Thanks to Fracking USA Rises to Number One in Energy; Thanks to Obama, We Won't Stay There

Commentary by Marita Noon on Townhall.com - On the very same day that the Wall Street Journal (WSJ) announces: “US Rises to No. 1 Energy Producer”—thanks to the shale boom made possible through a technology known as hydraulic fracturing—an environmental group released a report calling for a complete ban of the practice, which would effectively shut down the oil-and-gas industry (and all of the jobs and revenues it creates) and increase dependence on foreign oil. Coincidence? I don’t think so. You probably haven’t heard about either, as most news coverage, on October 3, centered on the government shutdown—eclipsing all else.
     Why would Environment America choose to release a report, that they call “the first to measure the damaging footprint of fracking,” on a day when it would likely receive little attention? The answer is found in the WSJ: “the shale boom’s longevity could hinge on commodity prices, government regulations and public support.” (italics added)
     Americans support the concept of energy independence. We don’t like the fact that we've been funding terrorists because we buy oil from people who hate us and who happily slaughter our citizens.
     The Obama Administration is the most anti-fossil-fuel in history, yet within the past month, three Obama cabinet members—two former, one current—have declared fracking a safe technology for extracting oil and natural gas: Read full column

Thanks to Fracking USA Rises to Number One in Energy; Thanks to Obama, We Won't Stay There

Balloon Fiesta brings big boost to New Mexico

From KOAT-TV.com - The Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta brings in thousands of visitors to the area, which has a big impact on the local economy. Officials say nearly 800,000 people will visit Balloon Fiesta Park during the nine-day event; it's the largest visitors event in New Mexico.
     Balloon Fiesta's director of media relations, Tom Garrity said the event has a $90 million economic impact in the state. In a 2011 study, it was estimated that the event generated $15 million in tax revenue.
Officials said with a large number of people coming in from out of town, money is spent in local restaurants, hotels and shops.But Albuquerque isn't the only place to get a boost. "It's not just Albuquerque, the whole state benefits from Balloon Fiesta," said Garrity.
     Garrity said while many people come to Albuquerque to see the balloons, they also visit surrounding areas like Santa Fe, helping boost that city's economy, too. More

Balloon Fiesta brings big boost to New Mexico

Swickard: The politics of I win and you lose

© 2013 Michael Swickard, Ph.D. “People will tell you anything but what they do is always the truth.” P. J. O'Rourke It is true that politicians lie to constituents. And constituents fall for the lies almost every time because politicians are good liars. It is hard to discover the lies because politicians really do intend to do what they promise. But then stuff happens when they must follow their leadership.
     Only a fool believes that anyone elected to any office is going to do what they promised. It was just something said to get votes. I am very frustrated with our political class in Congress. They help themselves but not the citizens. Yes there are a few treasures who do what they say but they are always outvoted by the scum.
     Americans are looking in the eyes of our politicians and it is not a pretty sight. What we see is a sea of broken promises. We sent our representatives to Washington to make a federal budget but it has not happened for the last five years.
     Why? Because everyone is playing a political game of “I win and you lose.” That means very little of constructive value is done because someone has to lose for someone else to win. Win-lose is the mantra of dictators who win at the expense of others.
     We do not have to believe politicians, but even better we do not have to reelect them. We do have to quit just voting one party. One bumper sticker said, “Never reelect anyone.” Bingo! Read full column

Swickard: The politics of I win and you lose

Hospital employees told they must get flu shots

From KOB-TV.com - Stuart Dyson, KOB Eyewitness News 4 - Employees of the UNM Hospital system don’t have a choice about getting a flu shot this fall if they want to keep their jobs. A new policy requiring flu shots applies to everybody from janitors to brain surgeons, and all the jobs in between. Hospital administrators say it’s all about protecting patients and visitors and employees.
     “Research has shown that higher immunization rates among health care providers reduces the risk of influenza outbreaks in hospital settings, where patients may be at a greater risk of more severe disease,” said Dr. Meghan Brett, UNM Hospital Epidemiologist. A memo to hospital employees refers to “mandatory immunization”, and warns that if they don’t get the shot by Dec. 1, they will face “disciplinary action up and including possible termination of employment.”
     Employees may file for medical exemptions, but they will need documentation from a licensed health care provider. Ditto for religious exemptions. Leaders of Local 1199 of the National Union of Hospital and Health Care Workers say were never consulted about any of this.
     More and more hospitals around the country are requiring the flu shots, and some employees in other states have lost their jobs. Here in Albuquerque the local union is considering legal action to block the new policy. More

Hospital employees told they must get flu shots

Former head of NMFA sues Gov.

Gov. Martinez

The former top executive of the New Mexico Finance Authority has filed a lawsuit against Gov. Susana Martinez and one of her cabinet secretaries for failing to release public records requested in April. 

Ex-CEO Rick May brought the lawsuit Wednesday in state district court in Santa Fe against Martinez and Finance and Administration Secretary Tom Clifford. May was fired last year after the discovery that the authority's financial audit had been faked. 
The authority's former comptroller, Greg Campbell, later pleaded guilty to forgery and securities fraud. A state auditor's report determined that Campbell acted alone and took no money. 

