Whatever Happened to Food Stamps?

Sentinel Source - Jackie R. Whiton of Antrim had been a six-year employee at the Big Apple convenience store in Peterborough until a single transaction sent her job up in smoke. The store clerk was fired after she refused to take a customer’s Electronic Balance Transfer card to pay for cigarettes.
Whiton said a young man came in to the store to buy two packs or cigarettes on May 29. When she asked him for his ID, he handed her his EBT card.
EBT cards are used for both food and cash assistance programs. There are two types of cards: one can only be used for food. The other can be spent on anything and used just like a debit card.
Whiton said she did not think EBT cards could be used to purchase cigarettes and refused to sell to him. The two “had a little go-around” as the line got longer behind him, said Whiton.
“I made the statement, ‘do you think myself, that lady and that gentlemen should pay for your cigarettes?’ and he responded ‘yes,’ ” Whiton said. Read full story here: News New Mexico

Whatever Happened to Food Stamps?

Martinez Orders Better Capital Outlay Planning

Susana Martinez

SANTA FE – Governor Susana Martinez has signed an executive order aimed at improving the capital outlay process for state government properties by requiring every agency under the Governor’s authority to submit a 5-year facilities master plan.
The directive aims to improve planning and cut costs by requiring the agencies to annually update and justify proposed capital projects, outline maintenance plans and justify new construction. Agencies will use a criteria-based weighted ranking system to determine priority.
For years, New Mexico has rated poorly in managing the capital outlay process. The Governor’s executive order will help ensure that all capital projects relating to state agencies are properly vetted and deemed worthy before lawmakers are asked to provide funding.
“New Mexico taxpayers foot the bill for these projects and it is important that we have a better system in place to identify the state’s needs so we can avoid wasteful spending,” Governor Martinez said. “Frankly, this sort of prioritization and vetting should be an integral part of every dollar that the Legislature appropriates for capital outlay. Unfortunately, for too long that hasn’t been the case.”
The executive order calls for the Property Control Division at the General Services Department to work with the Department of Finance and Administration to prepare and update a 5-year capital improvement project master list.

The master plan must be submitted to the Governor and Legislature by November 1 each year.

Martinez Orders Better Capital Outlay Planning

NM Burger named one of the best in U.S.

KRQE - National Geographic ranked one of New Mexico's hamburger joints as one of the best in the country. Fancy burger joints in New York City and San Francisco made the list, and so did Blake's Lotaburger. KRQE News 13 broke the news to Lotaburger executives Tuesday. They say they think it's the green chile from Hatch, New Mexico that makes their cheeseburger so popular. "This is what we do for a living and if somebody thinks we're doing it right, that's about as good as it gets," said Lotaburger executive Brent Jones. The company is celebrating 60 years in business in New Mexico and has 76 locations throughout the state. Read More News New Mexico

NM Burger named one of the best in U.S.

Late Night Jokes from Newsmax.com

Jerry Sandusky was found guilty on 45 counts. Penn State did not release a statement on the Sandusky verdict. As usual they're going to wait 10 years before they say anything.
Experts say Sandusky is headed for a special circle of hell in the prison system. See, you never hear about the good things the prison system does.

Gas prices are expected to drop to around $3 a gallon by this fall. The price drop is the result of a complicated system. It's called the election.
This weekend is the swim around Manhattan Island. You go to the Hudson, up the East River, and then back down the Hudson, 28 miles around Manhattan. The winner gets a trophy and hepatitis.
Climate change is a serious problem. I think if any state has a chance to come up with a technological solution to rising sea levels, it's California. In Hollywood, we're going to do our part by making a crappy reality show about it.
Mitt Romney’s weekend retreat also included a buffet dinner. Which explains why Governor Chris Christie’s invitation got “lost in the mail.”
Two female sprinters may have to do a coin toss after they tied in an Olympic qualifying event. The coin toss will last just a second, while NBC's coverage of it will last about a day and a half.

Late Night Jokes from Newsmax.com

Respect and Honor Our Wounded Warriors

Jim Harbison

As we prepare to celebrate Independence Day on July 4th, evidence abounds that freedom has always had a price. Veterans have always paid that price. Look around. You will see men and women, both in and out of uniform, who answered the Nation's call, held service above self, and put themselves in harm's way for each of us. Some are missing limbs. Some bear less obvious wounds that have seared their souls. All have earned our abiding respect and our collective gratitude. All have earned whatever care we can provide to help them return to society.

Unfortunately, politics has intruded on the graciousness of the American public. Cynical ideologues who opposed the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan in the last debt ceiling debate pushed a moral equivalent between the Defense budget and all other budget line items. Really? Politicians fail to appreciate that soldiers do not choose where and when they sacrifice, but, the public understands. The decision to send our military into harm’s way is not made by generals and admirals but by Congress and the President. Those in the military are truly public servants and do not have a voice in choosing the wars in which they fight. And, unlike their civilian counterparts, soldiers, sailors and airmen cannot simply quit their jobs, resign, or decline the assignment.

Many military members are now returning home with devastating injuries, some suffering from post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). The failure of the Senate to enact a budget for the last three years will force draconian cuts to the Military Services and to the Veterans Administration. These cuts will adversely impact the medical care to those who most deserve the honor of a grateful Nation. Read rest of column here: News New Mexico

Respect and Honor Our Wounded Warriors

Courtesy of Conservative Daily News

     

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GOP Senate candidate slams Martinez

Aubrey Dunn Jr. 

