Court: N.M. Violated Voter Act
DHS Increasing Presence In Four Corners Area
From ktar.com - Homeland Security officials say the federal agency is planning to increase its presence fighting drug cartels in New Mexico's Four Corners region. The Farmington Daily Times reports the federal agency proposes that two agents move to San Juan County full-time and that more agents be dispatched occasionally to the area to assist with serious criminal investigations. The move comes after New Mexico law enforcement agencies around the state have asked federal officials to assist cash strapped departments in battling gangs, drug trafficking and weapons violations. But as federal authorities have moved into places like Roswell and Las Cruces, violent Mexican drug cartels have increased their presence in the remote area of northwest New Mexico that border three other westers states. More News New Mexico
N.M. Reintroduction Wolves Have Been Poisoned
Washington Delegation Fails New Mexico
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| Los Alamos National Lab |
On Tuesday the lab announced plans to lay off as many as 800 employees thanks to ever changing budget priorities of Democratic Party leaders in Washington D.C.
The lab now faces a budget cut of $300 million, which is more than $200 million less than the amount of money Energy Secretary Steven Chu and President Barack Obama threw away on Solyndra.
While one could argue that unlike Steve Pearce, Jeff Bingaman, Martin Heinrich, Ben Ray Lujan, and Tom Udall could not see the Solyndra bankruptcy coming, everyone in Los Alamos could see how the president and his Washington bureaucrats were lining Los Alamos for the slaughter. Even while New Mexico’s Democratic congressional delegation extolled the virtues of the president’s green jobs initiatives, LANL employees knew they were being forsaken. |
| Heather Wilson |
Heather Wilson, who is likely to face Martin Heinrich for a senate seat next November recognized the neglect of Heinrich and yet another broken promise to New Mexico by the Obama administration. “A little over a year ago, President Obama made a commitment to modernize our nuclear weapons complex in order to maintain a safe, reliable nuclear deterrent at lower levels of forces'" Wilson said. “In his new budget, however, President Obama has broken that commitment. And as a result, an estimated 1,000 jobs will be killed for 10 years in Los Alamos.”
After failing to wield any influence in Washington whatsoever, Tom Udall released a remarkably impotent statement. "LANL is critical to our national security and state's economy, and I will continue to push for adequate funding at both of New Mexico's national labs," Udall said. You are a little late Tommy.
In an era when good jobs are hard to come by and Los Alamos performs some of the nation’s most critical functions, it is hard to understand how this debacle could have unfolded right under the noses of a congressional delegation dominated by members of the president’s own party.
Harbison: The New "Fairness" Doctrine
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| Jim Harbison |
Who defines “fairness”? The Merriam-Webster dictionary defines fairness as marked by impartiality and honesty: free from self-interest, prejudice, or favoritism. www.vocabulary.com defines fairness treating people without prejudice - non-discrimination. www.thefreedictionary.com defines fairness as: Having or exhibiting a disposition that is free of favoritism or bias; impartial: a fair mediator, b. Just to all parties; equitable: a compromise that is fair to both factions.
Where is the “fair mediator” that ensures this fairness? Who is deciding that it is fair to take stuff from one who earns it and give it someone who hasn't? The dictionary definitions above would label that favoritism not fairness. George Orwell would appreciate the "doublespeak".
Colorado Senate Does What NM Won't Do
NewsNM note Spence) - Think actions by Senators Michael Sanchez and Lisa Curtis to deny a simply liability limit can't ruin hundreds of million of dollars in taxpayer investments in Spaceport America. Think again. Take a look at what is happening in Colorado.
DENVER (CBS4) – A bill that would help make Colorado a leader in space travel is moving through the legislature. On Tuesday the Senate approved a bill that would limit liability to any company operating spaceflights out of Colorado.
Dennis Heap, the manager at Front Range Airport, says the bill is key to space travel so companies would be willing to invest without worry of major lawsuits. The airport is already working on a program to put sub-orbital planes on the edge of space.“It’s going to be basically an airport style delivery system in the future that’s going to deliver commercial point to point travel,” Heap said.
A similar program and spaceport is already in the works in New Mexico. Read full story here: News New Mexico
State Police Raid Sunland Park City Hall
El Paso Woman Shot By Bullet From Juarez
Mexico: Prison Guards Helped Zeta Drug Cartel Escape
Copays in Medicaid's Future?
