Energy Votes Provide Strong Indications of Why Unemployment is a Huge Problem

New Mexico voters got another strong indication of how its elected officials view job creation policies in Washington late this week. Congressman Steve Pearce voted in favor of H.R. 2273, the Coal Residuals Reuse and Management Act on Friday while his counterparts, Martin Heinrich and Ben Ray Lujan voted against it. “This legislation protects jobs in the coal ash industry, which includes mining, power plant and cement sectors,” said Pearce. “While this bill devolves power to the states in permitting processes for the coal residual permit program, it does force all facilities to comply with the criteria of the Waste Disposal Act for the protection of groundwater and other valuable resources.”
“Unnecessary regulations kill jobs,” Pearce continued. “The EPA itself stated that coal residuals, or coal ash, should not be regulated as a hazardous material on two separate occasions. Coal ash regulations directly affect employees in throughout New Mexico, especially in the two coal fired power plants at Four Corners and Prewitt, which is near Grants. By allowing states to regulate permits for coal combustion residuals, we will save 300,000 jobs nationally. We can have economic growth and a clean environment.”
Four Corners Power Plant
Presumably, both Martin Heinrich and Ben Ray Lujan voted against the job saving legislation that could have prevented higher unemployment rates and rising electricity rates in the state due to environmentalist influences. Heinrich, who is seeking the Senate seat held by Jeff Bingaman has long be opposed to coal as a source of energy, preferring the federal government direct taxpayer investments in solar projects. Lujan, who met recently with former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi in Santa Fe, also prefers additional federal controls that are likely to lead to further weakening of the prospects for continued employment at the Four Corners Power Plants near Farmington and at Prewitt near Grants.

Share/Bookmark

Martinez and Barela Announce Big Jobs Deal

Susana Martinez
Governor Susana Martinez made the following statement after receiving notification that global electronics manufacturer TE Connectivity will merge two distribution and manufacturing centers in the southwest United States into a single facility in Santa Teresa. Governor Martinez and Economic Development Secretary-designate Jon Barela both met personally with representatives from TE Connectivity to encourage them to expand their operations in New Mexico and contribute to the state’s growing economy along the southern border. “As we work to encourage economic growth in and attract new businesses to our state, I’m pleased that TE Connectivity has decided to expand in Santa Teresa,” said Governor Martinez. “Continuing to foster a friendlier environment that encourages growth and investment will send a signal that New Mexico is open for business. This announcement is an important development and I am committed to further encouraging growth and expansion as we work to turn New Mexico’s economy around.”
“New Mexico can and should be an attractive destination for businesses to grow and expand,” added Secretary Barela. “TE Connectivity’s decision to centralize their operations in Santa Teresa is a great step forward for economic development in our state. This administration remains committed to creating a friendlier business environment so we can continue to attract businesses and create jobs in New Mexico.”
Governor Martinez and Secretary Barela met with TE Connectivity executives in Albuquerque over the summer and encouraged them to consider merging their southwestern facilities in Santa Teresa. As a result, Southern New Mexico will house the company’s largest distribution and manufacturing center in the United States.
Jon Barela
“Our conversations with Governor Martinez and her administration were very encouraging as we were making the decision to expand operations in Santa Teresa,” said Joann Piccolo, Vice President of Global Government Affairs for TE Connectivity. “We are grateful for the guidance provided by Governor Martinez and Secretary Barela and we look forward to a long and successful presence in Southern New Mexico.”
TE Connectivity designs and manufactures over 500,000 products and employs nearly 100,000 workers. Their partners include customers in a wide range of industries, including consumer electronics, energy, healthcare, automotive, aerospace, and communications networks.

Share/Bookmark

Heinrich and Wilson Lead Fundraising Derbies

Heather Wilson
Santa Fe New Mexican - Democrat Martin Heinrich and Republican Heather Wilson are looking even more like front-runners in the U.S. Senate primaries with the announcement of their latest fundraising efforts. According to figures released by the campaigns, Heinrich has more than twice the cash on hand of his primary opponent, State Auditor Hector Balderas, while Wilson has nearly four times as much money in the bank as her chief primary opponent, Lt. Gov. John Sanchez.
Martin Heinrich
Heinrich, a congressman representing Albuquerque, raised more than $650,000 in the third quarter of the year, his campaign reports. That's better than twice that raised by Balderas, who reported raising $250,000. Heinrich's campaign says he has more than $1.1 million cash on hand. Balderas has $465,000, a campaign spokeswoman said. Read full story here: News New Mexico

Share/Bookmark

Teacher accused of duct taping students

From KRQE-TV.com - An Albuquerque third-grade teacher has been placed on paid administrative leave for allegedly duct-taping the mouths of two students to keep them quiet, according to APS Police. Students in one third grade class at Mark Twain Elementary near Constitution and Louisiana went home with a letter that states the teacher is being investigated for "alleged employee misconduct." An APS spokesperson would not comment further calling the issue a personnel matter. APS said the teacher hasn't been charged with anything, but the district removed the teacher from the classroom because the allegations involve students. "Outraged, very much so, very angry," said Ann Chavez, the parent of a third-grader in another class. "There's never an excuse for putting duct tape on a child's mouth ever." A substitute teacher has taken over the class until the investigation is finished. Read more
Share/Bookmark

