House OKs withholding funding for agencies that don’t submit audits
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The House easily approved a bill today that would punish government agencies that don’t submit timely audits by temporarily withholding some of their funding. Continue Reading
Senate could hear two webcasting bills today
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Two pieces of legislation that would expand webcasting are on the Senate calendar today. Senate Resolution 1, sponsored by Majority Leader Michael Sanchez, is No. 11 on today’s calendar. House Joint Memorial 15, sponsored by Rep. Jeff Steinborn, D-Las Cruces, is No. 66. Continue Reading
Balderas reports ‘troubling trends’ at APS charter schools
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State Auditor Hector Balderas announced today that the 2009 Albuquerque Public Schools financial audit contained 378 findings, the vast majority of which indicate “poor financial management and failure to adhere to internal controls in many of the district’s charter schools.” Continue Reading
SIC investment distributions grow
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While lawmakers continue to debate how to reform the State Investment Council, the group’s board has announced it will distribute $720 million to public schools and other permanent fund beneficiaries in fiscal year 2011 — an $8 million increase over the current year. Continue Reading
Rejected by Senate, Holguin says she’ll remain an advocate
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A day after New Mexico senators rejected Neri Holguin’s nomination to the state Environmental Improvement Board, she says she’s “surprised and disappointed” by the 17 to 25 vote — especially since she’s been sitting on the board since last July. Continue Reading
Ethics commission proposal loses funding, activist support
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Members of the Senate Finance Committee unanimously approved a proposal to create a state ethics commission this evening, but not before stripping funding for the proposal. And activist groups that are concerned about secrecy provisions in the bill aren’t supporting it, at least in its current version. Continue Reading
Sunshine portal awaits House floor vote
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The House Appropriations and Finance Committee has given a do-pass recommendation to a proposal to create a state “Sunshine Portal,” so the bill needs only approval on the House floor before it heads to the governor for action. Continue Reading
Senate Rules OKs interim committee webcasting
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Without debate, the Senate Rules Committee today gave a do-pass recommendation to a memorial that would direct Legislative Council Service to begin webcasting interim committee meetings. Continue Reading
Judge dismisses some charges against PRC’s Block and his father
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A district judge has dismissed half of the charges against Public Regulation Commissioner Jerome Block Jr. and his father, a former PRC member, ruling that the attorney general overstepped his authority with the indictments. Continue Reading
Hundreds attend Senate hearing on wilderness bill
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Hundreds of people showed up in Las Cruces today for an official U.S. Senate hearing on the proposal from Sens. Jeff Bingaman and Tom Udall, D-N.M., to protect more than 300,000 acres of land in Doña Ana County. Continue Reading
Powell picks up legislative endorsements
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State Land Commissioner candidate Ray Powell picked up endorsements from three Doña Ana County lawmakers today. Continue Reading
Hamilton stands by claim on same-day registration bills
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State Rep. Dianne Hamilton is standing by her recent column published on this site in which she claimed that two same-day voter registration bills would have allowed people to register without providing some form of photo ID or another document such as a utility bill. Continue Reading
Senators to hold hearing on wilderness bill today in Cruces
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U.S. Sens. Jeff Bingaman and Tom Udall, D-N.M., will be in Las Cruces today to hold an official Senate hearing on their proposal to protect more than 300,000 acres of land in Doña Ana County. Continue Reading
Sanchez says webcasting resolution isn’t dead
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Senate Majority Leader Michael Sanchez cut short a Sunday hearing on a resolution that would expand webcasting from the Senate floor, but Sanchez says the resolution isn’t dead, regardless of what others claim. Continue Reading
VIDEO: Heinrich focused on jobs bill
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While Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid proposed last week trimming jobs legislation from $85 billion to $15 billion over 10 years, U.S. Rep. Martin Heinrich was home — in his 1st Congressional District — touring a low-income housing construction site that will create or retain 100 jobs for workers who have been collecting unemployment for months. Continue Reading