With Average Salary of $76K Chicago Teachers Prepare to Go on Strike

CHICAGO (CBS) – A day after Chicago Public Schools’ teachers overwhelmingly authorized a strike, CBS 2 wanted to know how much the average teacher earns. As CBS 2’s Dana Kozlov found out, it depends on who you ask. Salary figures provided by the Chicago Public Schools show teachers here have the highest average salary of any city in the nation. But, according to the Chicago Teachers Union’s calculations, Chicago teachers would rank second behind New York City.
During a vote taken last week, 90 percent of the city’s public school teachers voted to authorize a walkout, if no contract compromise is reached. Read full story here: News New Mexico

With Average Salary of $76K Chicago Teachers Prepare to Go on Strike

courtesy of http://www.conservativedailynews.com/

http://www.janice2012.us/

Martinez Appoints Judge Kennedy to High Court

Susana Martinez

Governor Susana Martinez announced today that she has appointed former New Mexico Supreme Court Justice Paul Kennedy of Albuquerque to the vacant Supreme Court position created by the retirement of Justice Patricio Serna. Kennedy, a former Marine, has practiced law for 36 years. Early in his legal career, Kennedy served as a public defender in Albuquerque at both the state and federal levels. He then went on to build a successful private law practice handling both civil and criminal cases. In addition to his extensive trial experience, Kennedy has handled more than 75 appeals. He previously served on the state’s highest court in 2002. In 2005, Kennedy served as counsel to the bipartisan House special committee on impeachment of then state treasurer, Robert Vigil, who resigned before official impeachment proceedings and was later indicted. Kennedy was one of two individuals sent to the Governor for consideration by a judicial nominating commission.

Paul Kennedy

“Mr. Kennedy brings a unique list of accomplishments to the bench. As a former Supreme Court Justice, a public defender, and an experienced trial and appellate lawyer, I’m certain that Mr. Kennedy will fairly and faithfully uphold the law on behalf of all New Mexicans,” said Governor Martinez.

Kennedy, who earned a Fulbright Scholarship, graduated with a degree in International Relations with a certificate in Latin American Studies from St. Joseph’s University and earned his law degree from Georgetown University Law Center.

Martinez Appoints Judge Kennedy to High Court

Answers by Democrat Delegates to the Question: "Should We Pass a Law to Ban Corporate Profits?"

Earlier this week Peter Schiff posed as an anti-business crusader in Charlotte, North Carolina at the Democratic National Convention. He asked a number of DNC delegates and attendees if they were willing to support laws that explicitly outlaw profits. He says he deliberately avoided speaking with the occupy protestors camping outside in tents to get a more "mainstream" Democratic perspective. You can watch the incredible video of the responses he got from Democrat delegates as he poses the questions here: News New Mexico

Answers by Democrat Delegates to the Question: "Should We Pass a Law to Ban Corporate Profits?"

Obama appeals to voters for more time

From the Washington Times - By Stephen Dinan - CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Accepting his party’s nomination for re-election, President Obama on Thursday said voters face the most momentous election of a generation and told them they must choose between locking in his vision of a government that works to boost the most vulnerable, or side with Republicans in rolling back his agenda. Pleading for his return to the White House, Mr. Obama said he has tried to live up to his promises from the campaign trail four years ago and that he has made progress, even if the results haven’t shown. He challenged delegates to the Democratic National Convention and a television audience nationwide to stick with him for another four years. “I won’t pretend the path I’m offering is quick or easy. I never have. You didn’t elect me to tell you what you wanted to hear. You elected me to tell you the truth,” he said. “And the truth is, it will take more than a few years for us to solve challenges that have built up over decades.” On the final night of the convention, Democrats left few appeals untapped. They repeatedly reminded voters that Mr. Obama oversaw the operation that killed terrorist mastermind Osama bin Laden, who eluded American forces under President George W. Bush's administration. Vice President Joseph R. Biden Jr., who also accepted his party’s renomination for running mate, added his own blast at Mr. Romney’s business record at Bain Capital, saying it led the Republican candidate to mistakenly oppose the auto bailout. “The Bain way may bring your firm the highest profits, but it’s not the way to lead our country from the highest office,” Mr. Biden said. Democrats cast the election as not only a referendum on Mr. Obama’s term in office, but also a choice election where voters must decide between two dramatically different visions of government power and the rights and responsibilities of the country’s citizens. Mr. Obama emerges from his convention with a party firmly unified behind him, though, according to polls, Democrats and the independents who backed him in 2008 are less enthusiastic than they were four years ago. Read more

