Thursday, February 16, 2012
NM Sen. Republican Leader Stuart Ingle Comments on Session
Senate Minority Leader Stuart Ingle
Comments As Session Ends with Balanced Budget and More
The 30 day Legislative Session ended at noon today and concluded a month full of debate, discussion and ended with a new, balanced budget to run state government starting in July.
Many Republican State Senators say it is a good budget that continues to invest in public education, while meeting its financial responsibilities to fund Medicaid. The $5.6 billion dollar budget spends about $220 million more than the current year budget. Much of that 4% increase goes to public schools and Medicaid. The legislature also passed over $280 million in capital outlay for many New Mexico communities.
Passing a balanced budget in the 30 day legislative session, is the only constitutional requirement the legislature has in the even numbered years when the session is held. In addition to passing a budget, education reform and tax breaks to encourage economic development in the state were hotly debated during the session. Senators predicted that the bills that did not pass regarding education reform, tax reductions to encourage economic development and stopping illegal immigrants from receiving New Mexico driver’s licenses will be back.
“We had a very deliberative session and we have produced a good budget for the state,” Senate Minority Leader Stuart Ingle said. “It is disappointing that we were not able stop the state from issuing driver’s licenses to people who come to our state illegally. Many come here solely to get our license to be used as a legitimate form of identification to be able to travel freely around our country. I dread the day one of our New Mexico licenses is used by someone who was not here legally to do great harm against our country and our against our people. I fear New Mexico will deservedly receive the rage of the world.”
Monday, February 13, 2012
New Mexico Senate Basketball Game Highlights
ploaded by dianekinderwater on Feb 11, 2012
Senate Protests Being Robbed of their
Game-winning Shot
Santa Fe--The New Mexico State Senate threw down a red flag in the Senate Chambers in protest today.
The Senators were challenging the referees' final call at last night's Senate/House charity basketball game. That call ended the game and did not allow the Senators' final shot right before the buzzer to count. Senator Howie Morales' (D-Silver City) two-pointer would have put the Senators ahead 27 to 26. Instead, the referees ruled the game ended 26 to 25 in favor of the House.
A video shot by Senate Communication's Director Diane Kinderwater clearly shows the ball left Senator Morales' fingers before the buzzer sounded and made a swoosh through the hoop for what should have been two points.
This year's annual Senate/House game raised over $26,000 for the UNM Cancer Center. The Senators were Senate Lobos and wore the Lobo jerseys and the House members were House Aggies wearing New Mexico State Aggie jerseys
Anti-corruption news conference Senate Minority Leader Payne & House Ma...
Hard-hitting, Bipartisan, Anti-corruption Landmark Piece of Legislation Passes Unanimously Both Senate and House
News Conference can be found at: http://youtu.be/XVDUsdGqUMA
And at NewMexicoRepublicanSenatorsblogspot.com
SB 197 Felonies for Public Officials
Sponsored by Senate Minority Whip Bill Payne (R-Albuquerque)
Passed House 67-0, Passed Senate 39 to 0- on to Governor
Santa Fe— A hard-hitting, bi-partisan, anti-corruption bill passed the House today 67-0 after having passed the Senate 39-0 last Thursday. The sponsor of the bill, Senate Minority Leader Bill Payne (R-Albuquerque) said it is one of the major bills of the session to pass both Houses. He has been working for four years on the bill to fine corrupt public officials who are guilty of a felony related to their public office.
The Democratic Majority Leader of the House, Rep. Kenny Martinez carried SB 197 in the House.
Under this major anti-corruption bill, SB 197- Felonies for Public Officials- corrupt officials could receive a fine and lose their fringe benefits like their pensions if they are found guilty of a felony related to their public office.
Saturday, February 11, 2012
Senate Protests Being Robbed of Gaming-Winning Shot
Senate Protests Being Robbed of their
Game-winning Shot
Video can be found on Youtube at:
http://youtu.be/W2gTmFZo4QU
Santa Fe--The New Mexico State Senate threw down a red flag in the Senate Chambers in protest today.
The Senators were challenging the referees’ final call at last night’s Senate/House charity basketball game. That call ended the game and the refs did not count the Senators’ final shot that got off right before the buzzer sounded. Senator Howie Morales’ (D-Silver City) two-pointer would have put the Senators ahead 27 to 26. Instead, the referees ruled the game ended 26 to 25 in favor of the House.
A video shot by Senate Communication’s Director Diane Kinderwater clearly shows the ball left Senator Morales’ fingers before the buzzer sounded and the ball made a swoosh through the hoop for what should have been two points.
This year’s annual Senate/House game raised over $26,000 for the UNM Cancer Center. The Senators were Senate Lobos and wore the Lobo jerseys and the House members were House Aggies wearing New Mexico State Aggie jerseys.
Senate Protests Being Robbed of Game-winning shot
http://youtu.be/W2gTmFZo4QU
Senate Protests Being Robbed of their
Game-winning Shot
Proof of Senate’s game-winning shot can be seen at: NewMexicoRepublicanSenators.Blogspot.com.
Santa Fe--The New Mexico State Senate threw down a red flag in the Senate Chambers in protest today.
The Senators were challenging the referees’ final call at last night’s Senate/House charity basketball game. That call ended the game and the refs did not count the Senators’ final shot that got off right before the buzzer sounded. Senator Howie Morales’ (D-Silver City) two-pointer would have put the Senators ahead 27 to 26. Instead, the referees ruled the game ended 26 to 25 in favor of the House.
A video shot by Senate Communication’s Director Diane Kinderwater clearly shows the ball left Senator Morales’ fingers before the buzzer sounded and the ball made a swoosh through the hoop for what should have been two points.
This year’s annual Senate/House game raised over $26,000 for the UNM Cancer Center. The Senators were Senate Lobos and wore the Lobo jerseys and the House members were House Aggies wearing New Mexico State Aggie jerseys.
Senate Protests Being Robbed of their
Game-winning Shot
Proof of Senate’s game-winning shot can be seen at: NewMexicoRepublicanSenators.Blogspot.com.
Santa Fe--The New Mexico State Senate threw down a red flag in the Senate Chambers in protest today.
The Senators were challenging the referees’ final call at last night’s Senate/House charity basketball game. That call ended the game and the refs did not count the Senators’ final shot that got off right before the buzzer sounded. Senator Howie Morales’ (D-Silver City) two-pointer would have put the Senators ahead 27 to 26. Instead, the referees ruled the game ended 26 to 25 in favor of the House.
A video shot by Senate Communication’s Director Diane Kinderwater clearly shows the ball left Senator Morales’ fingers before the buzzer sounded and the ball made a swoosh through the hoop for what should have been two points.
This year’s annual Senate/House game raised over $26,000 for the UNM Cancer Center. The Senators were Senate Lobos and wore the Lobo jerseys and the House members were House Aggies wearing New Mexico State Aggie jerseys.
Monday, January 30, 2012
Remove Cloak of Secrecy That Covers Alleged Misconduct of Judges
Remove Cloak of Secrecy That Covers Alleged Misconduct of Judges
Santa Fe – The cloak of secrecy that covers the alleged misconduct of New Mexico judges would be thrown off if a Senate Joint Resolution sponsored by Senator Sander Rue is able to be presented to the public and passes in the next general election.
Senator Rue said New Mexico judges should be held to the same ethical standards of other elected officials. He said their alleged misconduct should be made public as soon as probable cause is determined after an investigation into misconduct and as soon as a hearing is ordered.
Currently, any charges of judicial misconduct and an investigation resulting in probable cause is kept confidential by the Judicial Standards Commission of the Courts. That information is not made public until after the conclusion of a hearing by Judicial Standards Commission and its opinion is forwarded to the State Supreme Court for review and approval.
“More openness when dealing with misconduct of our judges will be required by my bill. Currently, when someone files a complaint, I feel that complaint needs to be made public as soon as Judicial Standards has done an investigation and has determined there needs to be a hearing before the Judicial Standards Commission. Waiting until the hearing is concluded is too late. The process now is cloaked in secrecy. The public needs a chance to change that,” Senator Sander Rue said.
Senator Clint Harden's Bill to Relieve Victim's Trauma
-For Immediate Release Monday, January 30, 2012 Contact: 986-4702
In Committee This Afternoon:
Bill to Relieve Victim’s Trauma
Senate Judiciary
SB 176 Corrections Dept. Intensive Supervision Fund
Senator Clint Harden
Click here for video and soundbite:
http://youtu.be/MpQUwbrGZ0E
Victims Notification System to Get Steady Stream of Money with SB 176
Santa Fe-There will be a guaranteed, steady stream of money for the state’s automated victims notification system if SB 176 is passed. Senate Bill 176 allows funds in the “Corrections Department Intensive Supervision fund” to be used for victim notification efforts. That fund comes from fees convicted criminals pay for parole and probation programs for themselves. Now, some of the money could go to alert victims.
“It is only right that the offenders that created the victims would be responsible for funding this program through the fees they are obligated to pay,” bill sponsor Clint Harden (R-Clovis said.) “There should be less trauma for crime victims knowing that they will indeed be notified of the activity of their convicted perpetrator.
The plan would enable victims across our state to be alerted automatically when their offenders are scheduled for court hearings, sentencing, and releases from detention facilities at both the county and state level. The amendment to the existing statute could mean faster and more efficient means of automatically notifying victims when their perpetrators are released from state prison.
