News
Congresswoman Teresa Leger Fernández approaches the rostrum to address a legislative joint session Monday.

Federal delegation address legislators

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Members of New Mexico’s congressional delegation touted federal legislation like the American Rescue Plan Act while speaking to the state Legislature on Monday. U.S. Senator Martin Heinrich and U.S. Reps. Teresa Leger Fernández and Gabe Vasquez, all Democrats, addressed a joint session of the New Mexico Legislature Monday. “I want to start by thanking you for your partnership, for your collaboration and for your leadership,” Heinrich said. “We have faced extraordinary challenges over the last few years and yet we have accomplished so much together to directly improve New Mexico’s future from passing legislation to provide paid leave for all workers to raising teachers wages to taking on predatory lenders and building a more equitable revenue base.

2017 legislative session

‘The race is on’ between NM, CO for chile specialty license plate

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Colorado continues trying to steal New Mexico’s thunder when it comes to chile, for some reason. This time, legislators in New Mexico’s neighbor to the north want to create a special license plate in Colorado for chile growers. The proposal cleared the Colorado House on a voice vote Tuesday. New Mexico’s effort cleared its first committee Wednesday morning. “The Pueblo chile is Colorado’s chile,” Colorado state Rep. Daneya Esgar, D-Pueblo, said on the floor according to a press release.“Our local growers deserve recognition of their outstanding chiles.”

New Mexico state Rep. Cathrynn Brown’s proposal to have a green chile license plate cleared the Taxation and Revenue Committee on a unanimous vote Wednesday morning.

2016 Election

Southern NM House race could prove key

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One of the key races that will decide the political control of the state House of Representatives pits an upstart against a Roundhouse veteran in southern New Mexico. The incumbent, Republican Andy Nuñez, has represented the district for most of the past decade and a half. He faces former Nathan Small, a Democrat who recently served two terms on the Las Cruces city council. NM Political Report will profile some key legislative races from now until election day. Nuñez, 80, is perhaps best known for switching his political affiliation multiple times over in the past few years, from Democrat to independent to Republican.

chile

Heinrich adds a voice to the Hatch ‘chile battle’

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A U.S. Senator from New Mexico is stepping up to bat for the state’s chile growers. Sen. Martin Heinrich voiced his concern for chile growers in New Mexico who currently have a case filed with the U.S. Patent and Trademark office. His concern, he said, is out of state companies with labels that may confuse consumers. Chile, both red and green, is an iconic crop for New Mexico. New Mexico even has an official State Question: “Red or green?”

Heinrich said he spoke out in favor of New Mexico chile farmers because he wants to see them get credit for their labor.