13 Illegal Immigrants Arrested in California Wearing U.S. Marine Uniforms
DOJ Memo Confirms Terrorists Have Crossed The Border
Sanchez to Make Decision on Senate Run Soon
 |
| John Sanchez |
Lieutenant Governor John Sanchez was sounding very much like a candidate for the U.S. Senate during his interview with News New Mexico yesterday. Early in the discussion he spoke of the challenges the Martinez Michael Swickard popped the question about whether Sanchez would be “in” or “out” of the race for the Senate seat being vacated by Jeff Bingaman. It was obvious Sanchez was very serious about a run. He said he would be making a decision on that question very soon. You can listen to the entire interview here: News New Mexico
Pearce to Appear on NewsNM
 |
| Steve Pearce in Cloudcroft |
Andy Nunez In the Middle of Everything
 |
| Andy Nunez |
Capitol Report New Mexico - During this past 60-day legislative session, it seemed that Rep. Andy Nuñez (I-Hatch) was in the middle of everything. First, he led an unsuccessful charge to oust Speaker of the House Ben Luján and replace him with Rep. Joe Cervantes (D-Las Cruces). In the wake of that attempt, Nuñez lost his chairmanship of the House Agriculture and Water Resources Committee. Then, Nuñez defected from the Democrats, renouncing his party affiliation. Republicans hoped he’d jump to their side of the aisle but Nuñez decided to call himself an independent. “At least I don’t have to go to caucus meetings anymore,” he joked after he made the announcement but his switch eroded the Democrats’ advantage in the House from 37-33 to 36-33-1, with Nuñez often voting with the GOP on critical issues.
If Nuñez annoyed the Democratic establishment, he then completely enraged liberals across the state by leading another charge — to eliminate the state’s policy granting driver’s licenses to illegal immigrants. Polls show a majority of New Mexicans want to overturn the policy that was instituted in 2003 by former Gov. Bill Richardson but an issue’s relative popularity doesn’t necessarily equal success in the legislative process. Nuñez sponsored House Bill 78 but it went absolutely nowhere in the Democratically-controlled committee process. Read full story here: News New Mexico
SIC Ends Zero Interest Loans to Filmmakers
 |
| Lee Rawson |
Governor Carruthers to Appear on NewsNM
 |
| Garrey Carruthers |
Albuquerque loses money on red light cameras
From KOB-TV.com - By Jeff Maher, KOB Eyewitness News 4; Taryn Bianchin, KOB - Albuquerque Mayor Richard Berry could decide whether to scrap the city’s red-light camera within the next 30 days. The city is losing money on the program because of a recent change made with the timing of the yellow lights. In January, the city changed the yellow lights to last longer at red-light camera intersections because a UNM study suggested it would lower the amount of crashes. That turned out to be true. But now there are less tickets being issued, meaning less revenue for the city. City councilor Dan Lewis says the city’s red-light camera fund that pays for the program has about $700,000 left and it’s costing about $100,000 a month to run it. That gives the city seven more months of funding before the mayor would have to start dipping into the city budget to pay for it, a budget that is already facing a $40 million shortfall. More News New Mexico
Threat of nixed sick-time payout sends some police, firefighters packing
From the Santa Fe New Mexican.com - by Julie Ann Grimm and Geoff Grammer - Santa Fe police and fire managers will have one less perk if officials approve a policy change. At least three high-ranking police commanders already have filed paperwork for retirement and others are discussing doing so in the coming weeks. At issue is whether employees who are not part of a collective-bargaining union can get a payout for unused sick time when they retire. The sick-time buyback provision for managers has been around only a few years. It was touted as a way to reward public-service leadership tenure with incentives similar to those offered to rank-and-file union members. When councilors threatened to change another retirement policy in 2008, all four of the city's highest-ranking firefighters retired, citing loss of expected income as their main reason. Tuesday was the last day at the Santa Fe Police Department for Lt. Gerald Solano, a 21-year veteran of the police force. "That sick-time policy and talk of pay cuts, those are things that affect our retirement and cost us money if we don't take advantage of the benefits now," said Solano. His decision to leave will afford him the luxury of cashing in on some 2,000 unused sick and vacation days, for almost a year of salary. They are days he said were touted as a benefit to officers in an effort to "not abuse their sick time." More News New Mexico
Pearce introduces bill to thin southeast forests
From KOB-TV.com - By: Joe Bartels, KOB Eyewitness News 4; Taryn Bianchin, KOB.com -Congressman Steve Pearce has introduced a bill in the House that would allow for the timber industry to begin operations again, while protecting the endangered Mexican Spotted Owl which forced the industry to shut down in the first place. Pearce says his bill would help return the forest to a sustainable condition while creating thousands of jobs, increasing water supplies, and reducing fire danger. Officials say dry conditions plus decades of fuel build up are leading to an explosive fire danger. The bill would allow for responsible forest thinning; a select harvest of big and small trees. The bill will likely face opposition. The endangered Mexican Spotted Owl lives in the trees which prompted the ban on forest cutting in the first place. More News New Mexico
Posts
