One on One with Ben Ray Luján After SF Health Care Tour

First-term U.S. Representative Ben Ray Luján, Jr. is staying busy on his trip home to the 3^rd congressional district this week. Today he toured several facilities in Santa Fe to discuss health care reform.

He tells us what he learned in this audio podcast.



Listen to the story about Corporal Charlie an 84 year, wheel-chair bound, vet (in Gallup) who had his purple heart stolen. Luján says Open Hands helped "Charlie" get a new electric chair and that the gift has lifted the old soldier’s spirit. Luján's office is helping to replace the corporal's award medal.

Luján say health care costs must be lowered. He also give us his predictions on what action congress will take this year on health care.

To learn more about the congressman's view on the national health care debate read his guest blog on Barbara Wold's Democracy For New Mexico here.

Luján, Jr. also told us about his upcoming credit card forum and workshop this Saturday (3-4pm) at the Rio Rancho Library. Luján, Jr. says he’ll be discussing the new credit card holder’s bill of rights enacted to provide more consumer protection.

Listen to his comments in this second audio podcast.

Photo Credit: MG Bralley

Virgin Galactic Rocket Motor Testing Successful

This morning, Virgin Galactic announced the successful completion of the first phase of tests of the rocket motor that will propel space tourists, scientists and payloads into space.

The company is selling trips to space, for around $200,000 and plans to launch flights from Spaceport America in Southern New Mexico beginning in 2010.

In the desert of southern California, Virgin Galactic's key supplier Scaled Composites and its subcontractor SNC (Sierra Nevada Corporation) have successfully completed the first tests of the innovative rocket motor that will propel space tourists, scientists and payloads into space. The hybrid Nitrous Oxide system being used is the largest of its kind in the world and it will send Virgin's customers up into sub-orbital space at speeds over 2500 mph (4000kmh), to heights over 65 miles (110km) above the Earth’s surface, before the spaceship descends back down through the atmosphere using its pioneering feathered re-entry system.

Sir Richard Branson, founder of Virgin Galactic said:

As Virgin Galactic gets ever closer to the start of commercial operations, we are reaching and passing many important and historic milestones. The Virgin MotherShip (VMS) Eve, the first of our amazing, all carbon composite, high altitude WhiteKnightTwo launch vehicles, is flying superbly. SpaceShipTwo, which will air launch from Eve, is largely constructed and awaiting the start of its own test flight programme later this year.

The rocket motor burns for a very short period of time because the spaceship is launched from VMS Eve in the upper atmosphere, rather than from ground level. This means much less fuel is required, and the fuel burn is more environmentally benign than the solid rockets used in most ground based systems.

While the rocket motor is extremely powerful, it is also completely controllable. This system can - if necessary - be shut down at any time, allowing the spaceship to glide back down to land at a conventional runway. This is a significant feature in the overall safety of the Virgin system for human space flight.

Sir Richard continued:

Less fuel and clean fuel all add up to a space launch system which will be completely unprecedented in its low environmental impact compared with current space flight. The spaceship’s carbon footprint for each of its passengers and crew will be about a quarter of that for a return trip from London to New York, demonstrating again the extraordinary benefits that new technology can bring to the quest for clean transportation.

Virgin Galactic's mission is to transform the safety, cost and environmental impact of access to space. Not just for passengers, but also for a range of important scientific purposes, and to send small satellites into orbit. The world’s scientific community is united in recognising that making better use of space will be vital to mankind’s ability to manage the huge future challenges of life back here on Earth.

The rocket motor will continue a series of exhaustive tests, and the spaceship itself will start flight testing later this year. The testing programme for the rocket, the spaceship and VMS Eve will be extensive.

Denish Gets Missing Person Work Group Update

In March, Lieutenant Governor Diane Denish proposed a new emergency alert system, similar to Amber Alerts, for missing adults and convened a task group to consider a system following the discovery of 11 missing women and a fetus on Albuquerque's West Mesa.

We reported on the task force's first meeting here.

Today, the Lt. Governor got the groups first recommendations and we just got this update from her office.

