Roswell Daily Record
Vol. 123, No. 24 75¢ Daily / $1.25 Sunday
THE VOICE OF THE PECOS VALLEY
January 28, 2014
Obama address to focus on what’s achievable
WASHINGTON (AP) — No longer about bold ambitions, this year’s State of the Union address will focus more on what’s actually achievable. For the White House, that dose of realism is aimed at avoiding a repeat of 2013, when a long list of unfulfilled policy goals — including gun control and an immigration overhaul — dragged President Barack Obama down like an anchor. Tuesday’s primetime address will focus
instead on redefining success for Obama — not by what he can jam through Congress but rather by what he can accomplish through his own presidential powers.
He is expected to announce executive actions on job training, retirement security and help for the long-term unemployed in finding work. All are part of the White House focus this year on boosting economic mobility and narrowing the income gap between the
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wealthy and the poor.
enough, a worker could convert the account into a traditional IRA, according to two people who have discussed the proposal with the administration. Those people weren’t authorized to discuss it ahead of the announcement and insisted on anonymity.
Another action Obama is expected to announce is the creation of a new retirement savings plan geared toward workers whose employers don’t currently offer such plans. Because commercial retirement accounts often have fees or high minimum deposits that are onerous for lowwage workers, this program would allow first-time savers to start building up savings in Treasury bonds. Once the savings grew large
“Tomorrow night, it’s time to restore opportunity for all,” Obama said Monday on the video-sharing site Vine, part of the White House’s broad social media promotion of the speech.
Stocks fall on emerging-market fears AP Photo
Trader John Santiago works on the floor of the New York Stock Exchange Monday.
NEW YORK (AP) — Shaky economies and plunging currencies in the developing world fueled a worldwide sell-off as fearful investors pushed prices lower across Asia and Europe. In the U.S. and other
rich countries with healthier economies, investors also retreated, although the selling was more modest. Major indexes in both Hong Kong and Tokyo fell more than 2 percent. The selling then spread to
Europe and the U.S., as stocks slipped across the board, but the declines were much less than on Friday, when the American market ended its worst week since 2012. Jack Ablin, chief investment officer at BMO Pri-
vate Bank, said he wasn’t surprised that the U.S. losses were limited.
“We have an accelerating economy, low inflation and accommodative monetary policy,” he said. “The world isn’t falling apart.”
Tuesday
“I think the way we have to think about this year is we have a divided government,” White House senior adviser Dan Pfeiffer said. “The Republican Congress is not going to rubber stamp the president’s agenda. The president is not going to sign the Republican Congress’ agenda.”
dent his largest audience of the year. It also provides perhaps his best opportunity to try to persuade skeptical Americans that he still wields substantial power in Washington, even if he can’t break through a divided Congress.
The address, delivered before a joint session of Congress and millions of Americans watching on television and the Internet, typically garners a presi-
The risk for Obama in centering his agenda on his own executive actions is that those directives often are more limited in scope than legislation that requires congressional approval.
ALBUQUERQUE (AP) — The U.S. Supreme Court ruled Monday that Texas can proceed with its lawsuit against New Mexico over management of the Rio Grande. Texas contends that groundwater pumping near the Texas-New Mexico border has resulted in Texas far mers and residents being deprived of Rio Grande water. New Mexico argues that downstream users are getting what’s required under a compact between the states and that the Supreme Court should have let lower courts consider the dispute. New Mexico Attor ney General Gary King said Monday he was not surprised by the court’s ruling. “I am confident that the court takes such state-tostate disputes very seriously, and we look forward to being able to tell New Mexico’s side of the story and to have our day in court,” King said. The Supreme Court gave New Mexico 60 days to file a motion seeking the case’s dismissal. Texas would then have an opportunity to respond. The Texas Commission
on Environmental Quality first asked the Supreme Court to weigh in more than a year ago, alleging that New Mexico was violating the 1938 Rio Grande Compact that governs how water is shared by Texas, New Mexico and Colorado. King argued that a 2008 agreement between the federal government and two irrigation districts, one in Texas and the other in New Mexico, unfavorably changed the allocation of water for his state. Of ficials with the Elephant Butte Irrigation District, which serves farmers in southern New Mexico, said the agreement was aimed at heading off a legal battle between the two states that could ultimately har m Dona Ana County farmers by cutting off their right to use groundwater. Nearly all of New Mexico has been mired in drought for the past several years, leaving stretches of the Rio Grande dry at times and reservoirs along the river at record-low levels. Without any promise for moisture this winter, farmers are still making hard choices about whether to grow staple crops such as chile, onions and pecans.