Mexican President Felipe Calderón opens Juárez Competitiva

From the El Paso Times - By Alejandro Martinez-Cabrera - Juárez - Mexican president Felipe Calderón inaugurated Juárez Competitiva, a two-week industry promotion event, by announcing a tax break extension to the manufacturing plants in the city on Thursday. The tax break, which was set to expire in December, was stretched till the end of 2013 and will help promote economic growth in Juárez, Calderón said. "This decree will nourish the maquiladora industry," he said. "It will allow companies to invest with a medium-term perspective. They will count with the resources to strengthen their investments and generate jobs." Calderón kicked off the event in a ribbon-cutting ceremony along with Chihuahua Gov. Cesar Duarte, Juárez Mayor Hector "Teto" Murguía, Mexico's Secretary of Economy Bruno Ferrari, U.S. Ambassador to Mexico Anthony Wayne and Juárez Competitiva coordinator Carlos Chavira. Afterward, Juárez Competitiva organizers gave Calderón a quick tour of the facilities to show him some of the products manufactured in the city, including televisions, furniture, race karts and robots. Read more
Share/Bookmark

Española Teachers 95th Lowest-Paid in State

From the Rio Grande Sun - By Michael Maresh - The average teacher’s salary in the Española School District this fiscal year is among the lowest in the state, prompting at least two Española School Board members to say they want to find ways to compensate District teachers more fairly. The District’s average teacher salary of $45,385 places it 95th statewide, according to data from the state Education Department. The Department rankings included charter schools as independent entities, so the District’s ranking of 95th is out of 125 entities, not just the state’s 89 school districts. Of the 13 school districts in the state with student enrollments between 2,501 to 5,000, the average Española teacher’s salary was the 12th lowest, .the data shows. Read more
Share/Bookmark

Woman says marijuana was for chronic pain

From the Clovis News Journal - A woman said the 150 pounds of marijuana Roosevelt County Sheriff’s deputies confiscated from her home Monday was being used strictly for treatment of chronic pain and illness. Margie Koger, 48, and her husband Timothy Koger, 42, were arrested Wednesday on a bench warrant two days after deputies seized the marijuana, which included 16 gallon-sized bags and jars of harvested buds, from the kitchen of the residence and from an outbuilding located behind the residence. “I couldn’t afford to apply for a New Mexico license yet. It has been my goal,” Margie Koger said. “I want people to know that I am a medical patient and that I’m not a criminal. I’ve never had any kind of speeding ticket or anything. I never intended to break the law.” A New Mexico grower’s license allows for the production — up to 150 plants — and distribution of medical marijuana. Chief Deputy Malin Parker said the sheriff’s office received an anonymous phone tip about a possible marijuana growing operation. Koger said she was prescribed medical marijuana in California after a vehicle accident in 1996, which caused severe brain and spinal damage, causing her to have to learn to walk and read again.
She said the physical therapy she received helped, but she still suffers from scoliosis and severe migraines, among other things. She said the marijuana relieves the pain. The Kogers, who were charged with possession of more than eight ounces of marijuana, a fourth-degree felony, bonded out of the Roosevelt County Detention Center on a $5,000 cash or surety bond. “We appreciate all tips from citizens and act on them according to the laws of New Mexico in the most efficient manner possible in all cases,” Parker said. Read more
Share/Bookmark

Swickard: A poor way to look at the rich

From NM Politics.net - Commentary by Michael Swickard - Much of our public policy is tied to the notion of citizens falling neatly into three categories: rich, middle class and poor. Those designations are usually based on income, which can be deceiving and is a poor way to look at the rich. We have a wealth of opinions about what wealth is, but no consensus. Are we wealthy if we have roofs over our heads and three meals a day? In some parts of the world we are extremely wealthy to be overweight since extra calories cost money not available in some societies. Likewise, are we poor with a roof and three meals of Ramen eaten in a house with only one bathroom and only basic cable? We are poor in comparison but not in reality. Except in the extreme, when Americans talk rich and poor it depends upon very subjective comparisons. Read Column
Share/Bookmark

Rail Runner Considers Fare Increase

KOB - TV - Public hearings have begun on a proposed fare increase for the New Mexico Rail Runner Express. Officials say a fare increase is needed in light of the upcoming discontinuation of significant federal funds that are currently being used to pay for Rail Runner service. Read full story here: News New Mexico
Share/Bookmark

Fixing the Mess at Workforce Solutions

Celina Bussey
Capitol Report New Mexico - “It’s a new day” at Workforce Solutions, secretary Celina Bussey says. That’s good — because there have been plenty of bad ones at a department with a reputation for being one of the most troubled in all of New Mexico government. “Workforce Solutions has been, to say the least, working at far less than peak efficiency for years,” said state Sen. John Arthur Smith (D-Deming), who’s been observing the department closely as chairman of the Legislative Finance Committee, adding, “It’s been a mess.” State auditor Hector Balderas says his office has conducted annual audits of Workforce Solutions and “we have repeat findings, anywhere from one to years old, of negligent conduct.” The most glaring example of trouble at the department came last month when the US Department of Labor released a national study showing New Mexico ranked third in the US in the rate of overpayments in state unemployment benefits – some $104.7 million that should have not gone out. To make matters worse, the state had the fourth-worst record for unemployment fraud in the country. Into the breach has stepped Bussey, a 33-year-old cabinet member who used to work at Workforce Solutions (back when it called the state Department of Labor) from 1999-2006 and has been told in so many words by new Gov. Susana Martinez to get the department’s house in order. Read full story here: News New Mexico
Share/Bookmark