From a News Release

ALBUQUERQUE – Lieutenant Governor Diane Denish today hosted a meeting to hear reports and recommendations from the members of the missing person work group.

Representatives from law enforcement, the media, community advocates and elected officials attended the meeting. The gathering today was the second meeting of the missing person work group. At the end of March, Lieutenant Governor Denish organized the first meeting of the group to discuss effective means of finding missing people of all ages and backgrounds.

Lieutenant Governor Denish established three work groups earlier this year: the media and law enforcement group chaired by Mary Lynn Roper, General Manager of KOAT-TV; the data improvement work group chaired by Major Robert Shilling of the New Mexico Department of Public Safety; and the Community Outreach and Networking Group chaired by Lisa Simpson, Executive Director of Crossroads Transition Services for Women. Each work group has met and has developed recommendations.

“I am pleased that such a diverse group of people have been a part of this important discussion,” said Lieutenant Governor Denish. “We are all committed to developing a more comprehensive approach to finding missing people, despite the circumstances of their disappearance. Effective means of communication among law enforcement and the media is essential as is enhanced data sharing among law enforcement agencies. This will ensure the safety of our citizens and mobilize efforts to find missing people.”

A key recommendation from every work group was to implement a public education campaign. This campaign will be directed towards members of the public as well as members of law enforcement. The education campaign will ensure the public is aware of the process for reporting a missing person and tracking their case.

For example, a person does not have to be missing 24 or 48 hours before law enforcement considers them missing. There also exists a statewide number (1-800-HLP-FIND) that connects directly to a statewide missing person clearing house.

Enhanced and consistent training of law enforcement on reporting and tracking of missing people was recommended as well as increased efforts to ensure data sharing and effective communication among state and local law enforcement.

Compiling all of the associated and pertinent missing person statues into one comprehensive statue was recommended. “I look forward to working with Lt. Governor Denish to review all of the current state regulations on missing people to make sure that they are the most effective and to guarantee that these laws are adequately enforced,” stated State Senator Sander Rue, a member of the missing person work group.

“As a result of this meeting, there are a number of areas that we can begin work on right now, including no-cost and low-cost recommendations to various agencies and providers about proposed improvements” said Lieutenant Governor Denish.

Photo Credit: MG Bralley

Rep. Ben Ray Luján Jr. Hosts Health Care Reform Tour in Santa Fe Tomorrow.

Rep. Luján will be highlighting the need for health care reform and quality affordable health care for all Americans. We'll be watching what he says during his reform tour tomorrow.

News Release:

Santa Fe, NM - Tomorrow, Rep. Ben Ray Luján will hold a tour of community health service providers to highlight the need for health care reform that provides quality, affordable health care for all Americans. He will visit Open Hands, a health center dedicated to providing health services as well as loans for medical equipment for disabled and elderly individuals in low income homes. Following his visit to Open Hands, Rep. Luján will tour the Santa Fe Community Guidance Center, which provides primary care and behavioral health services.

"We must make sure that all Americans have access to quality, affordable health care," said Rep. Luján. "The cost of health care is spiraling out of control and even families with insurance are only a job loss or an injury away from losing their coverage. We need health care reform that changes the status quo and provides affordable, quality health care for all Americans."


If you go:

10:00 am Open Hands, 2976 Rodeo Park Dr E, Santa Fe, NM
11:00 am: Santa Fe Community Guidance Center, 820 Paseo De Peralta, Santa Fe, NM

Photo credit: MG Bralley

Heinrich and County VIPs Visiting Pajarito Mesa Today

Bernalillo County Commissioner Art De La Cruz, County Manager Thaddeus Lucero and Congress Martin Heinrich will be touring Pajarito Mesa today.

Pajarito Mesa overlooks Albuquerque's South Valley and is home to over 250 families who struggle for basic services such as water, electricity, roads, emergency services, and school bus transportation. See freelance photographer Toby Jorrin's slide show and commentary on the area here.

The group of VIP's will tour the area and discuss community issues like crime, formalizing roads, renewable energy, water problems, and the Census 2010.

