Lt. Gov. Howie Morales, in his capacity as acting governor, has signed legislation that will provide full benefits for 459,500 New Mexicans who depend on SNAP for food assistance, even if the federal government does not supply the funding. Morales signed House Bill 1 on Monday evening after the Legislature adjourned following a four-hour-long special […]
Category: NM State Gov.
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New Mexico lawmakers call for commission to probe alleged Epstein crimes at Zorro Ranch
New Mexicans may soon learn more about the alleged crimes of Jeffrey Epstein, even as efforts to get additional information about the disgraced financier and convicted sex abuser have stalled at the federal level. On Thursday, state lawmakers presented a proposal to the Courts, Corrections and Justice Interim Committee to create a commission to probe […]
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New Mexico’s permanent fund managers vote against Elon Musk’s $1 trillion Tesla pay package
Elon Musk is asking Tesla shareholders to approve a $1 trillion pay package for himself this Thursday, but he won’t get any help from New Mexico in doing it. The New Mexico State Investment Council (SIC), which manages state permanent funds from oil and gas royalties and tobacco litigation settlements, officially directed its proxy to […]
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State GOP legislators disapprove of Gov’s SNAP fix and unusual use of emergency powers to fund it
A day after Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham announced that the state would use $30 million of its own funds to cover SNAP benefits for 459,500 New Mexicans, State legislative Republicans are questioning the decision and the unusual way the governor made the funds available. New Mexico Legislative Republicans contacted today by New Mexico Political Report […]
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New Mexico allocates $30 million for food aid as federal SNAP benefits are set to be halted
New Mexico will provide $30 million in emergency food assistance starting Nov. 1 to replace suspended federal nutrition benefits for roughly 460,000 residents, Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham announced Wednesday at an Albuquerque press conference. The state funding will partially offset the loss of Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program benefits, which the U.S. Department of Agriculture will […]
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“An enormous hit:” Billions in fed. mineral payments owed to New Mexico could stop by year end
State budget analysts warn that federal mineral leasing payments to New Mexico could be at risk if Congress does take action in the coming months. The payments are from royalties companies pay to the federal government when they extract oil, coal and other minerals from federal land in New Mexico. The state then gets a […]
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New Mexico boosts school security with $35 million investment
Millions of dollars in one-time spending authorized by state lawmakers earlier this year are set to be dispersed to school districts across New Mexico, including funding meant to strengthen school security. Earlier this year, New Mexico lawmakers passed House Bill 450, which included $50 million for school security improvements, career technical education facilities, and repairs […]
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Special session set to get underway
The 112 members of the New Mexico House of Representatives and Senate will return to the Roundhouse on Wednesday for a special session that will concentrate on legislation to deal with the expected cuts in federal funding to the state. Last month, Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham, D-NM, announced she would use the authority granted to […]
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State to offer $100,000 loans to rapidly expand child care centers to meet universal care deadline
New Mexico officials outlined plans Wednesday to expand child care access and improve program quality as the state prepares to implement universal child care beginning Nov. 1. The Early Childhood Education and Care Advisory Council discussed several initiatives aimed at strengthening the state’s child care system during its meeting in Silver City, including a newly […]
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New Mexico Democratic lawmakers compare ICE to KKK, drawing sharp Republican criticism
New Mexico Democratic lawmakers’ comparisons of federal immigration enforcement to the Ku Klux Klan have drawn sharp criticism from Republican legislators, who say such rhetoric puts law enforcement officers at risk. During this week’s Courts, Corrections and Justice Committee meetings, two Democratic lawmakers made inflammatory comments about Immigration and Customs Enforcement operations. On Wednesday, Rep. […]