Texas to proceed with NM lawsuit
Public invited to mill United Way exceeds 2013 campaign goal levy forums this week
The public is invited to two forums this week held by Easter n New Mexico University-Roswell to discuss the mill levy election. The first forum will be held from noon to 1 p.m. today at ENMU-R’s Administration Center, 52 University Blvd., in Board Room 135. The second will be from 6 to 7 p.m. in the Bondurant Room at the Roswell Public Library, 301 N. Pennsylvania Ave. John Madden, ENMU-R president, will discuss the
mill levy question proposed on the special election ballot and respond to questions from the public.
Voters will decide whether to approve a threemill levy for continued operations, maintenance and capital improvements at the college. The tax would be indefinite. Early voting is now under way at the county complex, 1 St. Mary’s Place, or at the college campus. Election day is Feb. 4.
JILL MCLAUGHLIN RECORD STAFF WRITER
The United Way of Chaves County exceeded its 2013 campaign goal by raising $526,038, the organization reported at its luncheon Monday. “I’m proud to be part of this community. Not only does it step up for the United Way, as it has now, but every time I’ve done anything for this community … every time I come up to you, you are always willing to help in some way,” said campaign co-
chair Barbara Gomez. “So thank you Roswell for everything that you do.” The 2013 campaign ran from Aug. 15 to Nov. 15, but donations were accepted after the campaign ended. Last year, the campaign raised $522,547. This year, the organization’s goal was to raise $525,000. During the year, the organization allocated $365,524 to 22 agencies. Some agencies that received funding included the American Red Cross, Assurance Home, Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts, Boys
& Girls Club of Roswell, Chaves County CASA, Esperanza House and the Roswell Literacy Council. Agencies must spend two years as United Way affiliates before applying for membership. Once an organization has achieved membership, it is eligible for United Way donations not earmarked for specific organizations. Executive Director Sherry Mumford said roughly 80 percent of United Way funds are undesignated. The 2013 campaign was supported by nine organizations that donated
money to help cover the cost to run it. Those included Armstrong Energy Corp., Century Link, Eastern New Mexico Medical Center, Eastern New Mexico University-Roswell, KOBR, Lovelace Regional Hospital-Roswell, The Toles Company, Ritter & Company and Xcel Energy.
Outgoing President Clarissa Gonzales-Adams said she has learned so much about the community and the amazing people who volunteer and serve. See UNITED WAY, Page A3
Alto Democrat Mastin announces bid for House seat against Espinoza JILL MCLAUGHLIN RECORD STAFF WRITER
Lincoln County Democrat Dick Mastin announced Monday that he will run for the state House seat held by incumbent state Rep. Nora Espinoza, R-Dist. 59. Espinoza is running for her fifth term. During the last election, she ran unopposed. “The people of New Mexico need a choice,” Mastin said.
“I am disappointed with the current Dist. 59 representative … she doesn’t appreciate New Mexico heritage enough, value education enough, or have the right priorities and training for her elected position,” Mastin said. Mastin has not run for political office previously, but said he takes his responsibility as an American citizen “very seriously.” His top priorities are integrity and honesty, fis-
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TODAY’S FORECAST
cal responsibility, education and jobs. If elected, Mastin said he would love to serve on the financial and education committees. “Education has always been very important to me,” Mastin said. “I’ve enjoyed obtaining an education. I understand what’s involved in a quality education and I would very much like to help improve the quality of education in New Mexico. What we’ve been doing
hasn’t worked. We need new eyes on it and a new commitment.” Mastin said school is sometimes the first place where less-fortunate children have a chance for equal opportunity. “Without a good start in school, these kids could end up already behind in life when they start their adult lives,” he said. Schools and teachers need more of our help and support because they prepare children for responsi-
TODAY’S OBITUARIES PAGE A3, A6 • ELIZABETH MARTINEZ • MABEL BUTTS • MARJORIE HELEN ADAMS BENTLEY • EDWYL “EDIE” OWEN • DELORIS JEAN DAY • CHRISTINE T. MOORHEAD
ble adulthood, he said. He thinks early education for all and more school days could be considered ways to improve state education. Mastin said he also has always been a financially aware person and careful with money. Conservative fiscal responsibility has been second-nature to Mastin throughout his life, he said. He has spent years
See MASTIN, Page A3
CLASSIFIEDS ..........B6 COMICS .................B5 ENTERTAINMENT .....A8 FINANCIAL ..............B4
INDEX GENERAL ...............A2
HOROSCOPES .........A8 LOTTERIES .............A2
Mastin
OPINION .................A4
SPORTS .................B1
WEATHER ..............A8