Roswell Daily Record
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12/7/10
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Vol. 119, No. 292 50¢ Daily / $1 Sunday
INSIDE NEWS
CLIMATE TALKS TO GET TOUGH CANCUN, Mexico (AP) — U.N. climate talks moved into their decisive week Monday with the agenda dominated by future cuts in carbon emissions and keeping countries honest about their actions to control global warming.
THE VOICE OF THE PECOS VALLEY
December 7, 2010
Obama, GOP reach deal on tax cuts
WASHINGTON (AP) — Brushing past Democratic opposition, President Barack Obama announced agreement with Republicans Monday night on a plan to extend expiring income tax cuts for all Americans, renew jobless benefits for the long-term unemployed and grant a one-year reduction in Social Security taxes. The emerging agreement also includes tax breaks for businesses that the president said would contribute to the economy’s recovery from the worst recession in eight decades.
TUESDAY
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Obama’s announcement marked a dramatic reversal of his long-held insistence, originally laid out in his 2008 campaign, that tax cuts should only be extended at incomes up to $200,000 for individuals and $250,000 for couples. He explained his aboutface by saying that he still opposed the move and noted the agreement called for a temporary, two-year extension of cuts at all income levels, not the permanent renewal that Republicans have long sought. At the same time, it sig-
naled the arrival of a new era of divided government following midter m elections in which Republicans won control of the House and strengthened their hand in the Senate. “We cannot allow this moment to pass,” Obama said. Officials said that under the plan, unemployment benefits would remain in effect through the end of next year for workers who have been laid off for more than 26 weeks and less than 99 weeks. Without an extension, two million individuals would have
lost their benefits over the holidays, the White House said, and seven million would have done so by the end of next year. The Social Security tax cut would apply to workers, not employers, and would drop from 6.2 percent of pay to 4.2 percent for one year. The White House said the result would be to fatten takehome pay by $120 billion over the course of the year. In addition, administration officials emphasized that the agreement would extend a variety of other tax breaks for lower and
Regulators OK emissions cap
- PAGE B5
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From left, James Duffey is slated to take Michael Trujillo’s seat on the County Commission. Officials met Monday to recanvass the general election.
Commission signs off on recount BRONCOS FIRE MCDANIELS ENGLEWOOD, Colo. (AP) — The Denver Broncos have fired coach Josh McDaniels, whose nearly two-year stint was marred by the Spygate II videotape scandal, a series of personnel blunders and the franchis... - PAGE B1
TODAY’S • Virginia C. Glass • Jeffrey Walter Wilson - PAGE A7
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Chaves County commissioners met Monday to recanvass the general election results. Officials unanimously approved the District 1 results that needed to be recanvassed after a recount revealed that the original numbers were off by one vote. “It’s just another part of the process,” said James Duffey, the Republican candidate for the position who defeated Democrat Eloy Ortega by a single ballot. “You don’t ever know on this deal,” he said. The recanvass came after Ortega petitioned District Court to recount the election results. The recount concluded last week without changing the outcome. County Clerk Rhoda Coakley said Ortega
middle-income families, including the Ear ned Income Tax Credit and the child tax credit. The estate tax provision under discussion would mean the first $5 million would pass tax-free to heirs. Anything over that would be taxed at a rate of 35 percent. Democrats favored a $3.5 million threshold, with a 45 percent tax on anything higher. In a sign of Democratic discontent, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-
has until the end of Thursday to file a petition with the court to contest the race. Democratic Commissioner Michael Trujillo, who is slated to be replaced by Duffey due to term limits, told reporters he didn’t know if Ortega and fellow Democrats planned to contest the race. “I think it was a good process,” he said, referring to the recount. “Overall, it was ironed out.” Trujillo congratulated Duffey following the recanvass. “He’s a good guy,” he said. The total votes are 1,004 for Duffey and 1,003 for Ortega. Prior to the recanvass, Duffey had 1,005 votes.