KOB TV - Gov. Susana Martinez's administration is proposing to overhaul a program that provides health care to a fourth of the state's population, and the changes could require some needy New Mexicans to dig into their pockets to pay a fee if they go to an emergency room for medical care that's not considered an emergency.
However, the state proposes to require "co-pays" for Medicaid recipients who go to an emergency room for routine medical care and for using a brand name drug when a generic drug is available. The fee will be $3 for brand name drugs but won't apply to certain drugs used to treat mental health conditions. The fees for using an emergency room will vary according to a person's income, but could range from $6 to $50. Read full story here: News New Mexico
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| Sidonie Squier |
One of the goals of the planned revision is to slow the rate of growth in Medicaid, which accounts for 16 percent of this year's state budget and costs New Mexico taxpayers nearly $1 billion.
"We think it's a broken system. We think we need to change it now," Human Services Secretary Sidonie Squier said Tuesday in an interview in which she outlined the proposed revisions, which will require federal government approval. She emphasized that there will be no cuts in enrollment or changes in who's eligible to receive medical services, and there will be no reduction in rates paid to health care providers.However, the state proposes to require "co-pays" for Medicaid recipients who go to an emergency room for routine medical care and for using a brand name drug when a generic drug is available. The fee will be $3 for brand name drugs but won't apply to certain drugs used to treat mental health conditions. The fees for using an emergency room will vary according to a person's income, but could range from $6 to $50. Read full story here: News New Mexico
Judge Hall Proposes Boundary Options to Appease Second-Guessing of Supreme Court
Post Crescent — A state district judge is proposing two options for revamping political districts of the state House of Representatives to comply with directives from New Mexico's highest court.
Hall is giving lawyers until Thursday to comment on the proposals. He will adopt a final redistricting plan by next Monday.
The Supreme Court overturned a redistricting plan Hall approved last month and directed him to draw a new map. The state's highest court on Tuesday released a written opinion giving a detailed explanation of its redistricting order made earlier this month.
One of the plans suggested by retired District Judge James Hall will cost the Santa Fe area a legislative seat held by House Speaker Ben Lujan, who plans to retire after serving 19 terms in the House.
Hall is giving lawyers until Thursday to comment on the proposals. He will adopt a final redistricting plan by next Monday.
District boundaries must be realigned to adjust for population changes during the past decade. The goal is equalize district populations as much as possible to comply with the doctrine of one person, one vote — ensuring that each New Mexican's vote is of equal weight. Read full story here: News New Mexico
The Great Pumpkin Verdict
Judge Steve Jones sentenced Lauren Medina and her now ex-boyfriend Matthew Schindele to 40 hours apiece of community service, and ordered them to each pay court costs of $73. Everybody agrees the value of the pumpkin was about $2.
"There was no intent to steal the pumpkins but apparently the judge ruled otherwise," said Schindele. "We have 15 days to decide if we're gonna go ahead and accept it or take an appeal, so we're gonna take those 15 days to go ahead and figure it out." Read full story here: News New Mexico
“Civic March & Rally for Protection of Constitutional Rights and Religious Freedom”
Participants include faith leaders, community leaders, professionals, students and concerned citizens throughout southern New Mexico who have a vested interest in protecting American civil rights and the integrity of the United States Constitution. Communities are specifically marching in protection of America’s First Amendment rights, which exist to allow everyone the freedom to practice their faith in whatever manner without government intervention. “We believe our Religious Freedoms are currently being threatened by the federal government through a set of mandates currently being considered that infringe on religious beliefs”, says, Rev. Mike Skidmore, Senior Pastor at Full Gospel Tabernacle in Truth or Consequences.
Government is forcing religious organizations to change their interpretations of the Bible. Recently, the President abandoned his stance on forcing religious organizations and citizens to pay for contraceptive products and demanded that insurance companies step-in to provide the coverage in order to “accommodate” religious groups.
“U.S. Citizens living under the social contract of the United States Constitution should not have to consider such accommodations…American Constitutional rights are not something Americans compromise on or negotiate… there should be no compromise or accommodation on religious freedoms”, says Peter Ibarbo, Board Member, Hispano Chamber of Commerce de Las Cruces.
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