New Mexico lawmakers have allocated $5.9 million to support in-state public television and radio stations statewide after Congress eliminated federal funding for public broadcasting. The state funding includes $1.7 million specifically for New Mexico PBS, which faced an 18% budget cut totaling $1.7 million for fiscal year 2026 due to the congressional rescission vote, according […]
Category: Congress & Federal Gov.
Posted inCongress & Federal Gov.
Adding shutdown pressure, Trump cuts Dem state climate funds, including $195.2 million from New Mexico
New Mexico Congressional offices were caught by surprise on Thursday when they the Trump administration announced on social media that it had canceled more than $8 billion Congressionally-approved appropriations in 16 “Blue States,” including New Mexico. Inquiries from reporters, including our own, seeking details received automated responses blaming Democrats for the shutdown. Hours later, a […]
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New Mexico’s Congressional leaders on the shutdown: Speaker “doesn’t give a f*ck about working people” and more
The federal government officially shutdown at 12:01 Eastern time on Wednesday, leaving hundreds of thousands of federal workers without a paycheck and closing or delaying many essential federal services. Both sides blamed each other. Republicans claimed Democrats refused to vote on a clean extension of funding for a few more weeks while Democrats stood their […]
Posted inCongress & Federal Gov., New Mexico
Rep. Vasquez calls on social media companies to stop illegal gun sales
Rep. Gabe Vasquez, D-N.M., on Tuesday demanded that major social media companies take immediate action to prevent illegal firearm sales on their platforms, citing law enforcement concerns about the role of social media in youth violence. Vasquez sent letters to the chief executives of Meta, Snapchat and Telegram, urging them to strengthen efforts to stop […]
Posted inCongress & Federal Gov., New Mexico
New Mexico delegation, Pueblo leaders urge Trump administration to maintain Chaco Canyon drilling ban
New Mexico’s congressional delegation joined with Pueblo leaders Wednesday to demand the Trump administration maintain protections against oil and gas development on federal lands surrounding Chaco Canyon, a UNESCO World Heritage Site threatened by potential drilling and extraction. Rep. Teresa Leger Fernández, Rep. Melanie Stansbury, Sen. Martin Heinrich and Rep. Gabe Vasquez stood with governors […]
Posted inCongress & Federal Gov., New Mexico
Rep. Vasquez cosponsors bill to reverse GOP health care cuts
Rep. Gabe Vasquez, D-N.M., cosponsored legislation Thursday aimed at reversing Republican health care cuts and permanently extending Affordable Care Act tax credits. The Protecting Healthcare and Lowering Costs Act, H.R. 4849, would repeal provisions in a Republican tax bill that Vasquez said would eliminate Medicaid coverage for 110,000 New Mexicans and reduce health care eligibility […]
Posted inCongress & Federal Gov., New Mexico
New Mexico senators blast Republicans for blocking Epstein document release
New Mexico Democratic Sens. Martin Heinrich and Ben Ray Lujan on Thursday denounced their Republican Senate colleagues for voting down an amendment that would require the U.S. Department of Justice to release all its files on alleged child sex trafficker Jeffrey Epstein. On Wednesday, the Senate voted 51-49 to table a proposed amendment to the […]
Posted inCongress & Federal Gov., New Mexico
New Mexico politicians push for completion of tribal water rights
By Lauren Lifke New Mexico’s congressional delegation has called for Senate and House leaders to take steps toward completing tribal water settlements. The U.S. pursues a policy of settling tribal water rights disputes whenever possible, according to the Bureau of Indian Affairs. The settlements are intended to help secure tribal rights to historic land, as […]
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Trump orders states to reinstate cash bonds for criminals. Forcing New Mexico to do that isn’t quite that easy.
The growing push by Republicans to roll back limits on when courts can require criminal suspects to pay to get out of jail while awaiting trial could put New Mexico on a collision course with the federal government. On Aug. 25, President Donald Trump signed an executive order directing the U.S. Attorney General and White […]
Posted inCongress & Federal Gov.
Sen. Lujan: Trump Administration retreats from pharmaceutical tariffs after warning
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 […]