See TAXES, Page A3
ALBUQUERQUE (AP) — New Mexico regulators on Monday approved an environmental group’s proposal for capping greenhouse gas emissions, marking the state’s second major attempt in just over a month to get a handle on the pollutants blamed for causing global warming. The Environmental Improvement Board voted 4-1 in favor of the petition by New Energy Economy, which calls for large polluters such as coal-fired power plants and refineries to reduce their greenhouse gas emissions by 3 percent per year from 2010 levels. The board amended the proposal to make the new regulations effective in 2013. Mariel Nanasi, a senior policy adviser for New Energy Economy, said she was elated with the decision. The effort to get the petition adopted has been a two-year process. “We believe this policy, combined with our solar and wind resources, puts New Mexico on course to compete in the clean energy economy,” she said. “It will be a job creator, and it will trigger enor mous investments that will help us transition to clean jobs.” The petition was the focus earlier this year of days of public hearings and expert testimony. The board had thousands of pages of documentation to review before making a final decision. Monday’s deliberations took about three hours. Supporters have argued that New Energy Economy’s plan allows New Mexico to move forward with controlling emissions since the proposal isn’t dependent on regional partners, like the state’s recently approved cap-and-trade program. Critics fear both the NEE plan and the cap-and-trade program will put New Mexico at a competitive disadvantage and that regulation of greenhouse gas emissions should be left to the federal government to avoid a patchwork of policies across the country. Like the state’s program, New Energy Economy’s petition applies to electricity generators and other facilities that emit at least 25,000 metric tons of carbon dioxide emissions per year.
Restaurateur Wilson dies Community Band hosts
A local business al restaurants, including Farley’s owner and founder Food, Fun and Pub of multiple Cattle and T ia Juana’s Baron Restaurants Mexican Grill and died Sunday at the Cantina. He later age of 57. bought the T innie Jef frey Wilson, Silver Dollar Restaufounder and CEO of rant in T innie and Cattle Baron Restauthe Snazzy Pig BBQ rants Inc., died at and Pasta Cafe of Roswell Regional Roswell. Hospital, according Wilson supported to a news release Jeffrey Wilson the Assurance from the company. Home, the Roswell Wilson founded the company in Portales in Refuge for Battered Adults, and 1976. Currently there are eight the FFA and 4-H in Roosevelt Cattle Baron Restaurants oper- and Chaves counties, according ating throughout New Mexico to the release. In addition, he owned two ranches located in and Texas. He also founded five addition- New Mexico and Texas.
See EMMISSIONS, Page A3
annual Winter Concert JESSICA PALMER RECORD STAFF WRITER
The Roswell Community Band performed its annual Winter Concert under the direction of Maj. Kenneth Tuttle at Eastern New Mexico University-Roswell’s Perfor ming Arts Center, Monday night. Roswell Community Band is in its sixth year, and Tuttle, musical director at New Mexico Military Institute, is the group’s third director. Speaking of the group, Tuttle
said, “It’s been an absolute pleasure to work with this group every Monday, the only problem was trying to get my wife, Betty, to record the football game.” Many band members were decked out in Christmas regalia, and some, in the spirit of the season, wore Santa’s traditional cap. The concert was free and latecomers were made welcome. The musical festivities began with the “Star-Spangled Banner.” Tuttle introduced each piece. He See CONCERT, Page A3
Groups working to repurpose old rehab center JESSICA PALMER RECORD STAFF WRITER
A project which will go a long way to help critical housing needs in Roswell is nearing completion. The project is a cooperative effort between Local Collaborative 5, Regional Housing Authority and Eastern New Mexico University, which is donating
the old rehabilitation center. The building will be broken down into apartments and a community center. Among the services being discussed are a community health center, a satellite office for Counselling Associates, a veteran’s trauma center and housing for both veterans and members of the New
Mexico National guard who have been displaced. “We have a unique opportunity to provide both housing and community services to an area of town that needs services, which may not come along again,” said Chris Herbert, executive director of Roswell Region VI Housing Authority. “If we could have a com-
munity health center within walking distance of the base, it would be a great benefit to the community,” Herbert said. The transfer between state and federal organization should be smooth, said Herbert. “The state representatives are behind this. The issue right now is short term. We have to have a way to offset the
cost of utilities.” The opportunity presents unique challenges, explained Herbert. “Usually, an organization will get funds and then find a building. In this case the building came first. If we cannot find a way to afford (utilities), we will have another government buildSee CENTER, Page A3