The New Mexico Independent

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The New Mexico Independent going forward

By | 11.16.11

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…

EIB hears more anti-cap-and-trade testimony

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By | 11.10.11

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…

New Mexico’s largest university low in popularity

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By | 11.10.11

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.

Roundhouse

The New Mexico State Capitol. Photo: AP Bailey, Flickr

Democratic senator aims to strike a compromise on state unemployment compensation fund

By | 09.15.11 | 9:09 am

Trip Jennings reports that Sen. John Arthur Smith, D-Deming, drafted a compromise bill on the state’s unemployment compensation fund, raising taxes on businesses by a lesser amount than Gov. Susana Martinez line-item vetoed earlier this year:

The New Mexico State Capitol. Photo: AP Bailey, Flickr

House GOP complaining of slow pace of special session

By | 09.13.11 | 9:14 am

New Mexico House Republicans continue to complain about the slow pace of the special session so far, with one member asking on the floor whether legislators were there as part of an “economic stimulus for Santa Fe.”

Photo: Marcia Cirillo, Flickr

House Democrats reintroduce compromise on driver’s licenses, Martinez calls it ‘partisan gimmick’

By | 09.12.11 | 9:48 am

New Mexico House Democrats reintroduced a compromise bill tightening requirements for foreign nationals applying for driver’s licenses Friday, but  Gov. Martinez called it a “partisan gimmick.”

Roundhouse

Despite odds against change, protesters rally — for and against — driver’s licenses

By | 09.07.11 | 8:08 am

On the first day of the special session, protesters opposing the governor’s push to ban driver’s licenses rallied in the Capitol while tea party supporters supported the governor.

The New Mexico State Capitol. Photo: AP Bailey, Flickr

Packed special session begins today in Santa Fe

By | 09.06.11 | 9:02 am

The 2011 legislative special session begins today in Santa Fe to deal with the once-per-decade process of redistricting, but Gov. Susana Martinez has demanded lawmakers repeal driver’s licenses for illegal immigrants and end social promotion for third-graders, among other provisions.

The New Mexico State Capitol. Photo: AP Bailey, Flickr

Immigrant drivers licenses will be on table for special session

By | 05.17.11 | 7:15 am

The battle to stop illegal immigrants from receiving drivers licenses will continue this year. Gov. Susana Martinez said Monday that the controversial issue will be considered during a special session this year where legislators will also decide on redistricting for congressional and state House and Senate districts.

Photo: Denise Womack-Avila, Flickr

Attorney General King highlights ethics law expansion

By | 05.16.11 | 12:01 pm

New Mexico Attorney General Gary King highlighted an expansion of an ethics law this morning that passed the Legislature and was signed by Gov. Susana Martinez. The expansion comes to New Mexico’s Governmental Conduct Act. The changes include adding local government officials to the list of public employees who are bound by its ethical provisions.

Photo: Marcia Cirillo, Flickr

Newly named redistricting panel faces travel cuts, fewer public hearings

By | 05.10.11 | 10:42 am

New Mexico legislators took a step toward the once-a-decade process of redistricting by naming an 18-member committee to begin the hard work of redistricting. The committee will not only reset the lines for the state’s three congressional districts but also for each of the state House and state Senate districts. But the lawmakers face a challenge: Cuts that could mean fewer public hearings on the new district lines.

Lawmakers are worried, however, that they may not be able to get as much public input because Gov. Susana Martinez line-item-vetoed $100,000 in funding for the redistricting committee’s expenses.

Journalist outlines open-records problems with Sec. of State’s office

By | 04.20.11 | 12:01 pm

Reporter Heath Haussamen of NMPolitics.net says that he has “identified several potential IPRA violations” by Secretary of State Dianna Duran’s office over requests pertaining to alleged illegal voters in New Mexico.

Gov. Susana Martinez. Photo: Steve Terrell, Flickr

Martinez launches PAC to elect like-minded legislators

By | 04.19.11 | 2:19 pm

Gov. Susana Martinez has formed a new political action committee to help elect legislative candidates that share her ideological vision, the Associated Press reported Tuesday.

Gov. Susana Martinez. Photo: Albuquerque Public Schools

Martinez’s line-item vetoes draw scrutiny

By | 04.15.11 | 11:32 am

New Mexico Democratic legislators are crying foul over a line item veto by Gov. Susana Martinez that they say overstates her constitutional authority. A spokesman for Martinez says that her administration believes that it is legal.

Photo: Denise Womack-Avila, Flickr

Longtime Republican state Rep. Jeanette Wallace passes away

By | 04.11.11 | 7:44 am

Longtime Republican state Rep. Jeanette Wallace, who has served the Los Alamos area in the House since 1991, passed away Friday at the age of 77.

Photo: Matt Reichbach

Senators criticize Martinez vetoes

By | 04.08.11 | 4:38 pm

New Mexico Senators criticized vetoes made today by Gov. Susana Martinez. Sens. Dede Feldman, D-Albuquerque, and George Munoz, D-Gallup, said a veto of a bill to create a health insurance exchange may mean more federal control of the insurance marketplace in New Mexico, while Alburquerque Sen. Tim Keller criticized Martinez for vetoing transparency and accountability measures.

Gov. Susana Martinez. Photo: Facebook

Martinez signs budget with some line-item vetoes

By | 04.08.11 | 4:25 pm

Gov. Susana Martinez signed the $5.4 billion state budget today with a few line item vetoes, including $1.9 million in yearly funding and $2.6 million in one-time spending.

The New Mexico State Capitol. Photo: AP Bailey, Flickr

Martinez signs insurance rate review legislation

By | 04.07.11 | 4:23 pm

Gov. Susana Martinez signed legislation Monday that will strengthen regulatory power by the state on health insurance premium increases. The legislation is in response to large increases requested last year by Blue Cross Blue Shield of New Mexico that were recently affirmed by the New Mexico Superintendent of Insurance.

The New Mexico Seal on the Capitol. Photo: Jimmy Emerson, Flickr

Sec. of State Duran won’t release documentation of alleged voter fraud

By | 04.07.11 | 1:38 pm

At least one media outlet and the New Mexico chapter of the American Civil Liberties Union said in recent days that they are having a hard time getting documents from the Secretary of State’s office about alleged illegal votes in New Mexico.

Gov. Susana Martinez. Photo: Facebook

Martinez signs bill to end corporal punishment in schools

By | 04.06.11 | 12:11 pm

New Mexico will join most of the other states in the country in banning corporal punishment in schools. Gov. Susana Martinez announced Wednesday that she signed the legislation that would ban the practice of allowing school personnel to strike students to punish them.

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New redistricting data shows big growth in 1st Congressional District

By | 03.30.11 | 12:19 pm

One of the biggest duties of the state legislature this year will be dealing with the decennial redistricting of congressional and legislative seats following last year’s U.S. Census. The state legislature posted preliminary data on redistricting on its website Wednesday for congressional, state House, state Senate and Public Regulations Commission seats.

Gov. Susana Martinez. Photo: Facebook

Martinez signs A-F school grading bill

By | 03.29.11 | 4:00 pm

Gov. Susana Martinez signed a bill Tuesday that would grade school performances on an A–F scale, part of her plan to reform education in New Mexico.

Photo: John Steven Fernandez, Flickr

NY Times looks at corporal punishment in New Mexico schools

By | 03.29.11 | 12:00 pm

Gov. Susana Martinez is currently deciding whether to sign a bill to ban a practice in New Mexico schools that many assume is a thing of the past — corporal punishment. New Mexico is one of 20 states that allow corporal, or physical, punishment in public schools.