The dispute over federal REAL ID requirements dividing Democratic and Republican New Mexico lawmakers doesn’t appear any closer to resolution. This, as Democratic State Senate Majority Leader Michael Sanchez is pressing Governor Susana Martinez about a REAL ID letter amid a pending deadline. Sanchez wrote Martinez and GOP House Speaker Don Tripp on Monday that all sides should come to a "fair agreement" on writing a letter to the Department of Homeland Security seeking an extension on the law’s requirements. Last month, federal officials said New Mexico could get an extension if Martinez and lawmakers sent a letter to the U.S. Department of Homeland Security seeking an extension. Federal officials want Martinez and lawmakers to say they will pass a REAL ID compliant law during the next session, which begins in two weeks. If New Mexico doesn't pass a REAL ID compliant law, holders of state driver's licenses could find they are unable to use them for some federal purposes.
State Auditor Tim Keller says New Mexico is making progress toward balancing its government checkbook after an estimated 100 million dollar discrepancy was reported last year. The Auditor’s office announcing Monday that the discrepancy is now about four million between the state's general ledger and actual balances in bank accounts. The accounting problems have been traced to the SHARE software adopted by the state in 2007. The assessment of the state's 2015 general ledger was completed by an Albuquerque based consultant. The report finds that it may not be possible to reconcile some account activity between July 2003 and January 2013 because of incomplete data. The report found that state financial statements are now presented fairly.
New Mexico Attorney General Hector Balderas says health officials would be running afoul of open record laws by withholding the names of those who apply to be licensed medical marijuana producers in the state. Balderas has sent a letter to the state Department of Health in response to proposed confidentiality changes. A public hearing on the changes is scheduled tomorrow in Santa Fe. While the names of licensed producers would become public, Balderas is concerned about a provision that would allow for the names of those vying for licenses to remain secret during the application period. Confidentiality surrounding producers was challenged last year in a lawsuit by freelance journalist Peter St. Cyr and the New Mexico Foundation for Open Government. They say the agency was violating the state's public records law by keeping the names secret.
Lawmakers in New Mexico are proposing a series of new criminal penalties for repeat drunken driving offenses. Legislators on Monday introduced three bills that would increase jail time and trigger other felony sanctions against drunken drivers under existing New Mexico laws for habitual offenders. One bill proposes increased penalties for those who lend their car to someone whose license has been revoked or suspended because of a prior DWI offense. Republican Governor Martinez has voiced support for tougher laws to discourage repeat DWI offenses ahead of this month's legislative session. Democratic Senate Majority Leader Sanchez says the state already has some of the toughest drunken driving laws in the nation and he has accused the governor of trying to distract voters from issues of poverty.
Last week’s so called Goliath storm may have a lasting effect on New Mexico’s dairy industry. From the 20-thousand cows dead in New Mexico the number is expected to rise. Carrie Mess, a Wisconsin based blogger known to fellow farmers as “Dairy Carrie,” says New Mexico has years of recovery ahead. She says many cows that survived may never be able to produce again.
Santa Fe Weather: Mostly cloudy today with the high near 35 and a 50-percent chance for snow before noon. Tonight: Mostly cloudy with the overnight low 25 and a ten-percent chance for snow showers after midnight. Tomorrow: Continued cloudy with the high 36 and a 50-percent chance for snow.
The dispute over federal REAL ID requirements dividing Democratic and Republican New Mexico lawmakers doesn’t appear any closer to resolution. This, as Democratic State Senate Majority Leader Michael Sanchez is pressing Governor Susana Martinez about a REAL ID letter amid a pending deadline. Sanchez wrote Martinez and GOP House Speaker Don Tripp on Monday that all sides should come to a "fair agreement" on writing a letter to the Department of Homeland Security seeking an extension on the law’s requirements. Last month, federal officials said New Mexico could get an extension if Martinez and lawmakers sent a letter to the U.S. Department of Homeland Security seeking an extension. Federal officials want Martinez and lawmakers to say they will pass a REAL ID compliant law during the next session, which begins in two weeks. If New Mexico doesn't pass a REAL ID compliant law, holders of state driver's licenses could find they are unable to use them for some federal purposes.
State Auditor Tim Keller says New Mexico is making progress toward balancing its government checkbook after an estimated 100 million dollar discrepancy was reported last year. The Auditor’s office announcing Monday that the discrepancy is now about four million between the state's general ledger and actual balances in bank accounts. The accounting problems have been traced to the SHARE software adopted by the state in 2007. The assessment of the state's 2015 general ledger was completed by an Albuquerque based consultant. The report finds that it may not be possible to reconcile some account activity between July 2003 and January 2013 because of incomplete data. The report found that state financial statements are now presented fairly.
New Mexico Attorney General Hector Balderas says health officials would be running afoul of open record laws by withholding the names of those who apply to be licensed medical marijuana producers in the state. Balderas has sent a letter to the state Department of Health in response to proposed confidentiality changes. A public hearing on the changes is scheduled tomorrow in Santa Fe. While the names of licensed producers would become public, Balderas is concerned about a provision that would allow for the names of those vying for licenses to remain secret during the application period. Confidentiality surrounding producers was challenged last year in a lawsuit by freelance journalist Peter St. Cyr and the New Mexico Foundation for Open Government. They say the agency was violating the state's public records law by keeping the names secret.
Lawmakers in New Mexico are proposing a series of new criminal penalties for repeat drunken driving offenses. Legislators on Monday introduced three bills that would increase jail time and trigger other felony sanctions against drunken drivers under existing New Mexico laws for habitual offenders. One bill proposes increased penalties for those who lend their car to someone whose license has been revoked or suspended because of a prior DWI offense. Republican Governor Martinez has voiced support for tougher laws to discourage repeat DWI offenses ahead of this month's legislative session. Democratic Senate Majority Leader Sanchez says the state already has some of the toughest drunken driving laws in the nation and he has accused the governor of trying to distract voters from issues of poverty.
Last week’s so called Goliath storm may have a lasting effect on New Mexico’s dairy industry. From the 20-thousand cows dead in New Mexico the number is expected to rise. Carrie Mess, a Wisconsin based blogger known to fellow farmers as “Dairy Carrie,” says New Mexico has years of recovery ahead. She says many cows that survived may never be able to produce again.
Santa Fe Weather: Mostly cloudy today with the high near 35 and a 50-percent chance for snow before noon. Tonight: Mostly cloudy with the overnight low 25 and a ten-percent chance for snow showers after midnight. Tomorrow: Continued cloudy with the high 36 and a 50-percent chance for snow.