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.
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