arrive at Spaceport America, they enter the onsite Visitors Center, which will feature hands-on access to space technology and artifacts from recent launches, the opportunity to create a payload and manifest it for flight, interactive and simulation based experiences and a theater. From the Visitors Center, guests can take a guided in-depth shuttle tour of the entire spaceport finishing at the entrance to the Virgin Galactic Gateway to Space where they will get a chance to see in depth into the exciting reality of the world’s first passenger spaceship fleet. Allen noted that, “we are designing a learning-enriched, hands-on immersion into what space is going to be about for the next twenty years. We want a relationship with our guests that lasts generations.” Read rest of story here: News New Mexico
Will Campus Building Projects be Reigned In?
The Legislative Finance Committee initially recommended each of New Mexico’s 18 community colleges and university branches get at least one campus construction project valued between $500,000 and $12 million included in the general obligation bond issue voters statewide will consider in November.
Those projects would be wiped from the bond issue under a proposal being considered by the Department of Finance and Administration, according to a DFA document acquired by the Journal that outlines one possible recommendation. Read full story here (subscription required) News New Mexico
Swickard - Envy me not, nor me you
“You shall not covet your neighbor's house… or anything that is your neighbor's.” ESV Bible, Exodus 20:17
While the “envy your neighbors” card has been played often by politicians for several decades, it seems the current class warfare dialog has gone mainstream this political season. Talking about who has what is the Washington rage, despite that members of Congress are quite wealthy and have been made so by holding the reins of power.
Also, the rules of Washington insure that the holders of the power are not subject to the same rules as the masses. The people pointing out the inequities of life are themselves treated to different healthcare and retirement programs as are the masses. Is it envy that I say these things? No.
It is central to political speak that in our society everyone has a different amount of resources. Some people always have more than others. Some citizens work harder and or smarter and are rewarded for those actions. For every person who inherited wealth, a thousand created it in their own generation. But that does not get votes, what gets votes is class warfare.
Rather than celebrate that a candidate for president without being compelled gave about three million dollars to charity last year is met with, “They should have given more.” Really? Someone gives three million dollars without being compelled to do so and it is not enough for some envious people? Sad.
While the “envy your neighbors” card has been played often by politicians for several decades, it seems the current class warfare dialog has gone mainstream this political season. Talking about who has what is the Washington rage, despite that members of Congress are quite wealthy and have been made so by holding the reins of power. Also, the rules of Washington insure that the holders of the power are not subject to the same rules as the masses. The people pointing out the inequities of life are themselves treated to different healthcare and retirement programs as are the masses. Is it envy that I say these things? No.
It is central to political speak that in our society everyone has a different amount of resources. Some people always have more than others. Some citizens work harder and or smarter and are rewarded for those actions. For every person who inherited wealth, a thousand created it in their own generation. But that does not get votes, what gets votes is class warfare.
Rather than celebrate that a candidate for president without being compelled gave about three million dollars to charity last year is met with, “They should have given more.” Really? Someone gives three million dollars without being compelled to do so and it is not enough for some envious people? Sad.In the political class warfare it is hard to imagine a country like ours without envy. Being aware and attracted to the possession of others is the hallmark of our nation; the driving force in our tax code. We refer to our envy as to the issue of fairness, it is not fair one person has more possessions than another. This is still envy and it is very dysfunctional to our society.
Envy has taken over our culture to the point that there is a backlash against people who have worked hard all of their life and have accumulated possessions. Regardless of what one person has that another does not, be it a nicer house, better car or a debt-free existence, those who have more are more likely battered by the political elite. Example: Tiger Woods.
Albuquerque Housing Market Poised to Bounce?
KOAT TV - New Mexico's real estate market is bouncing back according to the Greater Albuquerque Association of Realtors. Record foreclosures and a high number of homes for sale were good for buyers but bad for the real estate market. But that's about to change. The number of homes on the market during the fourth quarter in 2011 was the lowest in five years; good news that more people are buying homes here in Albuquerque. "Until we get through the first quarter, we're not going to know what supply and demand is going to do, but obviously it's lower that it's been in a long time, a positive movement for us, we like to see that," said Mark Guggino of the Greater Albuquerque Association of Realtors. Read full story here: News New Mexico
Logjam: No Movement on State Budget
The budget was due out of the House last Tuesday - a week ago - and while action is expected tomorrow it will leave the Senate only a week to work on the bill, which is the only absolutely mandatory piece of business in the entire 30-day legislative session.
The $5.6 billion dollar budget will run state government and the public schools and universities for the next budgetary year that starts July 1. Read full story here: News New Mexico
Town fighting for Spaceport visitor center location
From KOB-TV.com - By: Marissa Torres, KOB Eyewitness News 4 - A New Mexico town is fighting plans to build a new visitor center for the Spaceport Authority. People in Truth or Consequences held a town hall meeting on Tuesday to argue a change in location. Right now, the center is slotted to go up just off Interstate 25 outside of town, but residents said they want it in downtown T or C. A while back, the town voted to dish out some of their own tax dollars to help fund the New Mexico Spaceport Authority in the hopes of reaping economic benefits. "We feel [that] now we've been left in the cold and ignored. Decisions are being made without any thought of the people who actually paid for it," said Hans Townsend, President of the Sierra County and T or C Chamber of Commerce. Townsend said T or C is already willing to give up a little of their properties to clear an area for the visitor center. It would ideally be down by the river, next to a park. The Spaceport hired a contractor to help choose a spot for the visitor center and out of eight locations, it decided on a site just off I-25. Officials said part of that decision was based on easy accessibility to the highway. A second visitor center will also be built in the Village of Hatch in Dona Ana County. Spaceport authorities said it will also sit just off the highway. Read more
UNM Walk-On Quarterback Trujillo Off The Team
From KOAT-TV.com - The University of New Mexico says former Manzano High School star quarterback Ryan Trujillo who was a walk-on to the UNM team has been removed from the team and has been advised to enter university counseling. The announcement was made Monday, about two weeks after Trujillo was arrested by Albuquerque police in a restaurant parking lot on a domestic violence charge. A criminal complaint says the incident started when Trujillo entered the restaurant and found his girlfriend eating with a friend. Witnesses told police he was agitated and grabbed her keys. In the parking lot, Trujillo is accused of spraying his girlfriend in the face with a pepper-spray canister that was on the keychain. He told officers it was an accident. The team says Trujillo's status may be re-evaluated prior to the 2012 season. Ryan joined the program as a freshman last August. Read more
Will the House redistricting decision be sent back?
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| NM Supreme Court hears House redistricting appeal |
Electric fences approved in the El Paso city limits
Santa Fe School District Report raises option of shutting Atalaya school, to parents' dismay
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