All three members of New Mexico’s all-Democratic delegation in the U.S. House of Representatives are vowing to vote against a Senate-brokered deal to reopen the federal government because it does not include an extension of tax credits that millions of Americans depend on to purchase health insurance. U.S. Reps. Melanie Stansbury, Gabe Vasquez and Teresa […]
Posted inNew Mexico Legislature #nmleg, NM Political Report, Uncategorized
Legislators OK $162,500,000 for state SNAP aid in quick 4-hour session
Lt. Gov. Howie Morales, in his capacity as acting governor, has signed legislation that will provide full benefits for 459,500 New Mexicans who depend on SNAP for food assistance, even if the federal government does not supply the funding. Morales signed House Bill 1 on Monday evening after the Legislature adjourned following a four-hour-long special […]
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Counties nominate state rep., current and former county commisioners to fill vacant senate seat in Southeast NM
Mark Fischer, chair of the Lincoln County Board of Commissioners, has been recommended by his colleagues to fill an open New Mexico Senate seat. During a special meeting on Monday, Lincoln County Commissioners Samantha Serna, Timothy Prather, and MP Chavez voted to send Fisher’s name to the governor for consideration as their choice to fill […]
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Special session bill would add $192 million to fund fed SNAP gap
Federal cuts to SNAP benefits that 459,500 New Mexicans depend on for food assistance could soon be offset by $192 million in state dollars, under the bill that will be taken up during Monday’s special legislative session. The announcement came on Monday during a press conference held by New Mexico House Democrats and came just […]
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State DOT will seek 25-35% hikes on vehicle registration, new EV car fee to fund road repairs
New Mexico motorists could pay more to keep their vehicles registered and on the road under a proposal from the state Transportation Department, part of a plan to boost its revenue amid rising construction costs and projected declines in annual revenue. Ricky Serna, the New Mexico Transportation Secretary, told lawmakers on the Transportation Revenue and […]
Posted inNew Mexico Legislature #nmleg, NM Political Report, Uncategorized
New Mexico lawmakers call for commission to probe alleged Epstein crimes at Zorro Ranch
New Mexicans may soon learn more about the alleged crimes of Jeffrey Epstein, even as efforts to get additional information about the disgraced financier and convicted sex abuser have stalled at the federal level. On Thursday, state lawmakers presented a proposal to the Courts, Corrections and Justice Interim Committee to create a commission to probe […]
Posted inElections & Politics, NM Political Report, Uncategorized
Aztec state senator joins gubernatorial race, focuses on education, rural New Mexico
Sen. Steve Lainier (R-Aztec) on Thursday became the second Republican to officially declare his candidacy for governor. Lanier, a retired educator and coach, and a first-term state senator from Aztec, announced his candidacy in a press release posted on Facebook. “As someone who spent my life serving this community – in the classroom, on the […]
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Chaves County commissioners unanimously endorse Wilson for open State Senate seat
Reporting from Roswell, NM — Former Lincoln County Commissioner Rex Wilson could soon be representing three southeastern New Mexico counties in the Legislature after officials in Chaves County recommended him as their choice to fill an open state Senate seat. On Wednesday, the Chaves County Board of Commissioners voted 5-0 to send the name of […]
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‘Morally wrong, disrespectful:’ NM congressional leaders slam moves to roll back Chaco Canyon buffer zone
Pueblos and advocacy groups that spent decades trying to safeguard one of the most sacred sites of Puebloan culture may soon see all that hard work undone, as the Trump administration considers reopening land around the Chaco Culture National Historical Park to oil and gas drilling as well as mining. In a statement to New […]
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Trump administration says it will comply with court order to fund SNAP, partially for now
The 559,500 New Mexicans who rely on SNAP for food assistance will get at least some of their monthly federal benefits this month, after the Trump administration agreed to follow two court orders and use a contingency fund to partially fund the benefits. A four-page document submitted to the United States District Court for the […]