New Mexico Democratic Senators Martin Heinrich and Ben Ray Lujan are among the senators who have signed a letter urging the Trump administration to back away from its plan to increase beef imports from Argentina. Heinrich stated in a press release on Tuesday that he, Lujan and 14 other Democratic senators sent a letter to […]
Category: Congress & Federal Gov.
Posted inCongress & Federal Gov.
New Mexico AG sues Trump administration over SNAP benefits freeze
New Mexico Attorney General Raul Torrez is among 24 state attorneys general taking the Trump administration to court over its plans to withhold Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits in November if the government shutdown continues. A lawsuit, which is also joined by the governors of Kansas, Kentucky and Pennsylvania, was filed Tuesday in the […]
Posted inCongress & Federal Gov.
USDA: Emergency funds will not be used for SNAP during shutdown
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) says emergency funds won’t be used to provide SNAP payments to states if the shutdown continues into November, as Senate Democrats insisted was possible. In a memo released Friday, the USDA blamed Democrats for the nearly 24-day government shutdown and said that money from the contingency funds cannot be […]
Posted inCongress & Federal Gov
Heinrich, Luján push back against claims that USDA can’t access funds for SNAP due next month
By Alex Ross — New Mexico Democratic Senators Martin Heinrich and Ben Ray Lujan on Thursday disputed claims made by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) that they lack the funds to cover the cost of next month’s Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits. Heinrich and Lujan were among 45 Democratic Senators who signed […]
Posted inNM Legislature
New Mexico allocates $5.9 million to public broadcasting after federal funding cuts
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 […]
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 […]