News

Impeach George Bush and Dick Cheney to prevent Wider War in the Middle East and Bring U.S. Forces Home from Iraq with Professor Francis Boyle
a radio show transcript

Gary King: "We Are All Constituents"
by Stephen Fox

The Hunting Fallacy
by Cyril Christo

Impeachment Limerick
Richard Arthure

What is a Culture of Peace?
by Louise Diamond

“Powerbrokers” (Legislative Leadership and Lobbyists) in Control of Conference Committee
by Stephen Fox

NM Senate Joint Memorial to Begin Process of Prohibiting Production of New Nuclear Weapons in New Mexico
by Leland Lehrman

Newly Elected Las Cruces Representative Jeff Steinborn Introduces Irrigation Fund Bill
by Stephen Fox

Native American Education Act Vital to New Senator Lynda Lovejoy
by Stephen Fox

Legislature is a “Brain Trust” to Accomplish All We Need in New Mexico
by Stephen Fox

Newly Elected Las Cruces Representative Jeff Steinborn Introduces Irrigation Fund Bill
by Stephen Fox

Rep. Jeff Steinborn is a new Representative, a Democrat from Las Cruces. As former water and agriculture assistant to U.S. Senator Jeff Bingaman, water issues are dear to his heart. His HB 364 would basically pump up irrigation and construction monies available to farmers in New Mexico, through a fund administered by the Interstate Stream Commission. His goal is to move forward research and technology to conserve water through pilot projects all over the state (new technology, because drip irrigation is not suitable for all conditions).
“This bill creates a trust fund of $10 million, the interest of which could be used for projects. There is a similar fund which is almost depleted. We need to make a huge commitment to these problems to determine how we can do more with spending the same amount, if not less. New technologies could be researched at NMSU and at UNM, and the best minds could be put to good use, to study different crops like vineyards.”
As Bingaman’s advisor on water issues, hydrological physics and demographics are very important to Steinborn, as they relate to larger issues like ecological challenges, the needs of the Environment, the drought cycle and global warming.
“This bill is an original idea from me, which I have discussed with the State Engineer, the Farm Bureaus, and the Soil and Water Conservation Districts. It was signed by signficant legislators with keen interests in these concerns, like Kiki Saavedra, Don Tripp, Joseph Cervantes, Ray Begaye, and Agriculture Chairman, Andy Nunez.”
“Small farmers using flood irrigation depend on the snow pack and are not using the most efficient technology. With more efficient delivery, we could use less pesticides. I can’t think of any better solution for New Mexico’s largest problems.”
Steinborn has a very ambitious and complex legislative agenda for a newly elected legislator, which we commend. His bills are posted under his name at the New Mexico Legislature website.