A news release from Bernalillo County says the purpose of the site tour is for the elected leaders to visit the area along with residents to see and hear from them, first hand regarding some of the living conditions faced on a daily basis.

“While there are many facets to this issue, I consider this tour the beginning of a humanitarian effort reaching out to the Congressman to open up a public dialogue between residents and elected officials,” says Commissioner De La Cruz.

“This first step is critical to explore and discover ways to create opportunities to work together and the potential for identifying measures of support with our Congressman at the federal level of government.

Later this evening, Heinrich will participate in a Veterans Town Hall at New Mexico's Veteran's Memorial park from 530 to 730p.

Heinrich Will Meet With Auto Dealers Tuesday

ALBUQUERQUE, NM – In light of Chrysler’s announcement to shut down 789 dealerships nationwide as part of its reorganization in bankruptcy court, and the announcement by General Motors to shut down thousands of its dealers nationwide, U.S. Representative Martin Heinrich (NM-01) will host a local auto dealers roundtable this afternoon in Albuquerque.

770KKOB will be there and report what was discussed on this blog later in the evening.

Heinrich's press office says the congressman intends to gather concerns and discuss the impact of the shutdowns on local auto dealers in order to discuss those concerns with President Barack Obama’s Automotive Task Force.

Four car dealerships in New Mexico are on the list of dealers Chrysler has targeted to no longer sell their cars. Quality Jeep Chrysler Inc. in the First Congressional District is on the list of closures.

For Some Vets Everyday is Memorial Day

This 2004 Tom Aviles story won an Emmy. The opening shot of the birds flying took an entire day's worth for that one shot.

Please take a moment to watch the video.

Heinrich Honors New Mexican Vets; Condemns North Korea's Nuclear Weapons Test.

Duty, Honor & Country. New Mexicans Pay Tribute to Fallen Soldiers.

After a weekend of rain, sunshine filled the NM Veteran's Memorial Park just in time for Monday's Memorial Day ceremonies. Hundreds of people filled the grandstands. They saluted a giant American Flag (flying at half staff), bowed their heads during an invocation, and listened to dignitaries honor veterans and their families.

Lest we forget, a wall with thousands of New Mexican's names surrounds the entrance to the park. The bricks display the names of those individuals who heard the call to duty and are either still missing in action, tragically died in combat, or served in captivity, from WWI through the War on Terror.

Represenative Martin Heinrich, who serves on the House Armed Services Committee, was a featured speaker at this morning's event. Other VIP's attending included Lt. Governor Diane Denish, ABQ Mayor Martin J. Chavez, Bernalillo County Commissioner Michael Brasher, and City Councilor Dan Harris.

He tells us the first piece of legislation he introduced in Congress was for veterans.

It will help communications between the Department of Veterans Affairs, our State V.A. Directorships and returning veterans from Iraq and Afghanistan. We often lose track of those folks because we only keep track of their physical address which typically changes a lot when they return. One of things we’re trying to do is make sure they start keeping track of emails for all those returning veterans so we can make sure they get the services they’ve earned.

We caught up with him before the ceremony began and talked to him about North Korea's nuclear weapon test underground early Monday.

Heinrich told 770KKOB, that he's concerned North Korea is becoming increasingly isolated from the world community.

I think we need to work in concert with our allies to make sure that North Korea does not pose a threat to the United States or the stability of the entire pacific region.

Heinrich said the NM Veterans Memorial Park use to be in his city council district and that it has a close place in his heart.

In addition to honoring the fallen over the last year I just want to thank the people who show up here every single year. You see their faces again and again if you’ve been to the park. They come every spring. They don’t spend their memorial day at the reservoir or off on a three-day vacation. They come here to recognize and pay tribute to our fallen veterans.

Heinrich also told us he'll be hosting a veteran's town hall meeting on Wednesday at the park, near Kirtland A.F.B., from 5:30 to 7:30 pm.

Lieutenant Governor Diane Denish told the crowd, "Because of their [veterans] valor and their commitment, freedom is alive in the world today."

Memorial Day will be Observed Statewide with Numerous Ceremonies.

