Roswell Daily Record THE VOICE OF THE PECOS VALLEY
GOP moves to delay showdown
Vol. 122, No. 20 75¢ Daily / $1.25 Sunday
INSIDE NEWS
WASHINGTON (AP) — Joe Biden in 2016? The inauguration is barely over but the vice president already is dropping plenty of hints that he might have another political act. Biden packed his schedule with events and receptions attended by party stalwarts throughout the long weekend of inauguration ... - PAGE A8
WEDNESDAY
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WASHINGTON (AP) — Seeking to regain their budget footing versus President Barack Obama, Republicans controlling the House are moving quickly to try to defuse a potential debt crisis with legislation to prevent a first-ever U.S. default for at least three months.
BIDEN IN 2016?
January 23, 2013
The Republicans are giving up for now on trying to extract spending cuts from Democrats in return for an increase in the gover nment’s borrowing cap. But
the respite promises to be only temporary, with the stage still set for major battles between the GOP and Obama over taxes, spending and deficits.
The first step comes today with a House vote on GOP-sponsored legislation that would give the government enough borrowing leeway to meet three months’ worth of obligations, delaying a showdown next month that Republicans fear they would lose. Republicans leaving a
two-hour meeting Tuesday afternoon appeared confident that the measure would pass.
While it’s commonly assumed that the Treasury Department wouldn’t allow a disastrous default on U.S. Treasury notes, the prospect of failing to meet other U.S. obligations such as payments to contractors, unemployment benefits and Social Security checks would also be reputation See GOP, Page A3
‘ ... 9, 10. Ready or not, here I come!’
Spaceflight liability bill in the offing AP Photo
House Speaker John Boehner of Ohio on Capitol Hill, Jan. 15.
ILISSA GILMORE RECORD STAFF WRITER
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INSIDE SPORTS Mark Wilson Photo
Ripples are created by ducks swimming in the pond at the J. Kenneth Smith Bird Sanctuary and Nature Center, causing abstract reflections on the surface, Tuesday morning.
State Senate President Pro Tem Mary Kay Papen is expected today to introduce a bill that will limit liability of spaceflight manufacturers and suppliers of Spaceport America. In a press conference Tuesday, Democratic leaders from the Senate and House of Representatives announced that a deal had been reached between the spaceport’s anchor tenant Virgin Galactic and the New Mexico Trial Lawyers Association. Sen. Michael S. Sanchez, D-Belen, said negotiations between the two parties had been difficult, “but in the end, they both realized and were convinced that it was in the best interest of the state of New Mexico.” The bill will limit liability of “suppliers or manufacturers of components, services or vehicles to the spaceflight,”
Courts ask Santa United Way exceeds 2012 goal Fe for 9 new judges
FINALLY FOR REED, BIRK
OWINGS MILLS, Md. (AP) — The only reason why Matt Birk brought his aching knees and battered body to training camp for a 15th NFL season was to get to the Super Bowl. The 36-year-old Birk was bothered by neck, elbow and knee injuries during his previous three years with the Baltimore Ravens, yet he never missed a start. - PAGE B1
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Lequitta Ann McLean Lidia Weld Betty Booth Linda Parsons Georgina Herz Marshall E. Miller Grace Bailey Robert Brewington Sr. - PAGE A8
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TODAY’S FORECAST
SANTA FE (AP) — New Mexico courts need more judges to cope with a case backlog and delays in resolving civil and domestic lawsuits, the chief justice of the state Supreme Court said Tuesday. In a speech to a joint session of the Legislature, Chief Justice Petra Jimenez Maes said a study of the court system’s workload found a need for 23 judges statewide. However, she said the judiciary is asking the Legislature to approve nine judges in next year’s budget. The cost is $3.5 million, which includes judges and support staff. “Children in a high conflict divorce and custody case suf fer the consequences of their parents’ behavior when it takes over a year and a half for the court to hear their case,” Maes said. “The parties in a
personal injury case can’t move on with their lives when it takes the court more than a year to retry a case after a jury could not reach a decision.” In 2012, she said, state district courts cleared about 90 percent of the cases that were filed but that was down from almost 98 percent in 2008. The court’s request is for new district court judges in Santa Fe, Las Cruces, Lovington, Bernalillo and three in Albuquerque, along with a magistrate court judge in Las Cruces and a Bernalillo County Metropolitan Court judge. Maes also appealed to lawmakers to approve a salary increase for court system employees. Like other state workers, judicial employees haven’t received a pay raise since
See BILL, Page A3
NOAH VERNAU RECORD STAFF WRITER
United Way of Chaves County brought in more than half a million dollars during its 2012 fundraising campaign, exceeding its 2012 goal by about $22,000 and topping last year’s fundraising total by more than $36,000. The 2012 fundraising total of $522,547 was announced Tuesday at UWCC’s annual meeting and awards luncheon at the Civic Center. “We’re very happy about exceeding our Mark Wilson Photo goal,” Sherry Mumford, UWCC executive director, A long line enters the Roswell Convention Center for the said. “It just reinforces United Way of Chaves County Annual Meeting & Awards the fact that we have a Luncheon, Tuesday. very caring community who reaches out to help ary 2013, Mumford said. the remaining funds in Thirty percent of the February. those in need.” funds will stay with The campaign, which The 2012 fundraising UWCC and an appropria- kicked off in mid-August, totals include donations tions committee will made from February determine allocations of 2012 to the end of JanuSee UWCC, Page A3
Peggy Brewer seeks to retain District 3 seat on school board See COURTS, Page A3
ILISSA GILMORE RECORD STAFF WRITER
CLASSIFIEDS..........B6 COMICS.................B4 ENTERTAINMENT.....B9 FINANCIAL .............B5 GENERAL ..............C4 HOROSCOPES ......A10 LOTTERIES ............A2 OPINION ................A4 SPORTS ................B1 WEATHER ............A10
INDEX
Peggy Brewer
The school district election, scheduled for Feb. 5, will feature many familiar faces in the running for positions on area school boards. Peggy Brewer, Ed.D., an incumbent board member of the Roswell Independent School District, looks to retain her seat in District 3, which covers most of city’s southwestern area. A veteran of the RISD for more than 35 years, Brewer was selected to serve the remainder of Milburn Dolen’s term when he resigned in 2011. As a board member, she said she works with the superintendent to solve problems and address concer ns in schools. Among their duties, Brewer said board members monitor the school’s budget, stu-
dent and teacher achievement and the renovation and building of facilities to create safe, efficient schools. During her career with RISD, Brewer per for med in various capacities, from a teacher to a principal to even a teacher of principals. Though retired, Brewer continues to work in the educational field in ways such as supervising student teachers and consulting with school districts in other cities. “Education is so important; it opens doors for students,” she said. “The world is theirs with an education.” Brewer, a native of Roswell, graduated from Roswell High and Eastern New Mexico University-Portales and obtained a doctorate in education from Walden University in 2011. Brewer said she brings her
knowledge of both education and Roswell to the board, as schools and community rely on each other to work well.
“Together, we create great schools and great schools create a great community,” she said. “I just believe you're constantly learning, improving your skills and listening to the community and then doing something about that.” Along with community involvement, Brewer also believes more should be done toward recruitment, retention and development of staf f, such as commending teachers for a job well done.
“Sometimes people just need a pat on the back,” she said. “Without that high quality of staff, student achievement couldn't take place. They all go hand in hand.”
igilmore@rdrnews.com