Latest news with #BenRayLuján
Yahoo
02-07-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Some New Mexico leaders warn mega bill could be disastrous for renewable energy industry
NEW MEXICO (KRQE) – New Mexico's Democratic leaders are warning that the 'One Big Beautiful Bill' could be disastrous for New Mexico's thriving renewable energy industry. While republicans argue, the bill will be great for the state's oil and gas companies. 'This bill goes against everything New Mexicans stand for. It's not honest, it's not caring, and it's not fair,' said Senator Ben Ray Luján, (D-NM). Story continues below News: Albuquerque's downtown vacant buildings ordinance will go into effect July 1 Investigation: 'It's on her': Senator defunds DA citing attitude, staff shortage Sports Office: Catching up with World Champion Boxer Danny Romero Jr Senators Ben Ray Luján and Martin Heinrich both voted against the bill. Heinrich said in a statement, in part, 'This bill will hike electricity bills, leave tens of millions uninsured, cut food assistance for millions more, shutter hundreds of nursing homes, force rural hospitals to close, and send health insurance premiums soaring.' But the Republican Party of New Mexico argues New Mexicans will benefit. 'This will stop the runaway spending that the government does,' said Amy Barela, Chairwoman of the Republican Party of New Mexico. The bill has New Mexico company Affordable Solar on edge. 'It's a scary time in the renewable energy space,' said Neil Wenderoth, Sales Manager for Affordable Solar. The Senate made a last-minute change before passing the bill that removed a new tax on wind and solar energy projects. The bill would still phase out wind and solar tax credits for clean energy development, but on a slower timeline than originally proposed. 'It's a time where there should be more investment in all sectors of energy, and I think it's very short-sighted that we're cutting out incentives,' said Wenderoth. Wenderoth anticipates the market decreasing by more than 80%, calling it a death sentence for the solar industry. 'Jobs are lost, people are not getting energy independence, less solar and wind are going into place,' said Wenderoth. Barela argues that the bill would help New Mexico's oil and gas industry by expanding development on federal lands. 'So it makes America less dependent on foreign countries to provide us with everything. It strengthens us with oil and gas,' said Barela. Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham said in a statement, in part, 'This bill is a disastrous, deficit-exploding gift to the ultra-wealthy made possible by gutting health care and food programs that millions of Americans rely on.' Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
24-06-2025
- Science
- Yahoo
Experts issue warning as dangerous insect species draws closer to US border: 'It is vital that Congress act'
A fly with wound-gnawing larvae is repopulating after decades of progress to contain it. Earth's overheating could be partly why the insect is returning perilously close to the American border with catastrophic potential, according to a Grist report. The aptly named screwworm fly is beginning to turn up in Panama, southern Mexico, and elsewhere on a northward path. The insects are about the size of a housefly with orange eyes and metallic blue or green bodies, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture. An adult screwworm, drawn to open injuries and body openings like nasal passages, can produce up to 300 eggs. Once hatched, the maggots tear at flesh, screwing into and expanding wounds with sometimes deadly results. The remedy is to remove the villains. If the flies make it stateside, experts fear it could result in billions of dollars worth of livestock and trade losses, reported Grist. "It is vital that Congress act to pass this legislation to protect our farmers and ranchers and prevent an outbreak in the U.S.," New Mexico Sen. Ben Ray Luján, a Democrat and member of the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry, told Grist. It's a sign that work started in the 1950s to contain the fly might not be working anymore. Experts interviewed by Grist point to our planet's warming and severe storms, which NASA said are symptoms of the overheating, as possible reasons for its migration. "And if there's more major storms, could that potentially lead to more of these upward trajectories of the fly?" veterinarian Bridget Baker, who is also an assistant professor at the University of Florida, said in the article. Earth has warmed about two degrees Fahrenheit since 1850 as dirty energy use exploded, according to government data. While that might not seem like a big jump, it's being felt by record-setting heat waves each year around the planet, making some places too hot to live, per NASA. Should the government be paying people to hunt invasive species? Definitely Depends on the animal No way Just let people do it for free Click your choice to see results and speak your mind. But screwworms, mosquitoes, and other pests are taking advantage of the expanding heat. And UF is warning farmers to be on the lookout for these terrible menaces. The government has suspended livestock imports from Mexico to prevent fly stowaways. To originally purge the insect from Florida, a mid-century project sterilized male flies with radiation and released them to breed. The method helped to reduce reproduction and was perfected during the decades, culminating in the formation of a "screwworm" wall in the mid-1990s near the Panama-Colombia border. Sterilized males are still regularly released, Grist reported. About two decades later, a rare deer herd in Florida suffered from an infestation. The government responded quickly to knock down the threat. But more buzzing is on the horizon as temperatures continue to trend upward. The insect typically thrives at 45 degrees Fahrenheit and higher, the story added. Luján told Grist that he is pushing for $300 million in government funding for sterile fly production. You can add your voice to the advocacy by contacting your local lawmakers about advancing planet-friendly policies and by staying tuned in to issues impacting Earth's health. Join our free newsletter for good news and useful tips, and don't miss this cool list of easy ways to help yourself while helping the planet.