“You might be able to imagine the trauma victims might experience if they weren’t property notified and the first time they learn of their offenders release is when they physically seem them in the community. What a shock. I hope we can relieve this feeling of re-victimization by creating this long-term sustainability flow of funding to the plan,” Senator Harden said.
The bill also allows greater funding for probation and parole supervision programs for all offenders, not just those on the Intensive Supervision program. They are the very initiatives seeking to reduce recidivism and crime victimization in our neighborhoods. By doing so, we may not only lessen the costs associated with confinement of inmates and save New Mexico tax dollars, but also increase the safety and security of our families, homes, and neighbors, while providing appropriate respect to those around us who have been victimized.
Convicted criminals pay a fee when they are on probation and parole into the Corrections Department Intensive Supervision fund. That fee is currently used for intensive supervision programs such as rehab and anger management classes. If SB 176 passes, some of that funding from the fees could also go to the automated notification system, and for probation and parole programs that are not part of the intensive supervision group.
Carlsbad High School Troubadours Move Many at Capitol Centennial Celebra...
Carlsbad High School Troubadours Move Many at Capitol Centennial Celebration Today
State Senator Vernon Asbill (R-Carlsbad) visits with the 59- member Carlsbad High School Troubadours choir prior to their performance singing the National Anthem and O Fair New Mexico, the state’s song, at a joint Senate and House session commemorating the state’s centennial. The New Mexico Legislative Centennial Celebration was held on Monday, January 30, 2012 in the House Chamber at the State Capitol. The choir, directed by Ken Miller, competes in various statewide competitions and are the recipients of numerous awards. In all state competitions, the choir has placed in either first, second or third in the state.
After the performance before the joint session of the Senate and House, Senator Asbill said, “These beautiful singers made all of us in Southeastern New Mexico proud today with their renditions of the National Anthem and our state song. What a tribute to our state and to its 100th anniversary as a state. These young people moved all of us in the capitol, some of my fellow legislators even mentioned they had goose bumps. These students are quite remarkable. I am so proud of these kids. ”
Thursday, January 26, 2012
Senate Republican Whip Bill Payne on removing Statute of Limitations
On to Senate Judiciary-
Remove Statute of Limitations for All Homicides
Unfriendly Amendment Removed Limitation on Only One Charge
“Mindboggling all New Mexicans would not be on board with seeing justice served for a confessed killer.”
Santa Fe –The bill to remove the statute of limitations on being able to charge someone with homicide will move on to its second committee, to Senate Judiciary. This afternoon, Senate Public Affairs put unfriendly amendments on the bill to only remove the statute of limitations for one charge- for second degree murder- and not to remove it on all other charges of homicide that currently have statute of limitations.
Currently, only first degree murder has no statute of limitation, or time limit for bringing a charge of first degree murder against an alleged murder.
An amendment also lengthened the statute of limitations on all other homicides such as 3rd and 4th degree murder, voluntary and involuntary manslaughter, and vehicular homicide to ten years instead of the shorter five and six year limitations.
The two sisters of Michael Snyder, the man whose wife was convicted recently for his death back in 2002 after his remains were unearthed outside his Albuquerque home in 2010, testified at the Senate Public Affairs committee.
“It is surprising to me that there is opposition to this bill. Why wouldn’t all New Mexicans want justice to be served for a confessed killer. It is quite mind bobbling to see why others are not on board with this,” Teri Johnson said.
“We thought the law and criminal justice would be on our side, but it was not. We are trying to keep someone else from going through what we have had to do. It is not just and we do not want other New Mexicans to go through this,” Laura Bowman said. “Step in someone else’s shoes. If your love one was murdered and they did not get the justice they deserved, how would you feel if the killer not only hid the murder for so long and then was not accountable for the confessed murder because the statute of limitations ran out.”
SB 37- No Time Limit to Prosecute Certain Crimes is sponsored by New Mexico Senate Republican Whip Bill Payne.
Tuesday, January 24, 2012
New Mexico State Senator Sander Rue explains the importance of transpare...
ALL Branches, ALL State Agency Employee Names and Salaries
on the State’s Website
Not Subject to Administration Whims
For Immediate Release January 25, 2012 Contact: 505-986-4702
Santa Fe – State Senator Sander Rue of Albuquerque said more state government employee names and salaries will be on New Mexico’s Sunshine Portal, and the requirement to put the information on the state’s website would be in state law and would not be at the whim of future governors, if his bill to expand the definition of “state agency” in the Sunshine Portal is passed.
The definition will be expanded to include all branches of government. If SB 30 passes, employee names, titles and salaries of the Executive, Judicial and Legislative branches of state government would be required to be included on the state’s website. Because they are state employees, school personnel including teachers and administrators would be included, too.
Monday, January 23, 2012
Senator Sue Wilson Beffort supports creating jobs with small business tax incentives and diversifying the state's economy
New Mexico State Senator Sue Wilson Beffort of Sandia Park supports creating jobs by building New Mexico small businesses. She said the state can help by supplying them with tax incentives to help grow their businesses. She said she is introducing bills to help create jobs in the private sector. Senator Sue Wilson Beffort said it is important for the state to have a diversified economy and to not rely solely on the gas and oil industry to pay for state government. She said now is not the time to expand state government.
Happy 100th New Mexico from FarmingtonBloomfield Chamber
For Immediate Release Monday, January 23, 2012 Contact: Diane Kinderwater 505-986-4702
Farmington-Bloomfield Chamber Members Presented Giant Birthday Card to State Senate Monday
On Youtube- http://youtu.be/9QsQmA3Ccfo Video and singing happy birthday
Photo Caption:
Members of the Farmington- Bloomfield Chamber of Commerce made a special presentation to the New Mexico State Senate and Lt. Governor John Sanchez as they presented a 100th Happy Birthday card to the New Mexico State Senate on Monday, January 23, 2012. The chamber members were joined by Senate Republican Caucus Chair Steve Neville R-San Juan-2) and Senator Bill Sharer (R-San Juan 1) who represent San Juan County.
This year, 2012, is the state’s centennial with celebrations planned throughout the year. New Mexico was officially welcomed as the 47th state to join the union on January 6, 1912 when President William H. Taft signed the statehood legislation.
The giant birthday card states: For 100 years the question has been asked: Red or Green?
Happy 100th New Mexico! It was signed by over 300 citizens of San Juan County. The question “Red or Green?” was adopted by the legislature in 1999 as the official question of the state. Chiles and frijoles were adopted as New Mexico’s state vegetables in 1965.
Prior to the Senate presentation, the brigade of Red Coat members from the Farmington-Bloomfield Chamber and Senators Neville and Sharer sang Happy Birthday to New Mexico. A video of their rendition can be seen on YouTube address at: http://youtu.be/9QsQmA3Ccfo
Thursday, January 19, 2012
NM Senate Republican Whip on eliminating Statute of Limitations for Homi...
SB 37 No Time Limit to Prosecute Certain Crimes
Senator Bill Payne
Soundbite and Quote on NewMexicoRepublicanSenators.blogspot.com
Santa Fe –New Mexico Senate Republican Whip Bill Payne is sponsoring a bill to remove the statute of limitations for certain crimes that take someone’s life.
Currently, only first degree murder has no statute of limitation, or time limit for prosecuting a first degree murder case.
Under Senate Payne’s bill, the statute of limitation would be eliminated for any type of homicide. It would remove the six year statute of limitation for second-degree murder. It would also remove the time limit for a case to be tried for: every degree of murder, voluntary and involuntary manslaughter, assisted suicide and vehicular homicide.
Senator Payne said criminals should not get away with a homicide because the calendar runs out.
“This is bill is not about changing penalties, it is eliminating the time limit in finding evidence to charge someone with a homicide,” Senator Payne said. “Someone should not get away with taking another’s life if enough evidence to charge a person with homicide is found one day after the current statute of limitations runs out.”
He said because of improved technology, and advances in forensics and DNA testing, reliable evidence can be found many years after a homicide is committed.
Wednesday, January 18, 2012
Tuesday, January 17, 2012
Thursday, September 15, 2011
Senator Bill Burt Bleeds Red, White and Blue
For Immediate Release Tuesday, September 13, 2011 Contact: 505-986-4702
Senator Who Bleeds “Red, White and Blue” Voted with Unanimous Senate in Recognizing War Heroes- One in Particular
Senator Bill Burt (R-Alamogordo Dist. 40) greets Lorella Tapia of Bernalillo after Senate unanimously passes a Joint Memorial honoring her son SFC Leroy Petry who has recently earned the national Medal of Honor.
Santa Fe—New Mexico State Senator Bill Burt of Alamogordo who said on the Senate Floor today that he is so patriotic that he “ bleeds red, white and blue” voted with the unanimous Senate in passing a Senate Joint Memorial declaring Sunday, September 11, 2001 as “United States Army Ranger Sergeant First Class Leroy A. Petry Day at the Legislature.”
Sgt. 1st Class Petry who is native New Mexican and who is originally from Santa Fe, received the Medal of Honor from the President at the White House on July 9, 2011 for his heroic actions on May 26, 2008 when his unit was pinned down by heavy enemy fire during a rare Army Ranger daytime raid in Afghanistan. Sgt. 1st Class Petry was already shot and wounded in both legs when he tossed away from harming his unit an enemy grenade that detonated in his hand as he released it, blowing off his right hand.
