Capitol Report Analysis: Redistricting unraveling

From Capitol Report New Mexico - A couple days ago, there was optimism that the Senate and the House could cobble together redistricting bills that, while far from perfect, could generate bipartisan support and possibly satisfy Gov. Susana Martinez. But on the same day the Roundhouse buzzed with chatter about a “Grand Bargain” between the two sides, one veteran lawmaker told me to forget it. “This thing’s heading to court,” he said flatly, “just like it did 10 years ago.” The old pro’s prediction is looking more and more likely as the last 24 hours in Santa Fe has seen bill after redistricting bill move through committees or onto the floor on strictly partisan votes, with every Democrat voting for Democrat-sponsored measures and every Republican voting against them. And the mood is getting testier. Read more

Capitol Report Analysis: Redistricting unraveling

Rio Rancho Police probe alleged bribe to councilor

From the Rio Rancho Observer - BY BRAD BUCK, Observer managing editor - Rio Rancho police are investigating an allegation from City Councilor Steve Shaw that someone offered him money for his re-election campaign if he would change his vote on a redistricting map.Shaw said he did not take any money and said Monday he contacted Deputy Police Chief Tonya Smith and City Manager James Jimenez about the situation. Smith has since assigned a detective to the case. Shaw said he expects he will be interviewed, along with the accused and a third party present during the alleged bribe. Shaw said he met a person - who he declined to identify -for coffee last Wednesday morning at 7:30 - the day the Governing Body was set to vote on the map outlining new council districts. Shaw said he wanted to talk to the person about redistricting. But during the conversation, the unidentified accused person offered Shaw money for his re-election campaign, if he changed his vote on the redistricting map, Shaw said. "It was very offensive to me, especially given my background," said the former deputy police chief. It made him wonder if this person has done this before and would he or she try to bribe someone else? Read more

Rio Rancho Police probe alleged bribe to councilor

WIPP layoffs announced

From the Carlsbad Current Argus - CARLSBAD - Sixty-five employees at the Waste Isolation Pilot Plant will lose their jobs beginning in October, it was announced today. The layoffs come as the second part of a workforce restructuring plan by Washington TRU Solutions (WTS), which manages the plant for the U.S. Department of Energy. Approximately 65 employees, including WTS personnel, temporary employees and subcontract personnel will be impacted, according to a WTS news release. "This is an extremely difficult time," said Farok Sharif, WTS president and general manager. "We have implemented numerous cost-saving measures in FY11 and more are to come in FY12, but it isn't enough. With the end of the Recovery Act scope and funding and the outlook of the FY12 budget, we are faced with reducing our workforce further." Read more

WIPP layoffs announced

Commentary: AG plays fast and loose with Southern NM water

From NMPolics.net - By Gary Esslinger - Gary King is in the very enviable position of a blustery riverboat gambler at a big poker game. The only thing is, he’s irresponsibly gambling with someone else’s chips – the water that Southern New Mexico farm families rely on for their way of life and business. King has filed suit against the Bureau of Reclamation (BOR) attacking the “operating agreement” negotiated among the Elephant Butte Irrigation District, the El Paso County Water Improvement District #1, and the BOR. This is unfortunate because one of the key ingredients in this valid and well-thought-out compromise is the fact that it protects New Mexico farmers and their right to pump underground water during times of severe drought, just as we are currently experiencing. That is called conjunctive management. If not for the operating agreement, you can be assured that your ability to pump and grow crops for food, feed and fiber, and potentially fuel, would be tied up in litigation and many farmers would be out of business. In the case of litigation over water such as this, the U.S. Supreme Court will end up with the case and there’s no telling what that body may do. Alleviating the unnecessary risk involved with such litigation is the very reason farmers in this valley took control of their own destiny and constructed the operating agreement. Read more

Commentary: AG plays fast and loose with Southern NM water

Fraudulent Driver's Licenses Are Big Business in NM

KOAT -TV - State officials are worried that a booming fake license industry for illegal immigrants is putting New Mexicans at risk. Eliminating driver's licenses for illegal immigrants is on the agenda for this month's special session in Santa Fe, but while it's still unclear if it will actually be addressed, documents obtained by Target 7 revealed a troubling and potentially dangerous angle to the controversy. A series of text messages between a New Mexican named Joshua Silva and Lukasz Kozlik, a Polish national wanted in connection with operating a driver's license ring for illegal immigrants, were obtained from a federal affidavit, and Tax and Revenue Secretary Demesia Padilla said the messages detail exactly how the men get driver's licenses in New Mexico for Polish nationals in other states. Authorities said the messages detail the steps on getting driver's license, including securing driving records for illegal immigrants, saying that it's easy to pass driving exams in New Mexico. "They really don't have any regard for our laws. It's like, $500 (and) we can get her done," Padilla said. Padilla said what's scarier is that the addresses being used obviously don't belong to the illegal immigrants, which perhaps could put innocent New Mexicans in danger. Read rest of story and see video here: News New Mexico

Fraudulent Driver's Licenses Are Big Business in NM

Changing Gun Control Law in North Carolina Part I

Conservative Daily News - It all started with an article at Conservative Daily News by Benjamin Wallace. Ben’s post described how Florida state lawmakers were able to remove overly-burdensome local regulations on gun ownership through state action. I realized that my State had a similar problem and perhaps could take advantage of a similar remedy. In North Carolina, it is legal to purchase a handgun after obtaining a pistol purchase permit from your county sheriff’s office. But, in just one county, Durham, you are also required to register the pistol within 10-days of purchase. It is the only county in the entire state where the registration of any firearms is mandated and state law has no such provision. There are two major problems with these impediments to firearm ownership. First, the requirement of a pistol purchase permit is nothing more than a hassle that was put in place during the Jim Crow era so that local officials could deny permits to blacks or otherwise decide who should and should not posses a firearm. Second, the Durham County requirement to then register a pistol after purchase is just one more step in an already painful process. These two regulations together create a climate where law-abiding citizens may just not even bother to purchase a pistol just to avoid the hassle of dealing with a near 6 week long process that one must go through in order to own a handgun. It would seem that this is much the purpose. As a citizen journalist and activist, I wanted to see if there was something I could do to remove these infringements upon the right to bear arms. Read rest of story here: News New Mexico

Changing Gun Control Law in North Carolina Part I

Pearce: Local Resource Management Increases Public Safety, Creates Jobs

Steve Pearce

By U.S. Congressman Steve Pearce - New Mexico State Forestry has reported 1,263 fires, burning more than 1 million acres since July 2010. This report shows the danger in which our homes, our communities, and our families have been placed. Mismanaged, overgrown forests contribute to the spread of wildfires that have devastated our state over the past year. The threat of fires in New Mexico could be decreased, giving us safer homes and healthier forests. I have never been a proponent of clear cutting our forests; however, I am strongly in favor of healthy conservation through targeted forest management. Regular thinning of trees helps protect local watershed, decreases the risk of fires, and provides a better forest for wildlife and for the people of New Mexico. Read rest of column here: News New Mexico

Pearce: Local Resource Management Increases Public Safety, Creates Jobs

"Day of Rage on Stage"

Courtesy of Conservativedailynews.com

"Day of Rage on Stage"