On Wednesday, Democrat Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham held a press conference to announce her call for the special session she has proclaimed to begin at noon on Thursday.
Despite vast opposition from her own party on her five crime-related bills that would increase penalties for felons in possession of firearms and holding mentally ill individuals pending trial, among other measures — all opposed by the American Civil Liberties Union and a compact of many other leftist groups that say the policies are rushed or useless.
Flanked by Democrat Mayor Tim Keller to her right and Lt. Gov. Howie Morales and First Judicial District Attorney Sam Bregman to her left, the defiant governor said, “Tomorrow at noon, we’re asking lawmakers to do right by New Mexico families.”
“Not one day I don’t see this behavior,” referring to homelessness and crime.
Keller said, “I am here in solidarity” with social workers and police departments.” He claimed that “people with a badge” said a special session was correct to call.
“I do appreciate the governor’s courage to call this,” he continued, bemoaning the fact that New Mexico has a part-time legislature. He said special sessions are the “only way to work on urgent problems.”
Bregman said to the governor, “Thank you for shining a light on these important issues. I don’t think anybody can deny the fact we have a crime problem.” He applauded the governor’s proposed criminal competency bill and bill to increase the penalties for all felons (including nonviolent felons) in possession of firearms to 12 years of mandatory sentences.
Morales said the special session is to address “consistencies” he sees being brought forward across the state. He said it was a “business,” “environmental,” and “education” special session.
In a move meant to save face, the governor added to her call legislation for compensation to Ruidoso’s fire victims, who suffered massive losses earlier in the summer due to two wildfires — one said to be lightning-related and one that is suspected arson.
The bills she is demanding be addressed include legislation that would impose “civil commitment and outpatient treatment,” ban people from panhandling on “medians,” address “gun violence,” including increasing penalties for “felons in possession,” addressing racketeering laws to “stem the rise of organized crime by effectively prosecuting” criminals, address “drug overdoses” due to fentanyl, and compensate the South Fork/Salt Fire victims.
“I’m no stranger to what is available,” she said regarding a question about calling as many special sessions as necessary to ram through her agenda.
When asked about her own party bucking her agenda, she said, “That’s for them to answer about why,” hoping they would not be “playing politics” with the special session.
“This isn’t about doing the work to coming to [an] agreement…. This is about a Legislature, the day the last session started, were not willing to discuss these proposals,” Lujan Grisham said to reporters regarding Democrats in the Legislature who buck her proposals. “There’s still time” to discuss these bills, she said.
“We’ve added the relief for Ruidoso, we’ve added the racketeering bill, we’ve added the fentanyl bill,” she said regarding the changes she made in her proposals since Monday’s press conference from Democrat leadership, who said they opposed her agenda.
“If they just adjourn, people in Ruidoso who didn’t create a fire — don’t deserve this — could lose an opportunity to know that their house gets saved,” she said.
Of course she is… MLG is bound and determined to ruin New Mexico!
For a minute I thought that this was King Arthur and his Knights at the famous Round Table ( not a myth, but true history). But that can’t be true. King Arthur and his Knights honored God and His laws. Their values were extremely high, and they truly protected the people they represented.
That’s not what I am seeing here….
Better check the brown on Kellers nose.
To me, it seems like she is finally awake and is filling her sails with what republicans would do. Too little. Too late.
Why are the legislators even making the long pointless trip to Santa Fe? Boycott MLG.
Let’s see what insane surprises come out of this!
I’m not sure where she got the rational idea to increase penalties for felons in possession of firearms??? Does she know how hard it is to get a conviction here in the queens land, let alone a felony conviction? The criminals just walk out!!!! Increase penalties!? – I’d be happy if they locked up the criminals they catch!
Seems more likely that she’s looking to turn firearms owners into felons…
…AGAIN.
She’s wanting our communities to build homeless shelters so Abq. Las cruces and santafe can ship their problems to us…we don’t need her and damb sure don’t need their homeless problems in OUR communities…
Hey Loserjan QUIT WASTING PEOPLE’S TIME AND TAXPAYERS MONEY!!!
MLG knows that Dems are in trouble, so she’s sounding like a Republican— the winning ticket.
She’ll Never give up trying to ruin New Mexico. She’s done a pretty good job so far the evil queen. Well if people don’t show up, there can be a special session. They all need to boycott MLG, Keller as well and all her other comrades. It’s disgusting what she’s doing.
It didn’t work! The Legislature told her to go pound sand!
Add this to the joke Baldwin prosecution.
What a laughingstock of a state we are. DEI in technicolor. Just hilarious.