While Sgt. 1st Class Petry was in Washington, D.C. today, members of his family including his mother Lorella Tapia of Bernalillo, New Mexico were present in the State Senate when the Senate Joint Memorial 2 passed 30 to 0.
Senator Burt acknowledge the sacrifice Petry’s family has made and he addressed the sacrifice the families of all U.S. military men and women. He also said on the Senate floor today that all fighting American men and women are heroes.
“I am proud to thank a true hero today and thank Sgt. Petry for his valor. I know that all the men and women who go off to war are also true heroes. They are the backbone of American and we are all grateful for their service,” Senator Burt said.
Senator Who Bleeds “Red, White and Blue” Voted with Unanimous Senate in Recognizing War Heroes- One in Particular
Senator Bill Burt (R-Alamogordo Dist. 40) greets Lorella Tapia of Bernalillo after Senate unanimously passes a Joint Memorial honoring her son SFC Leroy Petry who has recently earned the national Medal of Honor.
Santa Fe—New Mexico State Senator Bill Burt of Alamogordo who said on the Senate Floor today that he is so patriotic that he “ bleeds red, white and blue” voted with the unanimous Senate in passing a Senate Joint Memorial declaring Sunday, September 11, 2001 as “United States Army Ranger Sergeant First Class Leroy A. Petry Day at the Legislature.”
Sgt. 1st Class Petry who is native New Mexican and who is originally from Santa Fe, received the Medal of Honor from the President at the White House on July 9, 2011 for his heroic actions on May 26, 2008 when his unit was pinned down by heavy enemy fire during a rare Army Ranger daytime raid in Afghanistan. Sgt. 1st Class Petry was already shot and wounded in both legs when he tossed away from harming his unit an enemy grenade that detonated in his hand as he released it, blowing off his right hand.
While Sgt. 1st Class Petry was in Washington, D.C. today, members of his family including his mother Lorella Tapia of Bernalillo, New Mexico were present in the State Senate when the Senate Joint Memorial 2 passed 30 to 0.
Senator Burt acknowledge the sacrifice Petry’s family has made and he addressed the sacrifice the families of all U.S. military men and women. He also said on the Senate floor today that all fighting American men and women are heroes.
“I am proud to thank a true hero today and thank Sgt. Petry for his valor. I know that all the men and women who go off to war are also true heroes. They are the backbone of American and we are all grateful for their service,” Senator Burt said.
Senator Bill Sharer
For Immediate Release Friday, September 9, 2011 Contact: 505-986-4702
September 11th Declared US Army Ranger Sgt. 1st Class Leroy A. Petry Day in the State Senate
Santa Fe--The New Mexico State Senate today passed a Senate Memorial declaring Sunday, September 11, 2001 as “United States Army Ranger First Class Leroy A. Petry Day at the Senate.”
Sgt. 1st Class Petry, who is originally from Santa Fe, received the medal of honor from the President at the White House on July 9, 2011 for his heroic actions on May 26, 2008 when his unit was pinned down by heavy enemy fire during a rare Army Ranger daytime raid in Afghanistan. Sgt. 1st Class Petry was already shot and wounded in both legs when he tossed away from harming his unit an enemy grenade that detonated in his hand as he released it, blowing off his right hand.
Senator Bill Sharer of Farmington, who is a former U.S. Army Ranger - said on the Senate floor today that Sgt.1st Class Petry is living up to its motto.
‘The Army Ranger motto originated in World War II after a colonel ordered the 5th Ranger Battalion to get all soldiers off Normandy Beach and commanded “Rangers Lead the Way.” That became the motto and Sgt.1st Class Petry has lived up to the Ranger motto, “Rangers Lead the Way,” Senator Sharer said.
Senate Memorial 2 shows all 42 New Mexico State Senators and the Lt. Governor voting in favor of the memorial declaring September 11, 2011 as his day in the New Mexico State Senate.
The Senate is still waiting to hear if Sgt. 1st Class Petry is able to arrange his schedule to return to New Mexico to be honored by the Senate next week. Members of Sgt.1st Class Petry’s family have acknowledged they will be able to attend a Senate session next week.-END-
September 11th Declared US Army Ranger Sgt. 1st Class Leroy A. Petry Day in the State Senate
Santa Fe--The New Mexico State Senate today passed a Senate Memorial declaring Sunday, September 11, 2001 as “United States Army Ranger First Class Leroy A. Petry Day at the Senate.”
Sgt. 1st Class Petry, who is originally from Santa Fe, received the medal of honor from the President at the White House on July 9, 2011 for his heroic actions on May 26, 2008 when his unit was pinned down by heavy enemy fire during a rare Army Ranger daytime raid in Afghanistan. Sgt. 1st Class Petry was already shot and wounded in both legs when he tossed away from harming his unit an enemy grenade that detonated in his hand as he released it, blowing off his right hand.
Senator Bill Sharer of Farmington, who is a former U.S. Army Ranger - said on the Senate floor today that Sgt.1st Class Petry is living up to its motto.
‘The Army Ranger motto originated in World War II after a colonel ordered the 5th Ranger Battalion to get all soldiers off Normandy Beach and commanded “Rangers Lead the Way.” That became the motto and Sgt.1st Class Petry has lived up to the Ranger motto, “Rangers Lead the Way,” Senator Sharer said.
Senate Memorial 2 shows all 42 New Mexico State Senators and the Lt. Governor voting in favor of the memorial declaring September 11, 2011 as his day in the New Mexico State Senate.
The Senate is still waiting to hear if Sgt. 1st Class Petry is able to arrange his schedule to return to New Mexico to be honored by the Senate next week. Members of Sgt.1st Class Petry’s family have acknowledged they will be able to attend a Senate session next week.-END-
Senate Republican Caucus Chair Steve Neville
For Immediate Release Wednesday, June 01, 2011 Contact: Sen. Neville 505-320-0771
San Juan County Legislators Drive In Their Points About Critical Paving Needs with DOT Today
“San Juan County is deserving of additional repaving because of its large role
in driving the state’s economy.”
(Santa Fe) The deteriorating state highways in San Juan County that are angering motorist have driven two state legislators to take action. Those legislators told the New Mexico Department of Transportation (NMDOT) today that San Juan County is deserving of more road funding because it contributes a lot to the state’s economy.
Senate Minority Caucus Chair Steve Neville (R- San Juan) and House Representative Paul Bandy (R-San Juan) met with the Secretary of the New Mexico Department of Transportation (NMDOT) and explained the critical need to improve state highway conditions in San Juan County and they discussed a possible plan to repave and repair the roads even though the state is facing tight budgets.
As an active advisory member of the New Mexico Legislative Finance Committee (LFC), Senator Neville knows there is not enough money in the state road fund budget to better maintain the roads at this time. But he says that won’t deter him in his quest to have the roads repaved. “I know funding is tight and every entity in the state begs their case in front of the LFC for more money for their projects. Today, we went directly to the New Mexico Department of Transportation Cabinet Secretary to present our dire and deserving case in San Juan County. We discussed a plan to try and reroute money from other budgets into San Juan County roads,” Senator Neville said after the meeting with the New Mexico DOT Secretary Alvin Dominguez.
Representative Bandy said they made the valid point that San Juan deserves additional road funding because the industry that helps drive New Mexico’s economy is also hard on New Mexico roads. “The maintenance of San Juan County roads is critical for the state’s economic health,” Bandy said. “We figure more than a fifth of the state’s revenue is generated by the oil and gas industry in San Juan County. We recognize that the heavy oil field traffic is hard on the roads and that it deserves and needs its roads maintained so it can help to drive the state’s economy.”
Senator Neville said, “If conditions deteriorate to the point where trucks can’t roll down the roads, money won’t roll in to the state coffers and everyone will suffer.”
Representative Bandy said they were not given any guarantees other than the guarantee that the DOT will begin to look for a funding solution for San Juan.
Senator Neville said, “Secretary Dominguez told us he would evaluate the transportation needs in San Juan County and determine what efforts DOT can take to address the needs as they prepare for the Fiscal Year 2012 budget which takes affect July 1st.”
Senator Neville and Representative Bandy were told that due to the continuing instability of the national economy and to reduced state revenues, the NMDOT’s Fiscal Year 2011 budget for highway maintenance and paving projects had been reduced by nearly 50% and that has limited DOT’s ability to keep pace with the road maintenance in San Juan and in all other counties in the state. The NMDOT is responsible for maintaining over 400 miles of highways in San Juan County.
“We were told that the outlook for future State and Federal funding does not look very promising either. But we will continue to make our case and will follow up with Secretary Dominguez regarding San Juan Roads,” Rep. Bandy said.
Both Neville and Bandy reiterated to the NMDOT that the Aztec City Commission, the City of Bloomfield and the San Juan County Commission’s all have resolutions requesting that the NMDOT take immediate action to perform maintenance and repairs on the state highways within the Cities of Aztec and Bloomfield and throughout San Juan County.-END-
San Juan County Legislators Drive In Their Points About Critical Paving Needs with DOT Today
“San Juan County is deserving of additional repaving because of its large role
in driving the state’s economy.”
(Santa Fe) The deteriorating state highways in San Juan County that are angering motorist have driven two state legislators to take action. Those legislators told the New Mexico Department of Transportation (NMDOT) today that San Juan County is deserving of more road funding because it contributes a lot to the state’s economy.
Senate Minority Caucus Chair Steve Neville (R- San Juan) and House Representative Paul Bandy (R-San Juan) met with the Secretary of the New Mexico Department of Transportation (NMDOT) and explained the critical need to improve state highway conditions in San Juan County and they discussed a possible plan to repave and repair the roads even though the state is facing tight budgets.