No matter where you live in New Mexico, there will be an event this weekend where you can go to observe Memorial Day--ranging from quaint small-town events to big parades.

Memorial Day is the day to honor and remember the men and women who’ve lost their lives while serving in the military. It falls on the last Monday in May and was first observed in 1865 to honor fallen Union soldiers of the Civil War, when it was known as “Decoration Day.”

It became commonly known as Memorial Day in 1882. But it took until 1967 before the U.S. Congress officially declared the day be known as Memorial Day.

To many Americans, it also signals the unofficial beginning of Summer, something which irritates many others like New Mexico Department of Veterans’ Services Cabinet Secretary John M. Garcia--who fear the true meaning of the day has now been lost.

“Memorial Day should be more than just the arrival of warm weather,” said Garcia. “I wish more people would also take time to remember to honor our fallen heroes who’ve paid the ultimate sacrifice. Freedom isn’t free. If it weren’t for them we wouldn’t be enjoying this three-day weekend and the freedoms we enjoy as Americans.”

Garcia will be serving as Grand Marshall at the “Fly Freedoms Flag” ceremony and parade this Saturday at Elephant Butte Lake State Park.

The presentation of flags begins at 10am, followed by a POW/MIA service. Secretary Garcia will then board the lead boat at noon for the parade, which will also feature the tossing of Memorial Wreaths into the water. Hundreds of boaters are expected to participate.

Listing of Memorial Day Activities Statewide:

Alamogordo (Monday)
10am ceremony at the Monte Vista cemetery.
1130am ceremony at the Catholic cemetery

Albuquerque (Monday)
10am Ceremony at Veterans’ Memorial Park. Theme is
“Honoring WWII Vets”
7pm Candlelight Vigil at Veterans’
Memorial Park

Angel Fire (Monday)
9am Ceremony
& Flag March to the Vietnam Memorial State Park

Carlsbad (Monday)
9am Parade & Ceremony at the Eddy County
Courthouse

Clovis (Monday)
10am Ceremony at Lawn
Haven Garden of Honor. “Fly-by” by Cannon AFB squad

Ft. Bayard (Monday)
10am Ceremony & Fly-over at the Ft. Bayard National
Cemetery

Ft. Stanton (Saturday)
11am Ceremony at
the Ft. Stanton National Cemetery

Gallup (Monday)
7am Sunrise Service at the Hillcrest
Cemetery
9am Ceremony & parade at the Hillcrest Cemetery. Parade
ends at Veterans’ Memorial Park

Hobbs (Monday)
9am Ceremony at the Prairie Haven
Cemetery

Las Cruces (Monday)
8am/4pm
Garrison Flag Raising/Lowering at Veterans’ Memorial
Park

Questa (Sunday)
1pm “Healing Field of Honor”
ceremony. Lt. Governor Denish and Treasurer James Lewis will attend

Weh Picks Journalist for Press Secretary

New Mexico businessman and Republican Allen Weh announced today that he has hired Christopher Sanchez as press secretary for his gubernatorial exploratory committee.

As a student, Sanchez served as the editor in chief of the New Mexico Daily Lobo, the independent newspaper at the University of New Mexico. Sanchez has written for several publications, including The Albuquerque Tribune, The Albuquerque Journal and The Denver Post. He is a recent graduate of the University of New Mexico where he served two years as president of the school’s Society of Professional Journalists and won a number of prizes for his journalistic work, including two Associated Press Managing Editors Awards.

“I am honored to work with Allen Weh as he explores a possible run for Governor in 2010,” Sanchez said. “New Mexicans will be voting for the candidate they feel will bring change to the Governor’s office. They will be looking for a leader who will put New Mexicans back to work without raising taxes, who will end corruption in state government, and who will stand up for our small businesses and our families. I believe that leader is Allen Weh.”

Sanchez said he looks forward to working with the committee and sharing Weh’s commitment to serving New Mexico.

“Christopher Sanchez will be a great asset to our team. He’s smart, he has great communication skills, and, as importantly, he shares my vision for making New Mexico a better place for the benefit of all the people,” Weh said.

Photo Credits: MG Bralley