Commentary: Yesterday the New Mexico Legislative Council filed a Complaint for Declaratory and Injunctive Relief with the First Judicial District Court in an effort to halt the transfer of ownership of the Mesilla Valley Bosque State Park from the Energy, Minerals, & Natural Resources Department (State Parks Division) to the Department of Game and Fish. The claim states that the Defendants acted in excess of their authority and violated the separation of powers doctrine established by Article III, Section 1 of the New Mexico Constitution.

Commentary: New Mexican business owners, Native American Tribes, Latino organizations, sportsmen, veterans, elected officials, and other community members today welcomed the House introduction of the ANTIQUITIES ACT of 2018, sponsored by Congresswoman Michelle Lujan Grisham and Congressman Ben Ray Luján along with 55 co-sponsors. Senators Tom Udall and Martin Heinrich introduced a Senate version of the bill in January 2018.

The legislation came in response to President Trump’s significant reductions to Utah’s Bears Ears and Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monuments. The ANTIQUITIES ACT of 2018 enhances the protections to national monuments that were designated by the Antiquities Act between 1996 and 2017 – the timeframe of the Trump administration’s “review.” In New Mexico, this includes Organ Mountains-Desert Peaks, Río Grande del Norte, and Kasha-Katuwe Tent Rocks National Monuments. 

Commentary:  Business leaders from across New Mexico are applauding Congresswoman Michelle Lujan Grisham (NM-01) today for introducing the America’s Natural Treasures of Immeasurable Quality Unite, Inspires, and the Together Improve the Economies of States Act (ANTIQUITIES Act) of 2018 into the House of Representatives.  This bill mirrors legislation introduced in January by Senator Tom Udall and co-sponsored by Senator Martin Heinrich.

Congresswoman Grisham’s bill is a response to the aggressive removal this past January by President Trump of more than 2 million acres of public lands from Bears Ears and Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monuments in Utah, despite strong opposition from Tribal entities, local governments, business leaders, sportsmen and women, veterans, conservationists, and others.

Commentary: Thirty-eight years ago I applied for permanent residency at the Canadian border.  At that time I was told that I could either become a nurse or get married.  I laughed it off replying I already have a job (not in the medical field) and plans were in place for marriage.  I did get my green card.  Prior to that when I traveled through the United States by air my passport would be held until I boarded the plane to take me out of the country. 

Commentary: The U.S.-Mexico border seems to constantly be in the press. Nearly every day, I get a call from a reporter or outside party asking my opinion on trade and the U.S. tariffs being imposed on other countries, and how this is affecting our economic development progress. I am also constantly asked about border security, President Trump’s proposed border wall, and how each topic affects our daily lives and businesses.