As an active advisory member of the New Mexico Legislative Finance Committee (LFC), Senator Neville knows there is not enough money in the state road fund budget to better maintain the roads at this time. But he says that won’t deter him in his quest to have the roads repaved. “I know funding is tight and every entity in the state begs their case in front of the LFC for more money for their projects. Today, we went directly to the New Mexico Department of Transportation Cabinet Secretary to present our dire and deserving case in San Juan County. We discussed a plan to try and reroute money from other budgets into San Juan County roads,” Senator Neville said after the meeting with the New Mexico DOT Secretary Alvin Dominguez.
Representative Bandy said they made the valid point that San Juan deserves additional road funding because the industry that helps drive New Mexico’s economy is also hard on New Mexico roads. “The maintenance of San Juan County roads is critical for the state’s economic health,” Bandy said. “We figure more than a fifth of the state’s revenue is generated by the oil and gas industry in San Juan County. We recognize that the heavy oil field traffic is hard on the roads and that it deserves and needs its roads maintained so it can help to drive the state’s economy.”
Senator Neville said, “If conditions deteriorate to the point where trucks can’t roll down the roads, money won’t roll in to the state coffers and everyone will suffer.”
Representative Bandy said they were not given any guarantees other than the guarantee that the DOT will begin to look for a funding solution for San Juan.
Senator Neville said, “Secretary Dominguez told us he would evaluate the transportation needs in San Juan County and determine what efforts DOT can take to address the needs as they prepare for the Fiscal Year 2012 budget which takes affect July 1st.”
Senator Neville and Representative Bandy were told that due to the continuing instability of the national economy and to reduced state revenues, the NMDOT’s Fiscal Year 2011 budget for highway maintenance and paving projects had been reduced by nearly 50% and that has limited DOT’s ability to keep pace with the road maintenance in San Juan and in all other counties in the state. The NMDOT is responsible for maintaining over 400 miles of highways in San Juan County.
“We were told that the outlook for future State and Federal funding does not look very promising either. But we will continue to make our case and will follow up with Secretary Dominguez regarding San Juan Roads,” Rep. Bandy said.
Both Neville and Bandy reiterated to the NMDOT that the Aztec City Commission, the City of Bloomfield and the San Juan County Commission’s all have resolutions requesting that the NMDOT take immediate action to perform maintenance and repairs on the state highways within the Cities of Aztec and Bloomfield and throughout San Juan County.-END-
Senator Asbill and A-F Grading
For Immediate Release Tuesday, March 29, 2011 Contact: 505-986-4702
New Mexico Senate Minority Office
SB 427a A-F School Rating System
Senator Vernon D. Asbill
Santa Fe- The Senate sponsor of the transparent A-F school grading system bill signed into law by the Governor today said all of the state will benefit from the bipartisan supported legislation that is now law. Senator Vernon Asbill (R- Carlsbad) said the grading system provides clarity. “With the A-F grading system, parents can easily understand whether their child is in a failing school. Once they learn that, they can become more involved in their children’s education and fight for improvements and excellence. Or, they could remove their child from that failing school,” Senator Asbill said.
New Mexico Senate Minority Office
SB 427a A-F School Rating System
Senator Vernon D. Asbill
Santa Fe- The Senate sponsor of the transparent A-F school grading system bill signed into law by the Governor today said all of the state will benefit from the bipartisan supported legislation that is now law. Senator Vernon Asbill (R- Carlsbad) said the grading system provides clarity. “With the A-F grading system, parents can easily understand whether their child is in a failing school. Once they learn that, they can become more involved in their children’s education and fight for improvements and excellence. Or, they could remove their child from that failing school,” Senator Asbill said.
Saturday, March 19, 2011
Thursday, March 17, 2011
New Mexico Senate Minority Caucus Chair Steve Neville
New Mexico Senate Minority Caucus Chair Steve Neville, who serves on the Senate Finance Committee, said the $5.4 billion budget passed by the New Mexico State Senate deals effectively by meeting the needs of the state with limited state dollars. He emphasized the state did not raise taxes to meet the challenges of reduced revenue.
New Mexico State Senator Bill Burt
Santa Fe--The newest member of the New Mexico State Senate, Senator Bill Burt of Alamogordo comments on the work being completed in the 2011 Legislative Session.
Senator Burt was appointed to the Senate in 2011 by Governor Susana Martinez and is currently serving his first term in the Senate. He serves District 40 which encompasses a large portion of Otero County and also includes one precinct in Dona Ana County. Senator Burt serves on both the Corporations and Transportation Committee and is the Ranking member for the Public Affairs Committee.
Burt was born and raised in Deming, New Mexico. He received his Bachelor’s degree in Mass Communications from New Mexico State University. He also serves as a member on the Alamogordo Committee of Fifty, where had served two terms as Chair. He also served as a member of the New Mexico Base Planning Commission.
Burt is the owner of Burt Broadcasting, Inc., a radio station company.
Senator Burt was appointed to the Senate in 2011 by Governor Susana Martinez and is currently serving his first term in the Senate. He serves District 40 which encompasses a large portion of Otero County and also includes one precinct in Dona Ana County. Senator Burt serves on both the Corporations and Transportation Committee and is the Ranking member for the Public Affairs Committee.
Burt was born and raised in Deming, New Mexico. He received his Bachelor’s degree in Mass Communications from New Mexico State University. He also serves as a member on the Alamogordo Committee of Fifty, where had served two terms as Chair. He also served as a member of the New Mexico Base Planning Commission.
Burt is the owner of Burt Broadcasting, Inc., a radio station company.
New Mexico Senator Sue Wilson Beffort
New Mexico Senator Sue Wilson Beffort, who is the Ranking Member of the Senate Finance Committee, comments on the budget the Senate passed and other work from the 2011 Legislative Session.
Is it a Leprechaun or Senator Bill Sharer- You Decide.
Is it a Leprechaun or Senator Bill Sharer- here are Wikipedia Definitions- You Decide.
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
A leprechaun (Irish: leipreachán) is a type of fairy in Irish folklore, usually taking the form of an old man, clad in a red or green coat, who enjoys partaking in mischief.
A state senator is a member of a state's Senate, the upper house in the bicameral legislature of 49 U.S. states, or a legislator in Nebraska's one house State Legislature.
There are typically fewer state senators than there are members of a state's lower house. In the past, this meant that senators represented various geographic regions within a state, regardless of the population, as a way of balancing the power of the lower house, which was apportioned according to population.
Senator Carroll Leavell Says Passports Might Soon Be Needed for Traveling New Mexicans
New Mexico Senate Minority Office
All 15 Republican Senators Tonight Voted Against Bill That Continues Policy of Giving New Mexico Driver’s Licenses to
Illegal Immigrants
Santa Fe—All 15 Republicans and one Democrat in the Senate voted against a bill that continues the policy of giving New Mexico driver’s licenses to illegal immigrants. The so called “status quo” bill passed the Senate 25 to 16. The vote came at approximately 11:50 p.m., after nearly five hours of debate.
Earlier in the evening, Republicans in the New Mexico State Senate supported a floor amendment to the already amended House Bill 78 to stop the practice of issuing driver’s licenses to illegal immigrants, but the amendment failed largely along party lines and then all of the Republican Senators went on to vote against the final Senate amended version of the House bill that keeps the current policy in place of granting people who are in the state and in the country without legal documentation a New Mexico driver’s license.
Republican Senators on the Senate floor said New Mexico is left with the status quo.
Another Republican Senator said that if Senators vote for the amended bill that continues to give driver’s licenses to illegal immigrants, the state’s legal residents will have a compromised form of identification.
Senator Carroll Leavell Comments on Senate Passed Budget
NM Senator Carroll Leavell says the $5.4 billion dollar budget the NM Senate passed does not raise taxes, avoids layoffs and furloughs and meets critical state needs.
For Immediate Release Wednesday, March 16, 2011 Contact: 986-4702
Well on its way! An Anti Corruption Bill that Has a Good Chance of Becoming Law Passed Another Committee Unanimously Last Night
SB 259a Forfeiture of Public Official Benefits
Santa Fe- Well on its way to becoming law. The House Labor and Human Resources Committee last night unanimously passed an anti- corruption bill that unanimously passed the Senate Sunday. SB 259a now heads to House Judiciary. Its sponsor, Senate Minority Whip Bill Payne says of all the anti-corruption bills this session, SB 259a has a good chance of passing both chambers and becoming law.
The Senate passed Senate Minority Whip Bill Payne’s SB 259a- Forfeiture of Public Official Benefits 36 to 0 on March 13, 2011.
“Corrupt officials should lose their salaries and benefits like pensions and this bill allows a judge to consider that punishment,” Senator Payne said. “Public officials who violate the public trust while receiving a salary from taxpayers should receive a greater punishment than just the basic sentence. In addition to prison time, being fined the amount of their salary and benefits is the minimum we should do to officials who use their public office to further their criminal activity.”
Senator Vernon Asbill on School Reform Legislation
For Immediate Release Wednesday, March 16, 2011 Contact: 505-986-4702
New Mexico Senate Minority Office
SB 427a A-B-C-D-F Schools Rating System
Senator Vernon D. Asbill
Santa Fe- The New Mexico State Senate today passed one of the Governor’s priorities that would grade schools on an A, B,C, D, F scale, making it clearer to parents, students and educators whether their school is failing or excelling was heard in the Senate Education Committee today. SB 427a, sponsored by Senator Vernon Asbill (R-Carlsbad), passed the Senate 23 to 11.
