Roswell Daily Record THE VOICE OF THE PECOS VALLEY
Vol. 123, No. 25 75¢ Daily / $1.25 Sunday
January 29, 2014
www.rdrnews.com
WEDNESDAY
Obama vows to flex presidential powers in speech
WASHINGTON (AP) — Seeking to energize his sluggish second term, President Barack Obama vowed Tuesday night in his State of the Union address to sidestep Congress “whenever and wherever” necessary to narrow economic disparities between America’s rich and poor. He unveiled an array of modest executive actions to increase the minimum wage for federal contract workers and make it easier for millions of low-income people to save for retire-
Frozen
ment. “America does not stand still and neither do I,” Obama declared in his prime-time address before a joint session of Congress and millions of Americans watching on television. Draped in presidential grandeur, Obama’s hour long address served as the opening salvo in a midterm election fight for control of Congress that will quickly consume Washington’s attention. Democrats, seeking to cast Republicans as uncaring about the middle
class, have urged Obama to focus on economic mobility and the gap between the wealthy and poor. His emphasis on executive actions was greeted with shouts of “Do it!” from many members of his party. Declaring 2104 a “year of action,” Obama also sought to convince an increasingly skeptical public that he still wields power in Washington even if he can’t crack through the divisions in Congress. Burned by a series of legislative failures
in 2013, White House aides say they’re now redefining success not by what Obama can jam through Congress but by what actions he can take on his own. Indeed, Obama’s proposals for action by lawmakers were slim and largely focused on old ideas that have gained little traction over the past year. He pressed Congress to revive a stalled immigration overhaul, pass an across-theboard increase in the federal minimum wage and
expand access to early childhood education — all ideas that gained little traction after he proposed them last year. The president’s one new legislation proposal calls for expanding an income tax credit for workers without children. Republicans, who saw their own approval ratings fall further in 2013, have also picked up the refrain of income inequality in recent months, though they have cast the widening gap between rich and poor as a symptom of Obama’s eco-
Blades of grass are encased in ice created by lawn sprinklers on a cold Tuesday morning.
“Republicans have plans to close the gap, plans that focus on jobs first without more spending, government bailouts and red tape,” said Rep. Cathy McMorris Rodgers, R-Wash., in the Republicans’ televised response to the president’s speech. “We hope the president will join us in a year of real action, by empowering people, not making their lives harder with unprecedented spending, higher taxes, and fewer jobs.”
County may see the return of PILT funds JILL MCLAUGHLIN RECORD STAFF WRITER
Mark Wilson Photo
nomic policies.
Chaves County may see a return of some $2.8 million in funding that it receives each year from the federal government to offset losses in property taxes for federal lands within its borders. The Payment in Lieu of Taxes (PILT) funding was included in a massive, 1,000-page farm bill that includes money for crop insurance, higher rice and peanut subsidies for Southern farmers and the renewal of PILT payments for Western states. The House of Representatives is expected to consider the legislation today. Passage of the $100 billiona-year spending bill, that would still need support in the Senate, isn’t certain. Sen. Tom Udall, D-NM, announced the news about the possible PILT payment renewal Tuesday morning.
