The Trump administration has backed down from imposing tariffs of up to 250% on pharmaceutical imports from the European Union following pressure from U.S. Sen. Ben Ray Luján, D-N.M., according to a Thursday press release from the senator. The administration also agreed to provide special treatment for generic medicines from the European Union, according to […]
Category: Congress & Federal Gov.
Vasquez leads new immigration and border plan by House Democrats
House Democrats on Monday unveiled a comprehensive immigration and border security framework aimed at breaking years of partisan gridlock on one of the nation’s most contentious political issues. The New Democrat Coalition Immigration & Border Security Working Group, led by Rep. Gabe Vasquez of New Mexico, released what it calls the “New Dem Immigration & […]
Rep. Vasquez calls for permanent tax relief, wage increases for tipped workers
Rep. Gabe Vasquez on Monday criticized the current federal tax law’s approach to tip taxation while advocating for permanent policy changes to benefit tipped workers during a visit to a local coffee shop. The New Mexico Democrat donned an apron and worked alongside employees at Barelas Coffee House on Aug. 18, taking orders and serving […]
Secretary Noem visits Ruidoso to review disaster response progress
U.S. Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem visited the Village of Ruidoso in Lincoln County Tuesday to review progress in disaster recovery efforts following this summer’s historic flash flooding there. Ruidoso Mayor Lynn Crawford and emergency management staff gave Noem a tour of the village, including several homes left uninhabitable and a village playground full of […]
Homeland Sec. Noem comes to New Mexico to paint border wall black because Trump thinks it will make it too hot to climb
The Trump administration’s has a new tool in its arsenal to deter undocumented immigration and you can get one on sale at Home Depot for $5.67. U.S. Homeland Security Secretary Krisit Noem arrived in Santa Teresa, New Mexico yesterday armed with a paint roller and a can of black paint to paint President Donald Trump’s […]
Vasquez slams proposed $102M cut to New Mexico drug-fighting program
U.S. Rep. Gabe Vasquez is pushing back against a White House proposal to slash funding for a key anti-drug trafficking program that supports law enforcement agencies in regions of America, including across New Mexico. The administration last month proposed cutting the High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area program, or HIDTA, by 35 percent, a move Vasquez […]
Lawmakers urge Justice Department to speed RECA implementation for radiation victims
A bipartisan group of lawmakers led by Rep. Teresa Leger Fernández is pressing the Justice Department to quickly implement updated regulations for the expanded Radiation Exposure Compensation Act, warning that delays could cost gravely ill survivors precious time. In a letter to Attorney General Pam Bondi, the New Mexico Democrat and her colleagues thanked the […]
Report shows reconciliation law will cost poorest Americans $1,200 annually while wealthy gain $13,600
A new Congressional Budget Office analysis reveals that recently enacted budget reconciliation legislation will reduce resources for the nation’s poorest families while providing substantial benefits to wealthy households, prompting sharp criticism from Democratic lawmakers. The CBO report, released Aug. 11, found that households in the lowest income decile will lose approximately $1,200 per year on […]
Heinrich hosts roundtable on federal energy legislation’s impact on New Mexico
U.S. Senator Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.), the ranking member of the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee, held a roundtable discussion on Friday to examine the potential effects of federal energy legislation on New Mexico’s utility costs and employment. The roundtable included representatives from Western Resource Advocates, the Southwest Energy Efficiency Project, the New Mexico Renewable […]
Rep. Stansbury warns of healthcare cuts, praises state response at packed town hall
U.S. Rep. Melanie Stansbury hosted a town hall meeting inside a packed commission chambers at the Sandoval County Administration Building Monday afternoon. Stansbury kept the large crowd waiting for about half an hour because of transportation issues, but entered to a thunderous ovation from most of the people in attendance. Over 200 people showed up […]