Senator Asbill said the grading system provides clarity. “With the ABC grading system, parents can easily understand whether their child is in a failing school. Once they learn that, they can become more involved in their children’s education and fight for improvements and excellence. Or, they could remove their child from that failing school,” Senator Asbill said.
The bill now goes to the House.
Wednesday, March 16, 2011
Senate Minority Leader Stuart Ingle on March 14, 2011
For Immediate Release Wednesday, March 16, 2011
Contact: 505-986-4702
FREEZE TUITION NOW SO FUTURE STUDENTS ARE NOT LEFT OUT IN THE COLD
SB 292 Limit Tuition Increase for Lottery Recipients
Senator Stuart Ingle
Santa Fe—The New Mexico State Senate passed a bill to freeze tuition costs for the Legislative Lottery Fund at the rate when a student first qualifies for the free tuition program. The tuition cost for the program would be frozen throughout the remainder of the student’s eligible semesters, with the tuition still free for the student.
Senate Minority Leader Stuart Ingle is sponsoring SB 292- Limit Tuition Increase for Lottery Recipients- in an effort to preserve the Lottery Scholarship Fund as long as possible because it is projected to run out of money by the year 2014 if tuition costs continue to increase and if changes are not made.
Monday, March 14, 2011
Crisis with New Mexico Families
For Immediate Release Friday, February 11, 2011 Contact: 505-239-2336
New Mexico Senate Minority Office
Legislators Getting Their Arms Around The New Mexico Family Crisis this St. Valentine’s Day
As couples show love by putting their arms around each other this St. Valentine’s Day, New Mexico State Legislators are getting their arms around finding solutions to the crisis New Mexico families are in this holiday. The crisis and its solutions will be presented at a news conference on the Westside Capitol Steps on Monday, February 14, 2011.
“Long after the chocolate hearts are eaten and the roses are wilted, our New Mexico families will still be in crisis unless steps are taken today to improve the health of New Mexico families,” Senator Boitano said. “At a news conference on St. Valentine’s Day we are presenting a series of speakers on the crisis, specifically the impact of marriage and divorce on our families and on our community. We will also offer solutions.”
The crisis in New Mexico includes:
• The percentage of children living in poverty is 25.5% higher than the national average
• Children born to single mothers are more than 3.5 times as likely to be poor as children raised by two biological parents
• The highest rates in the nation of teen pregnancy
• Low education outcomes
• Juvenile crime
On this day that typifies love, we want to have our state show its love for its families by showing that it cares enough to do something about the broken hearts and broken families in our communities, Senator Boitano said.
The legislators at the news conference will present a number of marriage strengthening and divorce reduction bills.
Senator Mark Boitano is sponsoring a bill to create the New Mexico Marriage Commission to explore ways the state and local governments can partner with private organizations to:
• Reduce teen pregnancy
• Encourage engaged fatherhood, family formation, healthy marriages and best practices relationships
• Create better social, health and economic outcomes for children
• Reduce the rate of unnecessary divorces in New Mexico
New Mexico Senate Minority Office
Legislators Getting Their Arms Around The New Mexico Family Crisis this St. Valentine’s Day
As couples show love by putting their arms around each other this St. Valentine’s Day, New Mexico State Legislators are getting their arms around finding solutions to the crisis New Mexico families are in this holiday. The crisis and its solutions will be presented at a news conference on the Westside Capitol Steps on Monday, February 14, 2011.
“Long after the chocolate hearts are eaten and the roses are wilted, our New Mexico families will still be in crisis unless steps are taken today to improve the health of New Mexico families,” Senator Boitano said. “At a news conference on St. Valentine’s Day we are presenting a series of speakers on the crisis, specifically the impact of marriage and divorce on our families and on our community. We will also offer solutions.”
The crisis in New Mexico includes:
• The percentage of children living in poverty is 25.5% higher than the national average
• Children born to single mothers are more than 3.5 times as likely to be poor as children raised by two biological parents
• The highest rates in the nation of teen pregnancy
• Low education outcomes
• Juvenile crime
On this day that typifies love, we want to have our state show its love for its families by showing that it cares enough to do something about the broken hearts and broken families in our communities, Senator Boitano said.
The legislators at the news conference will present a number of marriage strengthening and divorce reduction bills.
Senator Mark Boitano is sponsoring a bill to create the New Mexico Marriage Commission to explore ways the state and local governments can partner with private organizations to:
• Reduce teen pregnancy
• Encourage engaged fatherhood, family formation, healthy marriages and best practices relationships
• Create better social, health and economic outcomes for children
• Reduce the rate of unnecessary divorces in New Mexico
Illegal for Youth to be Drunk
For Immediate Release Thursday, January 27, 2011
Contact: 096-4702
Bill Being Introduced Today to Make it Illegal for Youth to be Drunk
Photo Op- Today, Thursday, January 27, 2011 Noon, Capitol Rotunda
Senator Kent Cravens Introducing various DWI Bills in Senate Today
Santa Fe-- On DWI Awareness Day at the capitol, State Senator Kent Cravens is once again introducing several measures to fight DWI, including one bill that makes it illegal for youth to be intoxicated. Currently, it is illegal for youth to be in possession of alcohol or to buy it, , but it is not illegal for them to be drunk.
Senator Craven’s bill adds this language….”to be visibly in an intoxicated condition” to the current state law that makes it illegal to buy, attempt to buy or be in possession of alcohol for anyone under 21 years of age.
“If it is not in their hands, minors are not in possession and cannot be considered adjudicated or guilty of a crime,” Senator Cravens said. Senator Cravens said the bill sends a strong message to youth that the state serious about youth and drinking. “Drinking alcohol is not an appropriate behavior. It will be a crime,” Senator Cravens said.
While a youth under 18 would be adjudicated for the crime and someone under 21 would be found guilty, both classes would have their drivers’ license suspended for 60 days. If they did not have a license yet, 60 days would be added to the time required to obtain a license.
Senator Cravens will be introducing his DWI legislation this morning in the Senate. At noon he will join his brother Paul Cravens at the DWI Awareness Day Events at the rotunda.
Paul Cravens was injured and he lost his wife and three daughters in a DWI accident on Christmas Eve in 1992 when a drunk driving the wrong way on I-40 plowed into their car. Senator Cravens believes his brother is remarkable after all he has gone through and after all he has done since the tragedy 19 years ago.
“Paul is remarkable. He suffered the loss of his family, severe physical injuries including a brain injury yet has been able to accomplish so much. He is not only a champion in the fight against DWI, but he also earned a Masters Degree in Electrical Engineering, and recently completed his MBA from UNM. Paul has just returned from ten months in Afghanistan where he was reviewing plans in the rebuilding effort with Corps of Engineers,” Senator Cravens said.
The Attorney General’s Office requested the legislation.
Contact: 096-4702
Bill Being Introduced Today to Make it Illegal for Youth to be Drunk
Photo Op- Today, Thursday, January 27, 2011 Noon, Capitol Rotunda
Senator Kent Cravens Introducing various DWI Bills in Senate Today
Santa Fe-- On DWI Awareness Day at the capitol, State Senator Kent Cravens is once again introducing several measures to fight DWI, including one bill that makes it illegal for youth to be intoxicated. Currently, it is illegal for youth to be in possession of alcohol or to buy it, , but it is not illegal for them to be drunk.
Senator Craven’s bill adds this language….”to be visibly in an intoxicated condition” to the current state law that makes it illegal to buy, attempt to buy or be in possession of alcohol for anyone under 21 years of age.
“If it is not in their hands, minors are not in possession and cannot be considered adjudicated or guilty of a crime,” Senator Cravens said. Senator Cravens said the bill sends a strong message to youth that the state serious about youth and drinking. “Drinking alcohol is not an appropriate behavior. It will be a crime,” Senator Cravens said.
While a youth under 18 would be adjudicated for the crime and someone under 21 would be found guilty, both classes would have their drivers’ license suspended for 60 days. If they did not have a license yet, 60 days would be added to the time required to obtain a license.
Senator Cravens will be introducing his DWI legislation this morning in the Senate. At noon he will join his brother Paul Cravens at the DWI Awareness Day Events at the rotunda.
Paul Cravens was injured and he lost his wife and three daughters in a DWI accident on Christmas Eve in 1992 when a drunk driving the wrong way on I-40 plowed into their car. Senator Cravens believes his brother is remarkable after all he has gone through and after all he has done since the tragedy 19 years ago.
“Paul is remarkable. He suffered the loss of his family, severe physical injuries including a brain injury yet has been able to accomplish so much. He is not only a champion in the fight against DWI, but he also earned a Masters Degree in Electrical Engineering, and recently completed his MBA from UNM. Paul has just returned from ten months in Afghanistan where he was reviewing plans in the rebuilding effort with Corps of Engineers,” Senator Cravens said.
The Attorney General’s Office requested the legislation.
SB 365aa- Katie’s Law Expansion, Co-sponsor Senator Vernon Asbill
New Mexico Senate Minority Office
For Immediate Release Saturday, March 12, 2011 Contact: 505-986-4702
Katie’s Law Expansion Passes Senate with Two Amendments that Severely Change the Bill
Hope that House will Remove Amendments
SB 365aa- Katie’s Law Expansion, Co-sponsor Senator Vernon Asbill (R- Carlsbad)
Santa Fe- The Senate voted 38 to 3 for SB 365aa- Katie’s Law Expansion. It was amended twice on the Senate floor in drastic ways that were not supported by Senate Republicans.