Obama appeals to voters for more time

Susana blasts Bregman: “They’ll stoop to anything”; Bregman threatens to release entire tape

Prominent New Mexico Democrat Sam Bregman

From Capitol Report New Mexico - An angry Gov. Susana Martinez lit into Albuquerque attorney and prominent New Mexico Democrat Sam Bregman, one day after Bregman released a 25-second audio clip of a secretly recorded phone conversation with Martinez chief of staff Keith Gardner. “Sam Bregman released 25 seconds of an hour and 10 minute private conversation,” Martinez told reporters on Wednesday (Sept. 5), “that involved the sexual assault of two girls” and a subsequent investigation of those charges. “It was done strictly for political reasons.” On Tuesday, Bregman released a recording of Gardner speaking to a friend, Brian Powell of Roswell, who apparently recorded the conversation without Gardner’s knowledge. In the excerpt Bregman played a news conference in Albuquerque, a voice identified as Gardner’s says, ”That’s why I never email on my state email … anything that can come back and bite … I never use my email because it’s all done on different stuff … I don’t want to go to court [or] jail.” At the news conference, Bregman said ”this administration is drunk with power, and they want to run a secret government.” But Gov. Martinez said the quotes do not deal with use of state e-mails or computers: “What was said in reference to the computers had to do with the investigation of those [assault] cases, had nothing to do with our state computers.” Read more

Susana blasts Bregman: “They’ll stoop to anything”; Bregman threatens to release entire tape

Ruidoso Downs Quality of Life tax sinks

From the Alamogordo Daily News - With a sparse turnout, a quality of life gross receipts tax was rejected by voters Tuesday in Ruidoso Downs. The uncertified results of the special election are, with a total 105 ballots cast, 66 opposed the tax with only 39 supporting it. The percentage breaks down to 63 percent against and 37 percent in favor. If the tax had been approved, the city's current GRT rate of 7.625 percent would have increased to 7.875 percent on Jan. 1, 2013.  According to state law, the revenues derived from a quality of life GRT would have to be directed at cultural programs and related activities provided by the city or outside entities. The municipally owned Hubbard Museum of the American West was expected to be included as a beneficiary. Other organizations previously mentioned by city officials were the Boys and Girls Club of Sierra Blanca and the Rox Boxing Club. In May, City Attorney H. John Underwood said the tax was an opportunity to maintain the museum and expand it into a cultural events center for residents of the city.  "Our primary revenue source in the city from gross receipts is Walmart," Underwood told the city council. "And I believe most of the studies have shown Walmart is at least a countywide, in some situations even beyond countywide into Otero County, as far as revenues they spend at Walmart and how it benefits the city of Ruidoso Downs. Together with our tourist industry, it is estimated that approximately 80 to 90 percent of the monies that are spent. Read more

Ruidoso Downs Quality of Life tax sinks

Officials declare Enrique Pena Nieto final winner in Mexico

Mexican President-elect Enrique Peña Nieto celebrating in July

From the El Paso Times - MEXICO CITY (AP) - Mexico's highest electoral authority declared Friday that Enrique Pena Nieto was the legitimate winner of the country's July 1 presidential election, formally opening the transition to a new government despite continuing claims of fraud by the second-place candidate of the left. The Federal Electoral Tribunal said leftist candidate Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador had failed to prove claims that vote-buying had affected the results of the vote returning Mexico's former autocratic ruling party to the country's highest office after a 12-year absence. Lopez Obrador told reporters Friday morning that he refused to recognize the results of the election and was calling for a peaceful protest that he described as "civil disobedience" on Sept. 9 in the Zocalo, the historic plaza in the heart of downtown Mexico City. He launched street demonstrations that paralyzed central Mexico City after he lost the 2006 vote, but widespread protests appear far less likely this time. Read more

Officials declare Enrique Pena Nieto final winner in Mexico

State Dept. Again Refuses to Name Capital of Israel!

