January 18 – Protest planned on opening day
Tuesday marks the start of New Mexico’s 60-day legislative session, and the drama is already starting to take shape.
A group of activists known as Youth United for Climate Crisis Action, or YUCCA, plans to protest outside the Capitol at 9 a.m.
“YUCCA and its allies will lead a strategic direct action at the New Mexico State Capitol to draw attention to the climate crisis and the need for bold, meaningful action from lawmakers,” according to a press release.
What exactly a “strategic direct action” will look like remains to be seen.
YUCCA spokesperson Zoey Craft declined to elaborate, saying the group alone has “planned an action where we expect more than 200 students and other community members to join us outside the Roundhouse.”
Last year, members of the group and pro-Palestinian activists disrupted Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham’s State of the State address, shouting from the gallery and removing layers of clothing in three separate outbursts to reveal T-shirts with slogans such as “real climate action ‘. now” and “defending the sacred.”
Craft said a protest during the governor’s speech is not “currently” in the works.
Ronchetti for governor?
There is plenty of speculation about who will run for governor of New Mexico.
Interior Secretary Deb Haaland, U.S. Sen. Martin Heinrich and Bernalillo County District Attorney Sam Bregman are among Democrats reportedly considering a governorship.
Not many names of potential contenders have emerged on the Republican side.
But in a recent social media post, Krysty Ronchetti, wife of former TV weatherman Mark Ronchetti, who unsuccessfully ran for the job in 2022, did not rule out her husband giving it another shot.
“You never know,” she wrote.
Mark Ronchetti did not return a message seeking comment.
Secretary of State visits New Mexico
Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham, House Speaker Javier Martínez and Senate President Pro Tem Mimi Stewart were among the dignitaries who met with Juan Ramón de la Fuente Ramírez, Secretary of State under Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum Excuse me, in the Capitol.
Lujan Grisham discussed economic development between New Mexico and Mexico during her meeting with Fuente Ramirez.
“Mexico is our state’s largest trading partner and the expansion of the Santa Teresa Port of Entry in southern New Mexico is critical to our state’s economic growth and diversity,” said a post on the official Facebook account the governor. “Mutual communication, cooperation and respect will ensure continued employment, economic growth and success for years to come.”
Martínez, a Democrat from Albuquerque, delivered a similar message.
“I reiterated my strong commitment to building stronger partnerships between Mexico and New Mexico in the areas of binational trade, education and public safety,” he wrote on X, formerly Twitter.
Luján trips up Trump’s nominee for the Treasury Department
President-elect Donald Trump’s nominee for Treasury Secretary, Scott Bessent, stumbled during a confirmation hearing before the Senate Finance Committee, questioned by U.S. Senator Ben Ray Luján.
“Yes or No, Do You Recommend Cutting Medicaid?” Luján asked Bessent, a veteran investor and hedge fund manager.
‘I’m sorry. Did you say that? I didn’t hear if you said Medicaid or Medicare,” he replied, prompting Luján to repeat the question.
Bessent had difficulty giving a coherent answer.
“It is Congress’s job to manage the budget, and I am in favor of strengthening states, and I believe that will be an increase for some states, and a decrease for some states,” he responded.
Luján looked at Bessent blankly and then asked the question again, asking what advice he would give Trump.
“I will get back to you on this once I see the details of the full budget proposal once President Trump is in office and if it is confirmed,” he responded.
Heinrich praises the commitments of the candidate for Home Affairs
At a hearing to consider the nomination of Doug Burgum as Secretary of the Interior, another senator from New Mexico was present: Heinrich.
The state’s senior senator and ranking member of the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee noted the Interior Department’s “incredibly broad” range of responsibilities in his opening statement.
“Almost any job that involves responsibilities, ranging from elementary school teaching to health care to bison, is a pretty big job,” Heinrich told Burgum, the former governor of North Dakota.
After the hearing, Heinrich’s office issued a press release touting commitments Heinrich had received from Burgum “to seek critical input from local leaders and stakeholders, and consult with tribal leaders before the Department considers making changes to the designation of conservation on public lands in New Mexico and elsewhere around the world. country.”
“My experience as governor and working with tribes and working with local communities in North Dakota, whether it’s grazing associations, county commissioners, mayors, rural residents, I think the consultation is critical,” Burgum said.
“And part of that consultation is also the tribes that have both current and historical ties to those places, right?” Hendrik asked.
“Absolutely,” Burgum replied.
Follow Daniel J. Chacón on Twitter @danieljchacon.