Yahoo
23-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Senators urge FTC to investigate Spotify's higher-priced bundled subscription
Two U.S. senators have requested that the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) investigate Spotify due to allegations that the company bundled its music streaming and audiobook services into a more expensive subscription without obtaining user consent, while also reducing royalty payments to creators in the process. On Friday, June 20, U.S. Senators Marsha Blackburn and Ben Ray Luján wrote a letter to the FTC, claiming that Spotify converted standard premium subscriptions into higher-cost bundled subscriptions without informing consumers. They also highlighted that existing U.S. regulations permit digital music providers to pay a reduced music royalty rate if the subscription is bundled with other legitimate offerings. 'Spotify's intent seems clear—to slash the statutory royalties it pays to songwriters and music publishers. Not only has this harmed our creative community, but this action has also harmed consumers,' the letter states. Last year, the Mechanical Licensing Collective (MLC) sued Spotify for allegedly undercompensating songwriters and publishers, but the lawsuit was dismissed in January. In March 2024, Spotify restructured its Premium tiers to include 15 hours of audiobooks, raising the price to $12 for individuals and $20 for families. Users have to manually opt out of the plan. This change has reportedly caused publishers to lose $230 million in the first year, according to Danielle Aguirre, executive vice president of the National Music Publishers' Association. In a statement shared with Variety, a Spotify spokesperson noted that users were notified a month in advance about the price increase and the platform offers 'easy cancellations as well as multiple plans for users to consider.' Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
TechCrunch
23-06-2025
- Business
- TechCrunch
Senators urge FTC to investigate Spotify's higher-priced bundled subscription
Two U.S. senators have requested that the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) investigate Spotify due to allegations that the company bundled its music streaming and audiobook services into a more expensive subscription without obtaining user consent, while also reducing royalty payments to creators in the process. On Friday, June 20, U.S. Senators Marsha Blackburn and Ben Ray Luján wrote a letter to the FTC, claiming that Spotify converted standard premium subscriptions into higher-cost bundled subscriptions without informing consumers. They also highlighted that existing U.S. regulations permit digital music providers to pay a reduced music royalty rate if the subscription is bundled with other legitimate offerings. 'Spotify's intent seems clear—to slash the statutory royalties it pays to songwriters and music publishers. Not only has this harmed our creative community, but this action has also harmed consumers,' the letter states. Last year, the Mechanical Licensing Collective (MLC) sued Spotify for allegedly undercompensating songwriters and publishers, but the lawsuit was dismissed in January. In March 2024, Spotify restructured its Premium tiers to include 15 hours of audiobooks, raising the price to $12 for individuals and $20 for families. Users have to manually opt out of the plan. This change has reportedly caused publishers to lose $230 million in the first year, according to Danielle Aguirre, executive vice president of the National Music Publishers' Association. In a statement shared with Variety, a Spotify spokesperson noted that users were notified a month in advance about the price increase and the platform offers 'easy cancellations as well as multiple plans for users to consider.'
Yahoo
05-06-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
NCOA Applauds Reintroduction of Treat and Reduce Obesity Act
Bipartisan legislation would expand Medicare coverage of comprehensive obesity treatments View in browser Key Takeaways: The Treat and Reduce Obesity Act (TROA) has been reintroduced in the U.S. Senate. Reintroduction in the U.S. House of Representatives is expected soon. If passed and signed into law, TROA would require Medicare to cover anti-obesity medications, including GLP-1s, and expand access to intensive behavioral therapy for weight management. TROA has historically gained bipartisan support and was first introduced in Congress over 10 years ago. ARLINGTON, Va., June 5, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- The National Council on Aging (NCOA), the national voice for every person's right to age well, applauds today's reintroduction of the bipartisan Treat and Reduce Obesity Act (TROA) in the U.S. Senate. Led by Sens. Bill Cassidy, R-La., and Ben Ray Luján, D-N.M., TROA would expand Medicare coverage for the full continuum of obesity care, recognizing obesity as a chronic, treatable disease that affects 40 percent of older Americans. First introduced in 2013, TROA aims to improve Medicare by removing outdated barriers to quality obesity care. The legislation has consistently received bipartisan support, highlighting a growing agreement among policymakers about the need to tackle the nation's obesity epidemic. "Obesity is a chronic condition that has affected millions of Americans for decades, but getting adequate care remains stubbornly difficult for too many older adults," said Ramsey Alwin, NCOA President and CEO. "The reintroduction of TROA is a welcome and vital step toward ensuring all Americans have access to the full range of obesity treatments." The legislation would repeal an outdated statute that prevents Medicare Part D from covering FDA-approved obesity medications. TROA also enhances access to intensive behavioral therapy (IBT) under Medicare Part B, which under current policy can only be provided by primary care doctors. TROA expands access to IBT to ensure a broader array of health care providers, including registered dietitian nutritionists, obesity medicine specialists, endocrinologists, bariatric surgeons, clinical psychologists, and community-based providers. By expanding access to lifestyle-based interventions like IBT, TROA ensures patients with obesity will have access to the full spectrum of obesity care. Obesity is linked to over 200 medical conditions and is responsible for an estimated 400,000 deaths annually. In addition to the health impacts of obesity, it is also an expensive disease, costing an estimated $173 billion in the United States in 2019. Expanding insurance coverage of obesity treatments could help reduce the cost burden of obesity to both patients and all Americans. According to the USC Schaffer Center, access to innovative anti-obesity medicines, including GLP-1s, can produce a 13% return on investment. Another recent study found that employees taking anti-obesity medications saw reduced growth in medical cost rates over two years compared to those not taking them, resulting in lower costs for their employers in addition to significant health improvements. NCOA has advocated for older adults with obesity to be treated fairly by providers free from weight stigma and bias. With the National Consumers League, NCOA helped develop the Obesity Bill of Rights in 2024. About NCOAThe National Council on Aging (NCOA) is the national voice for every person's right to age well. Working with thousands of national and local partners, we provide resources, tools, best practices, and advocacy to ensure every person can age with health and financial security. Founded in 1950, we are the oldest national organization focused on older adults. Learn more at and @NCOAging. View original content to download multimedia: SOURCE National Council on Aging Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