State Department briefing by Patrick Ventrell

From the Weekly Standard - The State Department today again refused to name the capital of Israel, even after being questioned by the press and even after the Democratic party (President Obama's party) voted yesterday to add language to its platform stating that Jerusalem is the capital of Israel.Here's the remarkable exchange from today's press briefing, with reporters and press secretary Patrick Ventrell:

QUESTION: On Israel?

MR. VENTRELL: Yeah.

QUESTION: Which city does the U.S. Government recognize as the capital in the – Israel?

MR. VENTRELL: Well, as you know, longstanding Administration policy, both in this Administration and in previous administrations across both parties, is that the status of Jerusalem is an issue that should be resolved in final status negotiations between Israelis and Palestinians. So that’s longstanding Administration policy and continues to be so.

QUESTION: I mean, no city is recognized as a capital by the U.S. Government?

MR. VENTRELL: Again, I just stated our position, and it’s one we’ve said here many times before.

QUESTION: That means Jerusalem is not a part of Israel?

MR. VENTRELL: What it means is that the status of Jerusalem must be resolved in final status negotiations.

QUESTION: But you do have an Embassy in a city which is not Jerusalem.
MR. VENTRELL: Our Embassy is in Tel Aviv, and we have a Consulate General in Jerusalem.
QUESTION: Right. But I mean, if you have an Embassy, usually it’s in the capital; so therefore, it would appear that you believe that Tel Aviv is the capital.
MR. VENTRELL: What we believe is that the status of Jerusalem should be determined in final status negotiations between the two parties. And currently, our Embassy is in Tel Aviv.
QUESTION: Are there any other countries in the world where the U.S. doesn’t know what the capital is or won’t say what the capital of a country is?  What does the U.S. think the capital of Israel is? What do you --
MR. VENTRELL: As I’ve just said, we believe that the status of Jerusalem is an issue that should be resolved in final status --
QUESTION: I’m not asking you that question. I’m asking you what you think the capital is.
MR. VENTRELL: And my response is that Jerusalem is an issue that should be resolved in final status negotiations Look, this is something we’ve been through at this podium. Toria has been through it before. we’ve repeated it many times. You know that the position is. It hasn’t changed for decades.
QUESTION: Wait, I know that. And I don’t want to play the verbal game, I’m just very curious if you actually have a position about a capital of that country. And if you don’t, if – I just would like to hear you say you don’t.
MR. VENTRELL: Well, right now, Nicole --
QUESTION: Yes.
MR. VENTRELL: -- the situation is that we have an Embassy in Tel Aviv that represents our interests with the Government of Israel but that the issue of Jerusalem is one that has to be resolved between the two parties. That’s all I can say on this. Anything else? Thank you.

State Dept. Again Refuses to Name Capital of Israel!

Sunland Park worker from El Paso gets probation for false vote

A TV crew in Sunland Park to cover the election witnessed
police arrest Morales. (Courtesy photo)

From the El Paso Times - (AP) - A former Sunland Park city employee who voted there while living in Texas has been sentenced to 18 months of probation. Piscilla Morales, who was a secretary for the city's public works director, had been scheduled to go to trial Wednesday but entered a plea agreement last week. Police say Morales voted in March after registering with the address of former city councilor Angelica Marquez. Deputy District Attorney Steven Blankinship says he is satisfied with the sentence. The prosecutor says Morales became involved on the advice of Marquez. Marquez, who is awaiting trial on the same charges, is also accused of extortion for allegedly blackmailing a rival candidate.  Read more

Sunland Park worker from El Paso gets probation for false vote