If the goal is “energy independence,” what issues should be a priority in America?

Commentary by Marita Noon - Recently the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee (DCCC) sent out a “2014 Priority Issues Survey.” In addition to the obligatory Tea Party bashing: “help the Democrats protect the progress we have made from Tea Party radicals, deliver the positive changes America needs and help Democrats win a Majority in the U.S. House of Representatives!” and the fundraising requests to “help protect House Democrats against Republican attacks”—there is a section on energy.
     Section VII, asks: “Which of the following will help America achieve energy independence?” It offers five options that do little to move America toward energy independence—which isn’t even a realistic goal given the fungible nature of liquid fuels. Additionally, most of the choices given on the DCCC survey actually increase energy costs for all Americans—serving as a hidden tax—but hurt those on the lower end of the socio-economic scale the most. The proposals hurt the very people the party purports to champion.
     Achieving the higher mileage will require new technologies that include, according to Edmunds, “turbochargers and new generations of multispeed automatic transmissions to battery-electric powertrains.” The National Highway Traffic Saftey Administration and the Environmental Protection Agency have estimated that the average new car will cost $2,000 extra by 2025 because of the proposed new fuel-efficiency standards.
     Additionally, new materials will have to be used, such as the proposed new Ford F-150 made with aluminum, which is predicted to add $1500 over steel to the cost of a new truck. Aluminum also complicates both the manufacturing and repair processes. Edmunds reports: “Insurance costs could rise, both because of the increased cost of cars and the anticipated hike in collision repair costs associated with the greater use of the plastics, lightweight alloys and aluminum necessary for lighter, more fuel-efficient vehicles. (Plastics, lightweight alloys and aluminum are all more difficult than steel to repair.)”
     Another concern is safety. “The use of weight-saving materials will not only affect repair costs but could make newer vehicles more susceptible to damage in collisions with older, heavier vehicles, especially SUVs and pickups. Their occupants could be at a safety disadvantage.” Read full collumn

If the goal is “energy independence,” what issues should be a priority in America?

One week after an Albuquerque teen goes missing, experts weigh in

From KOAT-TV.com - ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. —Lacey Dewent, 14, is missing one week after police said the Albuquerque girl ran away with 26-year-old man. Robert Butler met the girl on the Internet, according to investigators.
     "We are seeing more and more children exploited, both online and in person, by various people," said Kevin Abar, assistant special agent in charge for Homeland Security Investigations.
     While he can't comment on Dewent's case, Abar warned parents that any young girl or boy could fall into the same trap.
     "The people out there trying to exploit our children. They're very good at what they do," Abar said. He's offering the following tips for parents:
-- Ask your child who their friends are on the Internet
-- Monitor the websites they're visiting
-- Keep the computer in a common area, such as a kitchen or living room
     Abar said predators can use other online venues, such as XBox and Playstation, to chat live with children. "Often time, they'll portray themselves as a young adult, and gain the trust of a child," Abar said. The search for Dewent and Butler involves Albuquerque police, the FBI and the Department of Homeland Security.
     All agencies are working to piece together the victim's Internet history in hopes of locating her and protecting teens like her in the future. More

One week after an Albuquerque teen goes missing, experts weigh in

Swickard: Cranky Columnist Complains Happily

© 2014 Michael Swickard, Ph.D. Hello, I am a cranky columnist. I did not start out that way but I certainly am one now. Example: I went in the Comcast store to make a payment. A guy told me to sign in and then directed me to the Service Line.

      I protested, “I do not want to change my service, I want to make a payment. The textbook way is to be in the payment line.” He shook his head, “No, payments are in the Service Line.” Mr. Cranky came out of my mouth, “I see you got your prescription for stupid pills refilled.” Well, one of us enjoyed it.

     Lately it seems I am getting crankier and crankier. Worse, I am really enjoying it. Another example: last September I was thrown off my medical plan by the Affordable Care Act. So I have spent gobs of time trying to get another plan with Democrats telling me that the problem is I am resisting signing up for political reasons.

      Not so. My old plan took me back month by month when the new plan was not ready. Finally last week I got my new policy. I was prouder than when I got long pants. However, I went to the pharmacy to check on a prescription. “I am sorry Mr. Swickard; your prescription for Insulin has been rejected by the new insurance.”

     So far it has not mattered whether I was cranky or not, I cannot get my Insulin. You might ask why does Michael want Insulin? Answer: because he is an Insulin dependent diabetic. When Nancy Pelosi, then Speaker of the House said you would have to pass the Affordable Care Act to see what was in it, I never thought some person in our nation’s capital would want to take Insulin away from me and call it Affordable Care.

