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.
The Albuquerque Journal reported today that President Barack Obama and his administration are looking at turning control of the U.S. nuclear weapons design and manufacturing complex — including Los Alamos National Labs (LANL) and Sandia National Labs — over to the Department of Defense. Currently, they fall under the jurisdiction of the Department of Energy.
And Sen. Jeff Bingaman, a Silver City Democrat, doesn’t think it is a good idea. In a statement, Bingaman says he told Office of Management and Budget (OMB) head Peter Orszag, “I think this is a very shortsighted approach, and I will fight it tooth and nail if they intend to proceed with it.” Bingaman said the move would effect the non-defense-oriented jobs that are a part of Sandia and LANL.
Tom Udall isn’t a fan of the idea either, telling KSFR that it is “an idea he would fight” according to KSFR’s Twitter feed.
The policy of civilian management is rooted in a World War II decision by top Manhattan Project scientist J. Robert Oppenheimer to have the design of the first nuclear weapons done by civilian scientists, rather than military officers.
A shift to military management of the weapons program “would be very dramatic,” nuclear weapons historian Robert S. Norris of the Natural Resources Defense Council, said of the possibility of the weapons program being moved to the Pentagon.
So will it happen? Not if Bingaman has anything to do with it. And Bingaman is a pretty powerful senator — the 13th most senior senator overall and the eighth most senior Democratic senator.
Update: Rep. Ben Ray Lujan agrees with both New Mexico Senators about the potential change.
“Such a potential move would be extremely problematic, endangering critical research and jobs,” Lujan said. “I will work with my colleagues to fight any such change. We must protect jobs at Los Alamos National Laboratory, promote research on renewable energy, and encourage environmental cleanup.”
Lujan represents the 3rd Congressional District, which includes Los Alamos National Labs. Lujan would prefer there be more emphasis on energy research and development at the labs.
