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.
Yesterday, Senate Democrats successfully defeated all Republican amendments to the reconciliation “fix” bill in a so-called “vote-a-rama” session that lasted until early in the morning in Washington D.C. Then, this afternoon, the Senate passed the reconciliation fix on a 56-43 vote. The fix bill has minor changes from the House version which will prompt a return to the House for concurrence.
Both New Mexico Senators, Tom Udall and Jeff Bingaman, voted for the reconciliation bill.
Senate Republicans offered nearly three dozen amendments to potentially put Democrats in a tough spot in their votes against the amendments.
Though most Senate Democrats noted the tactic and voted against all of the measures.
“These [amendments] have only one purpose,” tweeted Sen. Claire McCaskill, D-Mo. “Obstruct and delay. This is just a game. Hope they will figure out it’s not working soon.”
However, a small provision in a section dealing with Pell grants for students was not in line with reconciliation rules, so had to be removed from the reconciliation bill. Now, the House is expected to take up concurrence tonight.
Reconciliation is one way to avoid a filibuster from the minority, a tactic that Republicans have been using more and more often.