The lawsuit seeks damages and a court order requiring the release of requested documents, including email and other correspondence between administration officials and NMFA board members since 2011.

Former head of NMFA sues Gov.

UNM Hospital faces lawsuit

A newly filed lawsuit accuses the University of New Mexico Hospital of providing substandard care to child cancer patients several decades ago. 

The proposed class-action suit filed Tuesday in state District Court in Albuquerque alleges that substandard care between 1977 and 1997 included patients receiving improper medications and treatments. 

The suit was filed on behalf of a woman and her son who died in 1988 at age 19 of complications from leukemia, but it says a class of plaintiffs could cover up to 1,000 children and their families. 

Hospital spokesman Billy Sparks told the Albuquerque Journal  that hospital officials hadn't been formally notified of the filing and hadn't had a chance to read the suit.

UNM Hospital faces lawsuit

Oil, gas permits halt as feds shut down

From KRQE-TV.com - by Emily Younger - CARLSBAD - The government shutdown is bringing even more concerns to southeast New Mexico where the oil and gas industry is taking a hard hit. "With the price of oil where it is, with the production and the activity level, it's a tremendous benefit to the state of New Mexico," said Raye Miller, chairman of the New Mexico Oil and Gas Association.
     But with the government shutdown, parts of that booming industry have been forced to a halt. The problem lies with the BLM, the agency responsible for processing drilling permits and authorizing businesses to drill on federal land. BLM officials say with the government shut down oil and gas companies can't get their drilling applications approved, which means new operations will be put on hold. The application process is a lengthy one even when the government is in full force.
     "Our applications to drill for new locations have been taking about four to six months for processing time, and at this point with them shut down that will be extended whatever the length of the shutdown is," said Miller.
     That means any oil and gas company looking to set up a rig and drill a new well can't. The federal shutdown is also affecting companies' abilities to transport their products. The BLM says they've furloughed all of their employees except for essential maintenance personnel. Drilling permits will not be authorized until the rest of those employees are back at work. More

Oil, gas permits halt as feds shut down

Federal shutdown has large NM impact

From KOB-TV.com - By: Stuart Dyson, KOB Eyewitness News 4 - "Bleep bleep bleeping government!" Sentiments many of us might share, uttered by New Mexico taxpayer Wuilliam Dixon Tuesday morning in front of the closed and locked I.R.S. building in Albuquerque.

     That building is just one of many federal government operations around the state that shut down when Congress deadlocked in a fight over federal spending and Obamacare. "I think they ought to just start over and start fresh," Dixon said. "Get all them people out, get some new faces. People that can actually do their job instead of just making the money and sitting on their butts and screwing the small people!"
     A couple of miles away, at the Social Security building, it was a slightly different story. They were open, but only for limited services, as Beatrice Wade found out the hard way. "I went in there to attempt to get a Social Security card for my son and they told me the government has shut down," Wade said. "I was in shock, knowing that this is one of the main buildings here in Albuquerque. I mean, we need it open."
     Kirtland Air Force Base remained open with military personnel on duty and on payroll, but there was no work for about 2,000 civilian employees on the base. Sandia and Los Alamos National Laboratories were open, however. That was not the case for the U.S. Forest Service. Illinois tourists Julie and Jeff Rolfingsmeier found the Sandia Ranger Station closed. They couldn't find out whether they could hike or couldn't.
     So, life is suddenly more difficult for thousands of New Mexico taxpayers but even tougher for federal employees on furlough on indefinite leave without pay again while Democrats and Republicans in Congress blames each other for the meltdown. More

Federal shutdown has large NM impact

NM heath insurance exchange opens

Tens of thousands of New Mexicans will find new opportunities to shop for health insurance through an online marketplace that's opening for business. 

New Mexico's health insurance exchange begins operating Tuesday and there also will be a toll-free hotline providing assistance. 

Small businesses — those with 50 or fewer workers — can sign up for health insurance coverage through the state-run exchange. Individuals can use the New Mexico exchange to link to a federal government website that will handle their enrollment until the state has its computer system ready to assume that responsibility. 

Enrollment also can be done by phone or in person at clinics and other sites across the state. 

About 80,000 New Mexicans are expected to enroll in insurance plans through the exchange in its first year.

NM heath insurance exchange opens

First Gov. shutdown in 17 years

Congress has missed the deadline for averting the first partial government shutdown in 17 years.

 As the clock struck midnight Monday, House Republicans were demanding that the Senate negotiate their demand for a one-year delay in making millions of people buy health insurance under President Barack Obama’s 2010 health care law. 

Minutes before midnight, the White House ordered a shutdown.

 The Democratic Senate on Monday twice rejected GOP demands to delay key portions of what has become to known as Obamacare as a condition for keeping the government open. 

An estimated 800,000 federal workers faced furloughs though many were told work a half day Tuesday. Critical functions like air traffic control and military operations will continue. Social Security benefits will be paid. National parks and most federal offices will close.

First Gov. shutdown in 17 years