Homeland Security rules could cost thousands of jobs

ALBUQUERQUE  - New Mexico could lose an estimated $146 million in federal funds if the Department of Homeland Security is able to implement rules it promulgated regarding government benefits, including nutrition and health care services. That lack of federal funds would translate to a loss to the state’s gross domestic product (GDP) of as much as $285 million, as well as 1,937 jobs, and $17 million in state tax revenue. That’s according to a policy brief co-released Nov. 25 by the Fiscal Policy Institute of New York and New Mexico Voices for Children.

The new rules would add several safety-net programs to the current list of...

When there’s data we can use the data, when there are opinions, let’s use mine.  That seems to sum up the gun debate to date. Are the following suggested causes of gun violence and suggested solutions opinions or facts? It’s due to mental illness, ban assault rifles, arm law abiding citizens, arm school teachers, temporarily remove guns from violent domestic partners, ban large ammunition magazines, owners need to secure their weapons, go to “gun school,” etc.

The simple fact is we really don’t know exactly what combination of actions will work to prevent gun violence. While the mass killings get the headlines, most gun homicides occur when one, two or three people are...

Recently, the McKinley County Democrats hosted the Democratic candidates for Congress at a congenial Town Hall in Gallup. Seven of the nine candidates were available to answer questions. An estimated 100 people attended.

The candidates in attendance were Teresa Leger Fernandez, a Santa Fe attorney whose work is assisting tribes and pueblos securing infrastructure improvements, Marco Serna, the Santa Fe District Attorney, Kyle Tisdel, a public interest environmental attorney, Valerie Plame, a former CIA Operations Officer who was outed by the Bush II administration, Laura Montoya, Sandoval County Treasurer, Joseph Sanchez, a State Representative and an electrical engineer working at Los...

There is a tremendous effort put forth by water systems all over the country to provide safe and clean water to their customers. Of course upsets and mistakes do happen. Flint, Michigan is a horrendous example of how not to do it. But individual families can provide a firewall at their kitchen sinks to stop any contaminants that might get that far. The solution is a simple triple filter available from plumbers and hardware stores. This filter gets rid of 95% of everything in the water. The first filter is a particle filter that removes any particles that are still in the water. The second filter is an activated carbon filter that removes items that can cause taste or odor issues and the...