“A number of counties in New Mexico have been very concerned, and for good reason,” Udall said. “I’m happy to announce the farm bill will fund PILT for one more year. … I know that will be a relief to counties across New Mexico.” New Mexico received $34 million through PILT last year. Udall said the news was “really good” for families with school children and all rural residents who need emergency services and road improvements. Chaves County Commissioner James Duffey said though the bill was subject to change, it likely would not. “It’s very good news,” Duffey said. “They got it fully funded. That is good news for Western states, including Chaves County.” Without the money, the county faced a 1/12th See PILT, Page A3
Wooley to introduce bill Locals consider federal prairie chicken deal to cut aviation sales tax JILL MCLAUGHLIN RECORD STAFF WRITER
State Rep. Bob Wooley, R-Dist. 66, will introduce a bill today in the state Legislature that, if passed this session, would cut sales tax on commercial and military aircraft sales and services. The move could deliver an economic boost for Roswell and Chaves County, Wooley said. The tax break for two aviation companies operating at Roswell International Air Center — AerSale and Stewart Industries — would allow them to bring in additional aircraft for maintenance and hire workers. “Both companies are on the verge of bringing in hundreds of planes to Roswell for maintenance
and many more to store,” Wooley said. “We’re looking at an additional 200 to 300 jobs out there.” The companies now pay a 7 percent gross receipts tax on the sale of commercial and military aircraft. They also pay the tax on any maintenance, refurbishing, remodeling or other works on the planes. AerSale is a supplier of after market aircraft, engines, contracts for maintenance checks and provides other services for large aircraft. Stewart Industries is a Federal Aviation Administration repair station that services aircraft operations and helps them recover aging fleets. Services include storage, mainteSee BILL, Page A3
JILL MCLAUGHLIN RECORD STAFF WRITER
Local officials and the oil industry are cautious about a new deal offered recently by the federal gover nment that asks landowners to implement conservation measures to protect the lesser prairie chicken. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife has offered up an opportunity for landowners to take steps to conserve and preserve habitat. Basically, if they don’t get caught with a dead prairie chicken on their land, they won’t be fined or prosecuted. “As long as they continue to implement the … conservation plan then they have nothing to fear from the Endangered
Winter storm causes wrecks, gridlock in the South AP Photo
A rare Southern winter storm dropped more than 3 inches of snow in some areas of north Georgia, while 2.3 inches were recorded at Hartsfield Jackson International Airport after hours of snowfall Tuesday afternoon and evening, said National Weather Service meteorologist Ryan Willis. Left, traffic creeps along Interstate 55 in north Jackson, Miss., Tuesday, as ice and snow flurries cause difficult driving conditions.
HIGH 57 LOW 29
TODAY’S FORECAST
• GENE A. WARREN • JULIE ANN HAWS • FILIBERTO QUEZADA • LUPE SOENS
Species Act or the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service,” Dan Ashe, the wildlife service’s director, told The Associated Press. The wildlife service is expected to announce whether the bird will be listed as a federally protected threatened species by March 30. Landowners in lesser prairie chicken habitat will be asked, for instance, to agree to take steps to keep grasses long enough to hide nests, clear brush and build ramps in cattle water troughs to ensure birds don’t drown. Chaves County Commissioner James Duffey said he thought landowners need to carefully consider the agreement before signing it.
AP Photo
This March 2007 file photo provided by the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department shows a male lesser prairie chicken in a mating stature in the Texas panhandle.
“I think every person that’s involved will have to look at the agreement and see if it’s good or bad for their personal situation.”
The county commission has actively engaged in
discussions with the wildlife service about the lesser prairie chicken issue in the past few months. Commissioners See DEAL, Page A3
Insurance enrollment assistance available
Assistance with applications for Centennial Care, formerly known as Medicaid, will be available 1-4 p.m. today at the Roswell J.O.Y Center, 1822 N. Montana Ave. Assistance will also be available at 9-3 p.m. Thursday at the Hagerman J.O.Y. Center, 505 Argyle St., and 2-5 p.m. Friday at the Carlsbad Public Library, 101 W. Halagueno St. Assistance is available in English and Spanish.
Eligibility
To be eligible for assistance, you must be a resi-
dent of New Mexico. Registration takes one to two hours.
Please bring: • Proof of identification
(photo ID) • Proof of address (utility bill, rental agreement, driver's license, etc) • Proof of citizenship or legal residence (birth certificate, passport, social security number, certificate of Indian blood or permanent resident card) • Proof of income (last 2 current paystubs if paid biweekly, last four paystubs if paid weekly, last paystub
TODAY’S OBITUARIES PAGE A2, A6 • DELORES JEAN DAY • VIRGINIA “KITTY” MAE • MARJORIE HELEN ADAMS MAXWELL BENTLEY • BILL KISTINGER • EDWYL “EDIE” OWEN • THEREA O’SHEA
if paid monthly) • If self-employed, please bring current tax returns • If applying for Medicaid as secondary insurance, please bring health insurance card.
Asistencia sobre inscripción de seguro medico
Ayuda con las solicitudes para Centennial Care (Medicaid) estará disponible hoy de 1 a 4 de la tarde hoy en el Roswell J.O.Y. Center, 1822 N. Montana Ave. See ASSISTANCE, Page A3
INDEX CLASSIFIEDS ..........B6 LOTTERIES .............A2 COMICS .................B5 OPINION .................A4 FINANCIAL ..............B3 SPORTS .................B1 HOROSCOPES .........B3 WEATHER ..............A8