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.
A breakdown of the votes shows that the opposition to embryonic stem-cell research was a bipartisan affair.
Fourteen Democrats, including House Speaker Ben Lujan, Majority Leader Ken Martinez and Majority Whip Sheryl Williams Stapleton, joined Republicans to vote against the bill.
The legislation died Friday afternoon on a 30-38 vote.
The bill, sponsored by state Sen. John Ryan, R-Albuquerque, would have permitted research and clinical applications involving human embryonic stem cells targeted for disposal or deemed excess tissue by fertility clinics.
It also required scientists to have the informed consent of the original owner of the embryo before doing research and in accordance with federal guidelines. It also prohibited human reproductive cloning.
The 14 Democrats joined 24 of the 25 Republicans in a coalition to oppose the legislation. Rep. Kathy McCoy, R-Cedar Crest, was the sole GOP lawmaker to support the legislation.
Other Democrats to vote against it were Reps. Mary Helen Garcia, Elias Barela, Andrew Barreras, Ray Begaye, Sandra Jeff, Patricia Lundstrom, James Roger Madalena, Andy Nunez, Debbie Rodella, Nick Salazar and Jim Trujillo.