      Now I do not expect this impasse to last too many more weeks, but I have had a cranky-fest talking to people on the phone and in person. While it has not moved the marker even one inch closer to me getting the drugs I need to stay alive, at least I have enjoyed the moments of pure unadulterated crankiness. Read full column

Swickard: Cranky Columnist Complains Happily

Susana Martinez. announces changes for CYFD

Susana Martinez, CYFD Secretary Yolanda Deines

From KOB-TV.com - By: Jen Samp and Elizabeth Reed - Communication, follow up, recruitment. On Wednesday, Gov. Susana Martinez announced several proposals to improve child abuse investigations in New Mexico.
     Martinez said she will issue an executive order later this week for the state's Children, Youth and Families Department to permanently transfer a team of investigators to the Family Advocacy Center in Albuquerque.
     In addition, the governor will direct CYFD to work with local partners in other New Mexico communities to identify areas where it would be feasible and helpful to establish additional child advocacy centers.
      Martinez said CYFD also needs upgraded communication tools. She said the department's software dates back to 1998. She wants to improve communication by enabling officers and CYFD to use smartphones and tablets. The governor also wants CYFD to identify and keep track of families who have faced multiple investigations. She wants these families to undergo counseling and intervention services.
      Lastly, Martinez is proposing to increase salaries of newly hired case workers by 3 percent. She wants to hire a specialized recruiter to work to identify prospects and recruit them into CYFD. Qualified applicants would also be eligible for higher pay.
     The reform efforts come months after the death of a 9-year-old boy who Albuquerque police said was kicked to death by his own mother. CYFD had a history with Omaree and his mom, Synthia Varela-Casaus, but that there were no open cases at the time of the boy's death. More

Susana Martinez. announces changes for CYFD

ABQ Mayor wants more money for police training

Albuquerque's mayor wants more money for police training - especially for the way cops deal with mentally ill people. 

Mayor Richard Berry's brand new budget proposal comes just when the U.S. Department of Justice is close to wrapping up their two-year investigation into police shootings and civil rights complaints. Mayor Berry said the budget was crafted with the justice probe in mind. 

The mayor's budget also calls for seven new civilian employees in APD for help in public records and telecommunication and the crime lab in addition to 3 million dollars for new police cars. 

The city council will get to work on the budget soon - coming up with their own ideas - and by the end of May the mayor and the council should have something worked out.

ABQ Mayor wants more money for police training

Public Education Dept. faces lawsuit

A civil rights group has filed a lawsuit alleging New Mexico's public education system violates the constitutional rights of low-income children and those learning English. 

The Mexican American Legal Defense and Educational Fund brought the lawsuit Tuesday on behalf of parents of about three dozen students in the Albuquerque, Gadsden, Las Cruces, Magdalena, Santa Fe, Zuni and Espanola school districts. The case was filed in district court in Santa Fe. 

The lawsuit contends the state provides inadequate funding to educate "at-risk students," many of whom are Hispanic and Native Americans. The state constitution requires a "sufficient" education for all children. 

The lawsuit also seeks to invalidate school initiatives by Gov. Susana Martinez, including a teacher evaluation system.

Public Education Dept. faces lawsuit

Tourism officials building "burrito byway"

From KOAT-TV.com - SANTA FE, N.M. —The New Mexico Tourism Department is looking for the state's best breakfast burritos. The department Monday opened nominations for limited spots on what it has dubbed the "New Mexico True Breakfast Burrito Byway."
     According to tourism officials, the breakfast burrito was developed by a Santa Fe restaurant. It has also become a staple of Albuquerque's International Balloon Fiesta, where a hand-held breakfast is a necessity.
     The "New Mexico True Breakfast Burrito Byway" will identify the best of the burritos across New Mexico, based on nominations made by the public over the next two weeks.
     Nominations are open to New Mexico-based restaurants with a business license, in good standing with local and state Health Departments, and with a bricks-and-mortar location.
     The burritos must be a regular on the menu and include egg, tortilla and New Mexico chile. Read more

Tourism officials building "burrito byway"

Spaceport America southern road gets $6.4M boost

From the Las Cruces Sun-News - By Diana Alba Soular - With the addition of $6.4 million approved by the New Mexico Legislature this year, the New Mexico Spaceport Authority now has about $14.5 million total for a paved southern road to the remote spaceport.
     That is just $500,000 less than what it was before the spaceport authority dipped into the road budget because of a delayed start to operations by the spaceport's main tenant, Virgin Galactic, and the fact it doesn't have a visitors center built and running, spaceport officials said. Both are expected to be key revenue streams for the $212 million taxpayer-owned facility.
     Spaceport officials said they were pleased lawmakers granted the additional funding. The roughly 24-mile road branches off from Interstate 25 north of a U.S. Border Patrol checkpoint. It heads north from the Upham exit through northern Doña Ana County and crosses into Sierra County before reaching Spaceport America. The route now is a dirt road, but spaceport and county officials are proposing to pave it.
     Some Doña Ana County residents have questioned why a road has not yet been built, given that the spaceport project has been underway for years. The county is the second-largest financial contributor to the project, thanks to a county-wide spaceport sales tax. The only existing paved route is through Truth or Consequences.
      The southern road project is seen by many people as important for Las Cruces and Doña Ana County to benefit from the tourism and business activity tied to the spaceport. Spaceport officials have said they don't expect Virgin Galactic flights to start from the facility before August of this year. More