Two floor amendments changed the original bill dramatically. Instead of expanding Katie’s Law so all people arrested in New Mexico for all felony crimes would have to give DNA samples, the first Democrat amendment in the Senate tonight changed the bill by only allowing the collection of DNA samples after a court has found probable cause that the person has committed the felony. This changed the original bill by not allowing the collection of DNA upon booking for the felony arrest. A second Democrat amendment allowed the expungement of many records from an arrested person’s file and from public records for various reasons including for felony charges that have been resolved by dismissal.
Senator Rod Adair (R-Roswell) tried to remove the two Democrat floor amendments to restore the bill to its original form. The original bill would have required DNA samples from all people arrested for all felony crimes, not for only violent crimes as required from the bill that became law in 2006. While all 15 Republicans voted to restore the bill to its original form, Adair’s amendment failed 19 to 22.
All 15 Republicans in the Senate voted against the first amendment sponsored by Democrat Senator Richard C. Martinez that changed the original bill by not allowing the collection of DNA upon booking for the felony arrest. The first amendment passed 20 to 19.
Senator Rod Adair (R-Roswell) said the first two floor amendments are not the will of the people and he voted against the bill because of the amendments, “The Senate pretty much killed Katie’s Law tonight. We are stopping everything and we are not hearing the will of the people.”
Senator John Ryan (R- Albuquerque) was another Senator who voted against the bill because of the amendments that including the expungement of records. “We passed Katie’s law in 2006 without discussing probably cause at that time. Now we are talking about expungement of not only DNA but of all sorts of things in a person’s arrest records. We have gotten off the simple topic of collection of DNA and are talking about expunging a person’s record all the way back to the arrest. We should be embracing this technology to go after the bad guys.”
The sponsor of the bill, Senator Vernon Asbill (R-Carlsbad) was extremely disappointed about the floor amendments being tacked on to his bill in the Senate. He hopes the House will be able to remove the Senate floor amendments when the bill goes to the House.
Katie’s Law was named after Katie Sepich, the New Mexico State University Student from Carlsbad who was attacked, raped and murdered in 2003.
There has been a statute in our state for a number of years that has allowed law enforcement officers to collect DNA samples of convicted felons to help law enforcement prove their cases, the Katie’s Law in 2006 extended the ability to collect DNA samples from people who are arrested for various felonies deemed to be more violent in nature. The bill being considered this session would include violent and nonviolent felonies.
For Immediate Release Saturday, March 12, 2011 Contact: 505-986-4702
Katie’s Law Expansion Passes Senate with Two Amendments that Severely Change the Bill
Hope that House will Remove Amendments
SB 365aa- Katie’s Law Expansion, Co-sponsor Senator Vernon Asbill (R- Carlsbad)
Santa Fe- The Senate voted 38 to 3 for SB 365aa- Katie’s Law Expansion. It was amended twice on the Senate floor in drastic ways that were not supported by Senate Republicans.
Two floor amendments changed the original bill dramatically. Instead of expanding Katie’s Law so all people arrested in New Mexico for all felony crimes would have to give DNA samples, the first Democrat amendment in the Senate tonight changed the bill by only allowing the collection of DNA samples after a court has found probable cause that the person has committed the felony. This changed the original bill by not allowing the collection of DNA upon booking for the felony arrest. A second Democrat amendment allowed the expungement of many records from an arrested person’s file and from public records for various reasons including for felony charges that have been resolved by dismissal.
Senator Rod Adair (R-Roswell) tried to remove the two Democrat floor amendments to restore the bill to its original form. The original bill would have required DNA samples from all people arrested for all felony crimes, not for only violent crimes as required from the bill that became law in 2006. While all 15 Republicans voted to restore the bill to its original form, Adair’s amendment failed 19 to 22.
All 15 Republicans in the Senate voted against the first amendment sponsored by Democrat Senator Richard C. Martinez that changed the original bill by not allowing the collection of DNA upon booking for the felony arrest. The first amendment passed 20 to 19.
Senator Rod Adair (R-Roswell) said the first two floor amendments are not the will of the people and he voted against the bill because of the amendments, “The Senate pretty much killed Katie’s Law tonight. We are stopping everything and we are not hearing the will of the people.”
Senator John Ryan (R- Albuquerque) was another Senator who voted against the bill because of the amendments that including the expungement of records. “We passed Katie’s law in 2006 without discussing probably cause at that time. Now we are talking about expungement of not only DNA but of all sorts of things in a person’s arrest records. We have gotten off the simple topic of collection of DNA and are talking about expunging a person’s record all the way back to the arrest. We should be embracing this technology to go after the bad guys.”
The sponsor of the bill, Senator Vernon Asbill (R-Carlsbad) was extremely disappointed about the floor amendments being tacked on to his bill in the Senate. He hopes the House will be able to remove the Senate floor amendments when the bill goes to the House.
Katie’s Law was named after Katie Sepich, the New Mexico State University Student from Carlsbad who was attacked, raped and murdered in 2003.
There has been a statute in our state for a number of years that has allowed law enforcement officers to collect DNA samples of convicted felons to help law enforcement prove their cases, the Katie’s Law in 2006 extended the ability to collect DNA samples from people who are arrested for various felonies deemed to be more violent in nature. The bill being considered this session would include violent and nonviolent felonies.
Friday, March 12, 2010
LETTER TO THE EDITOR BY SENATOR SANDER RUE, REPUBLICAN, ALBUQUERQUE, PUBLISHED FRIDAY, MARCH 12, 2010
“Particulars on government expenditures and taxation should be plain and available to all if the oversight by the people is to be effective.”
-- Thomas Jefferson
With that quote in mind, I introduced SB 195 at the 2010 Legislative session. This bill will create what we’re calling a Sunshine Portal. Lt. Governor Diane Denish signed the bill into law on March 5. The Sunshine Portal is a web site that will provide every New Mexico citizen with important information on the state’s finances and overall fiscal health. More importantly, with the veil of concealment pulled away, it will provide citizens with information to effectively oversee the operation of state government.
Transparency in government is critical right now. Creating a transparent government helps to overcome the growing mistrust people have with government at all levels. One way to reverse the skepticism many feel toward state government is to open the financial data and the decision making process to citizens. Armed with real and accurate data, and given the time to consider it, citizens will be more confident and better able to work with elected officials – and if appropriate – challenge some of decisions being made with regard to government investment and spending.
Much significant – and previously largely unavailable -- information will be in a user-friendly format on the Sunshine Portal. Here is just a brief list of the information the public will be able to find:
• A directory of all political appointees working in state government by state agency, showing each position’s title, salary and political appointee’s name.
• State agency contracts with a total value of more than $20,000, naming both the recipients and purposes of the contracts.
• State cash balances by account or fund.
• Monthly summaries of the state’s investment accounts managed by the State Investment Council.
• Annual operating budgets for each state agency with monthly expenditures by category.
• Appropriations for capital projects, identified by location, type, and funding source.
• Links to an open meetings website where each agency will post all scheduled open meetings.
• An annual summary of the state’s fiscal health, including the state budget, revenue projections, and expenditures for the previous fiscal year.
The Sunshine Portal will also provide additional information that will assist the public in understanding state government operations and management of taxpayer dollars. For the first time, the public will have the opportunity to find out how every state agency is managing its budget and contributing to – or being detrimental to -- the state’s fiscal health.
With the economy staggering, every dollar state government spends matters. The Sunshine Portal will also provide an opportunity to evaluate whether tax dollars are being spent efficiently and effectively.
The Sunshine Portal is a powerful tool. But like any tool and not a magic bullet, it must be utilized by the citizens to be truly effective. As citizens, we must re-commitment ourselves to the true nature of democracy and make real Jefferson’s notion. We must equip ourselves with the information that allows us to effectively oversee the efficiency and effectiveness of government. When fully operational beginning in July of 2011, the Sunshine Portal will provide the first step in this process.
###
“Particulars on government expenditures and taxation should be plain and available to all if the oversight by the people is to be effective.”
-- Thomas Jefferson
With that quote in mind, I introduced SB 195 at the 2010 Legislative session. This bill will create what we’re calling a Sunshine Portal. Lt. Governor Diane Denish signed the bill into law on March 5. The Sunshine Portal is a web site that will provide every New Mexico citizen with important information on the state’s finances and overall fiscal health. More importantly, with the veil of concealment pulled away, it will provide citizens with information to effectively oversee the operation of state government.
Transparency in government is critical right now. Creating a transparent government helps to overcome the growing mistrust people have with government at all levels. One way to reverse the skepticism many feel toward state government is to open the financial data and the decision making process to citizens. Armed with real and accurate data, and given the time to consider it, citizens will be more confident and better able to work with elected officials – and if appropriate – challenge some of decisions being made with regard to government investment and spending.
Much significant – and previously largely unavailable -- information will be in a user-friendly format on the Sunshine Portal. Here is just a brief list of the information the public will be able to find:
• A directory of all political appointees working in state government by state agency, showing each position’s title, salary and political appointee’s name.
• State agency contracts with a total value of more than $20,000, naming both the recipients and purposes of the contracts.
• State cash balances by account or fund.
