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.
Harrison Schmitt withdrew his nomination to serve as head of the Energy, Minerals and Natural Resources department on Thursday following his decision to not undergo a background check by the Senate Rules Committee.
Gov. Susana Martinez, who selected Schmitt for the job, said in a statement that Schmitt agreed to be screened but “was not willing to waive that investigator’s liability for any improper actions or use of that information.”
Martinez said that Schmitt underwent a background check by the Department of Public Safety as part of his nomination process.
“While one can understand Senator Schmitt’s concerns, complying with the Legislature’s request is necessary to restore public confidence in state government,” Martinez said. “That’s why I am requiring all of my cabinet secretary designees to comply with that request and this has led to Senator Schmitt withdrawing his nomination.”
At a press conference on Thursday afternoon Martinez said she just found out about Schmitt’s refusal to go through a background check minutes before the press conference and had no comment.
Sen. Linda Lopez, D-Albuquerque, chairs the Senate Rules Committee and said that she would not vote for Schmitt. Senate President Pro Tem Tim Jennings, D-Roswell, told KUNM’s news blog Thursday that if Schmitt did not undergo a background check that he would be rejected by the Senate.
“We have a duty under the Constitution to check him out,” Jennings said. “Every other New Mexican has gone through that same process. He should go through the same process as any other New Mexican.”
Schmitt raised eyebrows when he said environmentalist leaders were communists. Schmitt also said he did not believe that man contributed to global warming.
