News New Mexico: 07/12/11

Army Ranger from Santa Fe receives Medal of Honor: “I didn’t want to see another casualty”

From Capitol Report New Mexico.com - It is the highest military decoration the United States can award and on Tuesday (July 12) it was awarded to a young man from Santa Fe. Army Ranger Sgt. 1st Class Leroy Arthur Petry, who lost a hand protecting two comrades in Afghanistan by tossing away a live grenade, received the Medal of Honor from President Obama in a ceremony at the White House. Sgt. Petry is the second living, active service member to receive the Medal of Honor for actions in Iraq or Afghanistan. Sgt. Petry is married and the father of four, who graduated from St. Catherine Indian School in Santa Fe in 1998, the school’s final year of existence. Read more

Sgt. Leroy Petry Day declared by governor

Sgt. Leroy Petry

Leroy Petry was born on July 29, 1979, in Santa Fe, New Mexico. Today he became the second living Medal of Honor recipient from the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. Sgt. Petry was recognized by President Obama for his extraordinary bravery in sacrificing his own safety in order to save the lives of his fellow soldiers. After sustaining several injuries during a raid, Sgt. Petry lost a hand while throwing a live grenade back at enemy fighters, saving the lives of his fellow Army Rangers. Congressman Steve Pearce issued a statement honoring Petery as did New Mexico Governor Susana Martinez who declared today “Sgt. 1st Class Leroy A. Petry Day” across New Mexico.

Film tax credit soars ahead of cap

From KRQE-TV.com - ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP) - The state will hand out some $90 million in film credits after television and film projects rushed to beat a July 1 cap on rebates.
The Albuquerque Journal reports Tuesday that the state expects the total in film credits for the just ended fiscal year to be $85 million to $95 million. That's $20 million to $30 million more than estimated during the last legislative session, when lawmakers -- under pressure from Gov. Susan Martinez to cut the credit -- adopted an annual cap of $50 million for such rebates beginning in the just started fiscal year. Read more

Swickard column: Children of the nuclear attack upon New Mexico

© 2011 Michael Swickard, Ph.D. The good news: I am still alive and appreciate every day as a bonus. The bad news: I face health challenges including cancer which my government does not admit causing. I am a New Mexico downwinder. We are the children of the surprise nuclear attack upon New Mexico by our government.On July 16, 1945, the Los Alamos based Manhattan Project came to fruition with the unannounced atomic explosion in New Mexico at Trinity Site. While the explosion was in a remote area, the authorities did not evacuate downwind people. They had no idea of the health challenges they would cause when they spread plutonium on the land, in the air and subsequently in the water supply which transferred to the food chain.There is no excuse for the nuclear testing when they had no idea how long the dangers would persist for New Mexicans. Those living

downwind and downstream of Trinity had no way of knowing what poisons were at work on them. Some became ill without understanding what caused their illness.The nuclear fallout descended upon unaware populations in the Rio Grande, Tularosa and Pecos valleys and also assaulted people who consumed the agriculture products from those areas. Map from NuclearCrimes.org The deadly effects of the plutonium were then and even now ignored by the government. To this day New Mexico is not even on the registry for the Federal Radiation Exposure Compensation Act of 1990, an attempt by then Interior Secretary Stewart Udall to address the harm done to Americans by nuclear development and testing.On this 66th anniversary of the Trinity Explosion I remind our national and state leaders that New Mexico citizens were injured and still are suffering. We, myself included, are living a lesser life due to the negligent actions of our government. The unintended consequences of Trinity have not been addressed. Read full column

Obama Quotes on Debt

Below are some quotes from the president on the nation using debt.
"If we don't raise the debt ceiling and we see a crisis of confidence in the markets, and suddenly interest rates are going up significantly, and everybody is paying higher interest rates on their car loans, on their mortgages, on their credit cards, and that's sucking up a whole bunch of additional money out of the pockets of the American people, I promise you they won’t like that.

"Now, I will say that some of the professional politicians know better. And for them to say that we shouldn’t be raising the debt ceiling is irresponsible. They know better.
"And this is not something that I am making up. This is not something that Tim Geithner is making up. We’re not out here trying to use this as a means of doing all these really tough political things. I'd rather be talking about stuff that everybody welcomes -- like new programs or the NFL season getting resolved. Unfortunately, this is what's on our plate. It’s before us right now. And we’ve got to deal with it.

"So what you’re right about, I think, is, is that the leaders in the room here at a certain point have to step up and do the right thing, regardless of the voices in our respective parties that are trying to undermine that effort.

Martinez Calls for In-State Business Advantages

Susana Martinez

ROSWELL – Governor Susana Martinez visited AerSale, Inc. in Roswell today to tour the facility and meet with the company's employees. AerSale, Inc., a global provider of aftermarket aircraft, engines, and parts, began with just three employees and grew to 100 in fewer than two years. Though AerSale’s original facility measured at 25,000 square feet, their operations now use over 267,000 square feet of facility space. While speaking with employees about ways that government can foster an environment for job creation, Governor Martinez announced that legislation providing for an in-state procurement advantage to New Mexico businesses would be on the agenda during this fall's upcoming special legislative session. “It's critical that we provide New Mexico businesses with the tools to succeed and grow in our state," said Governor Martinez. "This legislation will assist local companies in receiving contracts with the State and create a more competitive playing field for businesses that have chosen to set up shop in New Mexico and hire our workers." During the 2011 general legislative session, in-state procurement legislation was passed by the Legislature, but vetoed by the Governor due to an unintended drafting error that would have subjected private businesses operating on public land to the state's procurement code. If passed in the special session, the legislation would help make New Mexico businesses more competitive when it comes to securing business with the State.

New Border Gun Rules a "Distraction"

Daily Caller -The Obama administration bolstered sales reporting requirements Monday for gun dealers in the southern border states of Arizona, California, New Mexico and Texas. The new requirements have already being criticized by Darrell Issa, House oversight committee chairman, as nothing more than an attempt to deflect attention from the Operation Fast and Furious scandal. The new rules require gun dealers to report an individual who makes multiple semi-automatic weapons purchases within a five-day period. Issa, a California Republican, blasted the administration in an interview with The Daily Caller. “This political maneuver seems designed to protect the careers of political appointees at the Justice Department and not public safety,” Issa said. “It’s disconcerting that Justice Department officials who may have known about or tried to cover-up gunwalking in Operation Fast and Furious are continuing attempts to distract attention from clear wrongdoing.” Read more: News New Mexico

Another Environmentalist Law Suit in NM

KOB TV - Two environmental groups, a home builder, two businesses and several individuals are going to court over a recent decision by a state commission to repeal New Mexico's energy efficient building codes. The appeal was filed Monday in the Court of Appeals on behalf of the groups by the New Mexico Environmental Law Center. The state Construction Industries Commission in June negated the codes that former Democratic Gov. Bill Richardson's administration had spent 14 months putting in place. At the time, the measures were touted as the most stringent in the nation. Read full story here: News New Mexico

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