• Monthly summaries of the state’s investment accounts managed by the State Investment Council.
• Annual operating budgets for each state agency with monthly expenditures by category.
• Appropriations for capital projects, identified by location, type, and funding source.
• Links to an open meetings website where each agency will post all scheduled open meetings.
• An annual summary of the state’s fiscal health, including the state budget, revenue projections, and expenditures for the previous fiscal year.
The Sunshine Portal will also provide additional information that will assist the public in understanding state government operations and management of taxpayer dollars. For the first time, the public will have the opportunity to find out how every state agency is managing its budget and contributing to – or being detrimental to -- the state’s fiscal health.
With the economy staggering, every dollar state government spends matters. The Sunshine Portal will also provide an opportunity to evaluate whether tax dollars are being spent efficiently and effectively.
The Sunshine Portal is a powerful tool. But like any tool and not a magic bullet, it must be utilized by the citizens to be truly effective. As citizens, we must re-commitment ourselves to the true nature of democracy and make real Jefferson’s notion. We must equip ourselves with the information that allows us to effectively oversee the efficiency and effectiveness of government. When fully operational beginning in July of 2011, the Sunshine Portal will provide the first step in this process.
###
For Immediate Release Friday, March 05, 2010 Contact: 986-4702
Exempt Employee Names to be Public,
On-line – State’s Financial Info to be Accessible-Bill Signed into Law Friday
Acting Governor, Lt. Governor Diane Denish signs legislation as sponsor Senator Rue looks on.
SB 195/a – Sunshine Portal Transparency Act- Senator Sander Rue, Signed into law
SB 55- Missing Persons Act- Senator Sander Rue- signed into law
Santa Fe- The names of all exempt employees, their title, and salary will be made public, easily viewed on-line because SB 195/a has been signed into law today. State Senator Sander Rue of Albuquerque sponsored SB 195/a- The Sunshine Portal Transparency Act. He said the information had not been very transparent or easily accessible by the public, prompting the public to ask, “What are they hiding?”
In addition to positions and salaries being easily accessed, the new statute requires creating a new website with the state’s financial and budget information, all free and open to the public.
At the bill signing news conference today, Senator Rue said, “I am most excited because we will get more public input into how state government should be run. They will be able to go on-line and easily see budget line-items and see how their tax dollars are being spent.” Senator Rue said it will be more than a website for centralized, convenient and freely accessible information about government finances. He said it will allow citizen’s the access they need to do their civic duty of overseeing government.
At the news conference today, Senator Rue thanked Lt. Governor Diane Denish for her support of the legislation and he thanked Representative Nathan Cote for carrying the bill in the House. Lt. Governor Diane Denish signed the legislation as acting governor because the governor was out of state.
The statute allows for time to get the information up and running. The bill calls for the information to be available on-line, in an easily understood webpage by July 1, 2011.
Lt. Governor Diane Dennish signed into law another bill that Senator Sander Rue sponsored. The need for SB 55- Missing Persons Act was brought to light after 11 women’s bodies were discovered buried on the West Side of Albuquerque last year. Their killer or killers still have not been caught or charged in the alleged murders.
The new statute is designed to help locate missing children and adults faster and more effectively in New Mexico. The information provides for a developing a more comprehensive approach to finding missing people. Senator Rue said, “We will have a comprehensive and centralized missing persons statute that combines various statutes pertaining to missing children and adults.” Senator Rue said he was pleased the bill requires law enforcement to undergo training on the procedures of reporting and investigating missing people.
For Immediate Release Monday, March 08, 2010 Contact: Senator Ryan- 505-238-3733
Get Going on Merit- Based Pay to be Competitive for National Grant
“Get innovative, get merit based pay for teachers, get the millions in grant money.” Those are the words of advice from the State Senator who sponsored the Senate Memorial asking the New Mexico Department of Education (PED) to study ways, such as merit based pay, to reward educators who have outstanding results in the classroom. Now Senator John Ryan is saying, “Get going or continue to lose millions in grant money.”
According to news reports, New Mexico has recently been notified that it failed to be named a finalist for the Race to the Top grants from the U.S. Secretary of Education. There is expected to be a second round of applications and grants.
Senator Ryan said his Senate Memorial 38 requests that the PED work with educators and teachers’ unions in designing a merit pay program for teachers and principals who are successful and to present their system to the legislature next session.
Now, because the PED’s application for approximately $200 million in grant money from the federal government was not competitive enough to be a finalist for the funding, Senator Ryan said the PED needs to become innovative and seriously look at a merit based pay system in its educational reform efforts. Ryan says he believes the state lost out of the first round because it state does not have the innovative rewarding system necessary to be competitive for the grant.
“Having a system that rewards good teachers and is able to fire bad teachers is certainly important for our kids in the classroom and we are finding such an innovative system is critical to win millions in federal educational reform grant dollars to help improve our students’ education even more. It is a win, win situation. But it needs to be explored and included now in our educational reform plan,” Senator John Ryan said. Ryan said “The “Race to the Top” educational grant program through the Obama administration is weighing more favorably applicants who are adopting this innovative approach of rewarding teachers. If the state fails to include merit based pay again in its second round of applications the state might not be competitive again and could fail in securing this grant, and thereby shortchanging our students.”
Senator Ryan said the state has applied for the $200 million dollar grant to pay for educational reform and innovation in the classroom from the federal government through the “Race to the Top” grant program. Congress has dedicated $100 billion to better schools, with strings attached. The program, implemented by U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan rewards innovation and accomplishment.
Senator Ryan said the PED needs to think of what opportunities New Mexico students can gain with this type of educational reform and what it could do with the millions it could earn for the state of New Mexico’s educational reform efforts and not be so concerned about the reaction from teachers’ unions if teacher pay is based on their job performance in the classroom.
###
Get Going on Merit- Based Pay to be Competitive for National Grant
“Get innovative, get merit based pay for teachers, get the millions in grant money.” Those are the words of advice from the State Senator who sponsored the Senate Memorial asking the New Mexico Department of Education (PED) to study ways, such as merit based pay, to reward educators who have outstanding results in the classroom. Now Senator John Ryan is saying, “Get going or continue to lose millions in grant money.”
According to news reports, New Mexico has recently been notified that it failed to be named a finalist for the Race to the Top grants from the U.S. Secretary of Education. There is expected to be a second round of applications and grants.
Senator Ryan said his Senate Memorial 38 requests that the PED work with educators and teachers’ unions in designing a merit pay program for teachers and principals who are successful and to present their system to the legislature next session.
Now, because the PED’s application for approximately $200 million in grant money from the federal government was not competitive enough to be a finalist for the funding, Senator Ryan said the PED needs to become innovative and seriously look at a merit based pay system in its educational reform efforts. Ryan says he believes the state lost out of the first round because it state does not have the innovative rewarding system necessary to be competitive for the grant.
“Having a system that rewards good teachers and is able to fire bad teachers is certainly important for our kids in the classroom and we are finding such an innovative system is critical to win millions in federal educational reform grant dollars to help improve our students’ education even more. It is a win, win situation. But it needs to be explored and included now in our educational reform plan,” Senator John Ryan said. Ryan said “The “Race to the Top” educational grant program through the Obama administration is weighing more favorably applicants who are adopting this innovative approach of rewarding teachers. If the state fails to include merit based pay again in its second round of applications the state might not be competitive again and could fail in securing this grant, and thereby shortchanging our students.”
Senator Ryan said the state has applied for the $200 million dollar grant to pay for educational reform and innovation in the classroom from the federal government through the “Race to the Top” grant program. Congress has dedicated $100 billion to better schools, with strings attached. The program, implemented by U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan rewards innovation and accomplishment.
Senator Ryan said the PED needs to think of what opportunities New Mexico students can gain with this type of educational reform and what it could do with the millions it could earn for the state of New Mexico’s educational reform efforts and not be so concerned about the reaction from teachers’ unions if teacher pay is based on their job performance in the classroom.
###
GET MERIT-BASED PAY FOR TEACHERS, GET MILLIONS IN GRANT MONEY
LETTER TO THE EDITOR PUBLISHED MARCH 10, 2010Get innovative, Get Merit-based pay for Teachers, Get the Millions in Grant Money
In response to your Saturday article: “Gov., Denish Square Off” over New Mexico’s failure to qualify as a finalist for millions in federal education grant money, I take issue not only with our state leaders’ finger pointing over the failure to secure the grant in the first round but also with the Albuquerque Teachers Federation President who apparently worked against our application in a letter criticizing it. According to your article, Union President Ellen Bernstein…. “was concerned that the grant, as written, would add additional needless testing and paperwork to the work of classroom teachers.”
Despite Bernstein’s concern about “needless testing,” testing is an excellent measure of a student’s achievement and, therefore, a teacher’s performance in the classroom. I believe in testing students and basing teachers’ salaries on their performance in the classroom. I suggest that the Public Education Department (PED) heed the New Mexico State Senate’s wishes in Senate Memorial 38 that I sponsored and work with educators and teachers’ unions to design an innovative merit-based pay program that rewards successful teachers and more easily allows those who fail our students to be fired.
The second round of applications for the federal Race to the Top money are due June 1. It is critical that PED Secretary Veronica Garcia re-examine what was included in the state’s first application, especially how student and teacher performance related to merit awards in New Mexico. Such an examination could reveal whether the state is on track for an innovative merit-based teacher pay system that would benefit our students and also make us competitive in a second round of applications for the Race to the Top educational grant program where millions are available for schools that demonstrate innovative reforms.