NMPolitics - Republican state Senate candidate Aubrey L. Dunn Jr. is blasting Gov. Susana Martinez after a political group with ties to the governor sent mailers in the June primary supporting the incumbent Democrat Dunn will face in November. Dunn is also demanding a refund of contributions he and his wife made to Martinez’s 2010 gubernatorial campaign. Dunn sent the letter to Martinez on Sunday complaining about mailers the political action committee sent before the June primary in support of Sen. Phil Griego, D-San Jose, who faced a tough but ultimately unsuccessful challenge from more liberal Democrat Jack Sullivan. The Martinez-tied Super PAC, Reform New Mexico Now, came to the aid of a number of Democrats in the primary who had been supportive of some of the governor’s legislative proposals. The Super PAC’s funding came primarily from wealthy oilmen from Eastern New Mexico. In his letter, Dunn blasted the governor and the PAC’s donors, pointing out that Griego voted for the law that allows undocumented immigrants to obtain driver’s licenses. “It appears that the Governor’s office and her Big Oil friends are more concerned about the open pit rules and helping a ‘pay to play’ senator,” Dunn wrote. Jay McCleskey, Martinez’s political adviser, didn’t say whether the governor would return the campaign contributions Dunn referenced from him and his wife. NMPolitics.net found $5,250 in contributions from Dunn to Martinez in 2010, but none from his wife Robin – who contributed $1,000 to Martinez’s 2010 primary opponent Doug Turner. Read More News New Mexico

GOP Senate candidate slams Martinez

Richardson the King of NM Crony Capitalism

Author Harvey Yates Jr. sent News New Mexico a copy of Governor Richardson and Crony Capitalism; Contorting New Mexico’s Oil and Gas Exploration Industry before he appeared on the show this morning. Requests for where to get a copy of the book came in after his appearance on News New Mexico this morning (see below). The book is a well researched, extensively documented expose of the incredible price New Mexicans paid to have Bill Richardson in charge of the state for two terms. Specifically, in his book Yates documents the incredible financial damage to public education, the state budget, state employees, taxpayers, and the reputation for free enterprise here due to rules and regulations designed to prop up some businesses while destroying others.
The Yates book is also instructive within the bigger scheme of public policy nightmares. As Yates describes the processes that unfolded in New Mexico the reader will gains a faster recognition of exactly how entrepreneurial capitalists who create real jobs can actually be methodically replaced by what Yates call nursery occupants.
Everything Yates describes in his book explains how Richardson took actions to the detriment of employment rates and living standards in New Mexico. These same insidious processes are a threat all over America.
The book is available at Intermedia Publishing Group. The website is intermedia.com. Governor Richardson and Crony Capitalism is a quick and fascinating read. The work is complete with illustrations, graphs, footnotes, and pie charts. Yates does a fantastic job of helping the reader grasp the magnitude of the damage done by crony capitalism in the state of New Mexico.

For anyone wanting an in depth understanding of how Bill Richardson’s ambitious political machine set the state back many decades and also who are some of the major exploiters of the Richardson’s system were, the Yates book is a must read.

Richardson the King of NM Crony Capitalism

How will Heinrich and Lujan Vote?

Eric Holder

NewsNM note- Steve Pearce has already indicated he will vote to hold A.G. Holder in contempt for ignoring a subpoena. How will Martin Heinrich and Ben Ray Lujan vote? Where is the media in New Mexico? Why aren't these elected officials asked to comment on Holder's status? CBS - Now that the politically potent National Rifle Association is keeping score, some Democrats may join House Republicans if there’s a vote to hold Attorney General Eric Holder in contempt of Congress in a dispute over documents related to a botched gun-tracking operation.

The chief Democratic House head counter, Rep. Steny Hoyer of Maryland, declined to tell reporters how many defections he expected, but acknowledged that some in his party would consider heeding the NRA’s call for a “yes” vote.
The gun owners association injected itself last week into the stalemate over Justice Department documents demanded by the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee. The NRA said it supports the contempt resolution and will keep a record of how members vote.
An NRA letter to House members contended that the Obama administration “actively sought information” from Operation Fast and Furious to support its program to require dealers to report multiple rifle sales. Read full story here: News New Mexico

How will Heinrich and Lujan Vote?

Census: NM workforce declined by 15,714, 2009 to 2010

New Mexico Business Weekly - New Mexico lost 765 businesses with paid employees from 2009 to 2010, and the state saw the number of people employed by businesses drop by 15,714, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. During that time, the annual payroll for businesses that employed New Mexicans dropped by $59.7 million to $21.3 billion, the Census Bureau said. Since 2007, the state has lost 2,648 businesses that employ people, and 48,018 paid employees, according to the Census Bureau’s County Business Patterns 2010 report. The state’s construction industry was hit the hardest during the recession. The number of construction companies declined from 5,896 in 2007 to 4,738 in 2010, and the number of paid employees dropped by 13,950 to 41,359. Nationally, U.S. businesses with paid employees totaled 7.4 million in 2010, a drop of 36,800 from 2009. It was the third consecutive year of decline. However, the rate of losses slowed. Between 2008 and 2009, the U.S. lost 168,000 businesses. Read More News New Mexico

Census: NM workforce declined by 15,714, 2009 to 2010