Spaceport America southern road gets $6.4M boost

APD protest continues into the night

From KOB-TV.com - The protest against the Albuquerque Police Department continues. Several hundred people have marched throughout the day between downtown Albuquerque and Nob Hill.
     Central is now shutdown eastbound at University. KOB Eyewitness News 4 has learned Albuquerque police officers outfitted in riot gear are on the scene at Central and Girard.
     They are protesting what they call APD’s excessive use of force. The protest began peacefully around 12 p.m. on Sunday and escalated throughout the day. Protestors say officers murdered a man in the foothills two weeks ago. James Boyd was killed after a confrontation with police in the foothills on March 16.
     This is the second protest in the wake of Boyd’s death. “There has been excessive force lately—in the last couple of years and I think something has to be done,” Protestor Justin Wagner said. “The new police chief is not doing his job. He spoke wrongly two weeks ago by justifying it, before everything was out there.”
     Protesters did reach I-25 and Central and briefly shut down the area, but it has been re-opened. More

APD protest continues into the night

NM Former Legislator Max Coll 1932-2014

Max Coll

SANTA FE – Max Coll, who began his bifurcated political career as a Republican in one of the most conservative areas of New Mexico and ended it as a Democrat in the most liberal, died Thursday night. He was 82 years old.

According to close friend Sen. Peter Wirth, D-Santa Fe, Coll died after suffering a major stroke last Friday night and was in Christus St.Vincent Regional Medical Center. A statement from family members is expected Friday morning

Born and raised in Roswell, Coll worked in the oil and gas industry and in the 1960s successfully ran for the state House of Representatives on a platform of slashing taxes. According to a 2013 House Memorial bill honoring him, a crew-cutted Coll handed out matchbooks during the campaign emblazoned with the slogan, “All for Coll.”

In a hint to his eventual political right-to-left transition, Coll in 1972 co-sponsored the New Mexico Equal Rights Amendment. He left the Roundhouse in 1974 to complete a law degree from the University of New Mexico and moved to northern New Mexico upon graduation.

By 1980, Coll had the itch to return to the Legislature and was elected that fall as the state rep in Santa Fe’s District 47 as a Republican. Gone was the buzz-cut, as Coll let his curly hair grow out and, in time, he even sported a stud in each ear lobe.

In 1983, Coll approached then Speaker of the House Raymond Sanchez and switched parties, becoming a Democrat.

While long priding himself as a fiscal hawk, Coll became a liberal mainstay and a strong voice for environmental concerns. Coll may have had investments in oil and gas but he had this to say to a reporter in 2010 of the relationship between the Legislature and the energy industry: “They’ve been partners with ‘em, they’ve been kissin’ them on the lips for a number of years.”

Possessing a sharp mind for state finances, Coll eventually served as chairman of the House Taxation and Revenue Committee and House Appropriations and Finance Committee and also was a longtime member of the influential Legislative Finance Committee. He worked with five governors in the course of 24 years.

Coll clashed with Democratic Gov. Bill Richardson – over what Coll felt was the executive’s attempts at consolidating Roundhouse power, among other things – and in 2004 Coll retired from politics at the age of 72.

“Max knew the rules better than anybody,” Speaker of the House W. Ken Martinez said in February of 2013 when Coll, along with his wife, Catherine Joyce-Coll, was honored on the floor of the House.

Coll and Joyce-Coll met at the Roundhouse after Joyce-Coll took a job working for Roundhouse Democrats during a legislative session.

Lovers of animals and owners of a collection of dogs and tropical birds in their home in the Santa Fe foothills, the couple helped state Sen. Wirth pass a bill in 2011 that allowed restaurants across the state to permit dogs to sit with their owners in outdoor patio areas.

The bill was signed by Republican Gov. Susana Martinez, herself a dog lover, and the Colls appeared at the signing ceremony.

In his later years, Coll met regularly with friends and political pals for luncheon dates on the Santa Fe Plaza and hosted friendly games of poker along with his wife. Coll battled diabetes and intestinal ailments but always managed to maintain a calm, almost courtly, demeanor.

“I’d complain about getting old,” he said, smiling to a friend in 2012, ”but, you know, it doesn’t do any good.”

Contact Rob Nikolewski at rnikolewski@watchdog.org and follow him on Twitter @robnikolewski

- See more at: http://newmexico.watchdog.org/

NM Former Legislator Max Coll 1932-2014