I am writing today to announce the closure of the New Mexico Independent. After three and a half years of operation in New Mexico, the board of the American Independent News Network, has decided to shift publication of its news…
While environmental activists played their part yesterday during demonstrations at the capitol building, going so far as to dress up as solar panels and to sing the tune of “You Are My Sunshine,” their counterparts, the anti-cap-and-trade contingency who has…
Roughly one quarter of University of New Mexico students are unimpressed with the state’s flagship public school, according to a survey that questioned college students about their higher education experiences.
President Obama has spent much of his first week in office reversing policies that were born out of the George W. Bush administration. Last week, Obama signed an executive order to close Guantanamo Bay and another to reverse the Mexico City Policy.
Today, Obama directed the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to reconsider another decision from the Bush administration. This time, Obama wants the EPA to reconsider the decision that banned states from enacting tougher car emission standards than the federal standards. New Mexico is one of the states with tougher emission standards than the federal guideline.
“For the sake of our security, our economy and our planet, we must have the courage and commitment to change,” Obama said in the East Room of the White House, according to The Los Angeles Times. “It will be the policy of my administration to reverse our dependence on foreign oil while building a new energy economy that will create millions of jobs.”
Gov. Bill Richardson praised Obama’s decision, saying in a statement, “Allowing states to set emissions standards will help jump-start efforts to create green jobs, reduce our dependence on imported oil, and to reduce global climate change.”
New standards for New Mexico emissions will go into effect for automobiles with the model year 2011. So, with the way the car industry works, this will affect cars made in 2010.
Like Obama and the president’s staff, Richardson alluded to the previous president’s policies in less than flattering language. “After eight years of inaction under the previous administration, President Obama is sending a clear message that it is time to act boldly and decisively,” Richardson’s statement said. “New Mexico has been a leader on green energy issues and this change would allow us to take another giant step forward.”
