Morning Word: Voters Support Campaign Finance Reform

F 

from the department of no duh, voters want lawmakers to hurry up and reform campaign finance reporting laws and strengthen ethics rules. Also, doctors call them 'donorcyclists' after injury accidents, but motorcyclists are preparing to fight a bill that would require them to wear helmets. Plus, George RR Martin is honored at the Roundhouse.

It's Thursday, February 5, 2015.

New Mexican voters overwhelmingly support campaign finance and ethic reforms, according to a new poll. See more at the Los Alamos Daily Post.  Motorcyclists in the Land of Enchantment are gearing up to battle legislation that would require them to wear a helmet.

Sen. Jerry Ortiz y Pino, D-Albuquerque, who is sponsoring the bill has a second bill that would allow riders to purchase a special $700 license plate in lieu of wearing a helmet. The money would be put into a special brain injury fund. See it on KOB 4.  Author and media mogul George RR Martin was honored at the state capitol on Wednesday and journalist Andy Lyman scored a video interview, asking Martin why he decided to show "The Interview" at the Jean Cocteau Cinema during Christmas. Watch it at New Mexico Political Report.  A Roswell man claims the lottery is cheating him out of a big $500,000 prize. But officials say John Wines’ ticket was a misprint. Read it online.  Boxing manager Teresa Tapia faces more turmoil. The wife of former Johnny Tapia is expected to ask a judge to issue a restraining order against his half brother Jerry Padilla. The two married shortly after Tapia died, but have since filed for divorce. Details at KOB 4.  Over 40 state agencies are last submitting their annual audits, including Albuquerque.

A proposed crude oil pipeline that would run 130 miles through five New Mexico counties is drawing criticism. 

Read it at the Farmington Daily Times.  Tucumcari has one of the most affordable housing markets in the country. It ranks first in New Mexico and 21st in the nation, according to SmartAsset.com . Read more at the Quay County Sun.  Colfax County officials are preparing to revise their regional water use plan. Read more at the Sangre de Christo Chronicle.  The Socorro Electric Cooperative Board is looking for a fresh start after nine years of contentious distrust among its members. Read more at the El Defensor Chieftain.  Scientists at Los Alamos National Laboratories want to develop a “bar code” system to help them identify and track antibodies. The project could save millions of research money. Read it at the Los Alamos Daily Post.  New Mexico health exchange officials won’t be getting $100 million to retool their website, and according to reporter Rosalie Rayburn leaders are “scratching their heads over how to pay for technological changes.” Read more at the ABQ Journal.  NM Rep. Michelle Lujan Grisham, D-New Mexico, supports appointing special prosecutors to investigate police shootings.

Read why she wants even more reform here.  New Mexico Sen. Tom Udall is joining several other senators to develop better pre-school programs. Read more here. NM Sen. Martin Heinrich, D-NM, wants to reduce the risk of catastrophic wildfires. He’s co-sponsoring a bill to make it easier for federal land managers and businesses work on long-term, large-scale forest treatment. Read more here.  The state's measles vaccination exemption rate has increased by 17 percent, mostly because parents fear it could lead to autism and for religious reasons.

Read more online. See exemptions by county here. 

Looks like 2014 was a good year for most agricultural crops in New Mexico. Production numbers were up with the exception of peanuts and winter wheat, which were impacted by the state’s ongoing drought. Read it at the Clovis News Journal.  Campaign against human trafficking often miss the mark on helping victims, according to advocates. Read Hunter Riley's essay at SFR.   A New Mexico advertising agency executive is taking a second look at this year’s Super Bowl commercials. Emily Griebel, vice president of Esparza Advertising, says the ads weren’t as “loud or obnoxious” as in past years. Read more at the Rio Rancho Observer.  Legislative Recap:

• Finance officials told lawmakers they’re revising new revenue estimates –
• Carlsbad Current-Argus. 
• Lt. Gov. John Sanchez says he’s prepared a tie vote on right-to-work legislation –
• ABQ Business First. 
• Sen. George Dodge Jr., D-Santa Rosa, wants to boost incentives for renewable energy producers –
• Santa Fe New Mexican
• . 
• Republicans and Democrats continue to tangle over that third grade student retention bill –
• ABQ Journal. 
• A bill that would strengthen animal cruelty laws was prompted by the death of the Rio Grande Zoo’s Tasmanian Devil –
• ABQ Journal.
•  

Have to say getting pulled on skies by a horse looks fun.

Watch skijoring at the Los Alamos Daily Post.

Santa Fe Reporter