-end-
In response to your Saturday article: “Gov., Denish Square Off” over New Mexico’s failure to qualify as a finalist for millions in federal education grant money, I take issue not only with our state leaders’ finger pointing over the failure to secure the grant in the first round but also with the Albuquerque Teachers Federation President who apparently worked against our application in a letter criticizing it. According to your article, Union President Ellen Bernstein…. “was concerned that the grant, as written, would add additional needless testing and paperwork to the work of classroom teachers.”
Despite Bernstein’s concern about “needless testing,” testing is an excellent measure of a student’s achievement and, therefore, a teacher’s performance in the classroom. I believe in testing students and basing teachers’ salaries on their performance in the classroom. I suggest that the Public Education Department (PED) heed the New Mexico State Senate’s wishes in Senate Memorial 38 that I sponsored and work with educators and teachers’ unions to design an innovative merit-based pay program that rewards successful teachers and more easily allows those who fail our students to be fired.
The second round of applications for the federal Race to the Top money are due June 1. It is critical that PED Secretary Veronica Garcia re-examine what was included in the state’s first application, especially how student and teacher performance related to merit awards in New Mexico. Such an examination could reveal whether the state is on track for an innovative merit-based teacher pay system that would benefit our students and also make us competitive in a second round of applications for the Race to the Top educational grant program where millions are available for schools that demonstrate innovative reforms.
-end-
Thursday, March 4, 2010
Senate Minority Whip Bill Payne
For Immediate Release Thursday, March 04, 2010 Contact: 986-4702
Different Day- Same Story
Today, Most Republican Senators Vote NO! To Raise Taxes- This time on Cigarettes
Santa Fe- Today, all but one New Mexico Republican Senators voted “no” to raise taxes on cigarettes, Wednesday, all Republican Senators voted “no” on a state budget that has no real spending cuts to address revenue shortfalls, on Tuesday, all Senate Republicans voted against the bill to increase taxes by $200 million in fiscal year 2011.
Today, as well as during the past two days of the special session, all Republican efforts to amend the tax increase in order to protect taxpayers were shot down.
Despite the Republican Senator efforts, the tax increases passed. Even the
Republican efforts to make the taxes temporary were killed on the Senate floor despite the taxes being paraded out to be “temporary” taxes.
The cigarette tax that is estimated to raise taxes by $33 million in fiscal year 2011 passed the Senate 25 to 15.
The original cigarette tax bill was proposed to shore up the state’s dwindling reserves, but changes were made to the bill and now part of it will be going to education. Some Senators say that is bad tax policy to use a questionable and possibly unreliable source of revenue to pay for a recurring expense.
Darkest Week In State Senate- NM Senator Kent Cravens
For Immediate Release Thursday, March 04, 2010 Contact: 505-986-4702 Darkest Week in State Senate Video and Senate Floor quote of State Senator Kent Cravens go to this address on You Tube: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wc20vC68S3w Santa Fe—“Darkest week in the State Senate.” That is how Albuquerque State Senator Kent Cravens described work in the State Senate as he voted once again against raising taxes. “The legislature is spending money the state does not have, on projects the our constituents do not want, “ Senator Cravens said on the Senate floor today. “We are asked to vote on the best bad deal we can get and I say we need to stay here until the state of New Mexico has a good budget that does not raise taxes and a long term plan to run state government with sustainable revenues and expenses based on realistic projections.” Senator Cravens voted against all tax increases and against the state budget because he said it did not sufficiently address spending cuts. “The average New Mexican is hurting, “Senator Cravens said. “New Mexicans expect leadership and all this legislature could come up with is shell- games, smoke and mirrors and band aids. I don’t call that leadership.”
Wednesday, March 3, 2010
Senator Sue Wilson Beffort- Stop Richardson's Abusive Hiring Practices
New Mexico Senate Minority Office
For Immediate Release Wednesday, March 3, 2010 Contact: 505-986-4702
End Richardson’s Abusive Hiring Practices
Santa Fe—An effective way to stop Governor Bill Richardson’s abusive hiring practices will be presented to the New Mexico State Senate tonight.
State Senator Sue Wilson Beffort is introducing an amendment to the budget that would require political appointees hand-placed in classified positions be the first to be laid off in case an agency’s budget is overspent.
Senator Wilson Beffort calls Governor Richardson’s hiring practices abusive and states the public is sick and tired of him going against his own hiring freeze to hand place his political appointees in classified positions where they will be protected under the classified state employee system.
“The public has had enough. My amendment will root out these political appointees and say they are the first to go in cases where agencies need to balance their budgets,” Senator Wilson Beffort said. “In various cases these exempt employees were hand placed in the classified positions without having to go through the classified personnel system to qualify for the jobs. That is an abuse of the system and everyone knows it.”
Wilson Beffort’s amendment states that if an agency’s budget needs to be balanced by a reduction-in-force plan, those newly classified employees who used to be political employments at any time in the past four years would be the first to be terminated.
“Fair is fair. These pseudo classified appointees who did not play by the rules and who did not qualify for their positions like true classified employees did, should be the first to go. Those hired during the freeze should never have been placed in classified positions in the first place. They have cost taypayers more money than they should have,” Senator Wilson Beffort said.
For Immediate Release Wednesday, March 3, 2010 Contact: 505-986-4702
End Richardson’s Abusive Hiring Practices
Santa Fe—An effective way to stop Governor Bill Richardson’s abusive hiring practices will be presented to the New Mexico State Senate tonight.
State Senator Sue Wilson Beffort is introducing an amendment to the budget that would require political appointees hand-placed in classified positions be the first to be laid off in case an agency’s budget is overspent.
Senator Wilson Beffort calls Governor Richardson’s hiring practices abusive and states the public is sick and tired of him going against his own hiring freeze to hand place his political appointees in classified positions where they will be protected under the classified state employee system.
“The public has had enough. My amendment will root out these political appointees and say they are the first to go in cases where agencies need to balance their budgets,” Senator Wilson Beffort said. “In various cases these exempt employees were hand placed in the classified positions without having to go through the classified personnel system to qualify for the jobs. That is an abuse of the system and everyone knows it.”
Wilson Beffort’s amendment states that if an agency’s budget needs to be balanced by a reduction-in-force plan, those newly classified employees who used to be political employments at any time in the past four years would be the first to be terminated.
“Fair is fair. These pseudo classified appointees who did not play by the rules and who did not qualify for their positions like true classified employees did, should be the first to go. Those hired during the freeze should never have been placed in classified positions in the first place. They have cost taypayers more money than they should have,” Senator Wilson Beffort said.
New Mexico Senate Minority Office
For Immediate Release Wednesday, March 3, 2010 Contact: 505-986-4702
End Richardson’s Abusive Hiring Practices
Santa Fe—An effective way to stop Governor Bill Richardson’s abusive hiring practices will be presented to the New Mexico State Senate tonight.
State Senator Sue Wilson Beffort is introducing an amendment to the budget that would require political appointees hand-placed in classified positions be the first to be laid off in case an agency’s budget is overspent.
Senator Wilson Beffort calls Governor Richardson’s hiring practices abusive and states the public is sick and tired of him going against his own hiring freeze to hand place his political appointees in classified positions where they will be protected under the classified state employee system.
“The public has had enough. My amendment will root out these political appointees and say they are the first to go in cases where agencies need to balance their budgets,” Senator Wilson Beffort said. “In various cases these exempt employees were hand placed in the classified positions without having to go through the classified personnel system to qualify for the jobs. That is an abuse of the system and everyone knows it.”
Wilson Beffort’s amendment states that if an agency’s budget needs to be balanced by a reduction-in-force plan, those newly classified employees who used to be political employments at any time in the past four years would be the first to be terminated.
“Fair is fair. These pseudo classified appointees who did not play by the rules and who did not qualify for their positions like true classified employees did, should be the first to go. Those hired during the freeze should never have been placed in classified positions in the first place. They have cost taypayers more money than they should have,” Senator Wilson Beffort said.
For Immediate Release Wednesday, March 3, 2010 Contact: 505-986-4702
End Richardson’s Abusive Hiring Practices
Santa Fe—An effective way to stop Governor Bill Richardson’s abusive hiring practices will be presented to the New Mexico State Senate tonight.
State Senator Sue Wilson Beffort is introducing an amendment to the budget that would require political appointees hand-placed in classified positions be the first to be laid off in case an agency’s budget is overspent.
Senator Wilson Beffort calls Governor Richardson’s hiring practices abusive and states the public is sick and tired of him going against his own hiring freeze to hand place his political appointees in classified positions where they will be protected under the classified state employee system.
“The public has had enough. My amendment will root out these political appointees and say they are the first to go in cases where agencies need to balance their budgets,” Senator Wilson Beffort said. “In various cases these exempt employees were hand placed in the classified positions without having to go through the classified personnel system to qualify for the jobs. That is an abuse of the system and everyone knows it.”
Wilson Beffort’s amendment states that if an agency’s budget needs to be balanced by a reduction-in-force plan, those newly classified employees who used to be political employments at any time in the past four years would be the first to be terminated.
“Fair is fair. These pseudo classified appointees who did not play by the rules and who did not qualify for their positions like true classified employees did, should be the first to go. Those hired during the freeze should never have been placed in classified positions in the first place. They have cost taypayers more money than they should have,” Senator Wilson Beffort said.
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