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 National Journal reports that all of the returning members of the Democratic caucus in the U.S. Senate signed onto a letter that supports filibuster reform.
The letter was sent to Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid.
The letter, delivered this week, expresses general frustration with what Democrats consider unprecedented obstruction and asks Reid to take steps to end those abuses. While it does not urge a specific solution, Democrats said it demonstrates increased backing in the majority for a proposal, championed by Sen. Tom Udall, D-N.M., and others, weaken the minority’s ability to tie the Senate calendar into parliamentary knots.
Last week The Independent reported on Udall’s efforts to reform the filibuster and avoid obstruction in the Senate. Udall cites Article 1, Section 5 of the U.S. Constitution, specifically the portion which says, “Each House may determine the Rules of its Proceedings.”
Udall says that on the first day of the new Congress, the Senate can pass new rules with a simple majority. This includes lowering the threshold for cloture to 55 or to do a number of other options to reform the filibuster.
