John Block

Dem senator reports fellow Dem to FBI over alleged extortion attempt

5 Comments / New Mexico, News, Politics / By

State senator Daniel Ivey-Soto (D-Bernalillo) has reported a fellow Democrat, Senate Pro Tem Mimi Stewart (D-Bernalillo) to the Federal Bureau of Investigation over an alleged extortion attempt, according to the Santa Fe New Mexican. Ivey-Soto has faced a barrage of attacks from Stewart and leftist organizations claiming he has sexually harassed women — claims he has denied. 

The report notes, “Sen. Daniel Ivey-Soto said an unidentified third party delivered a message to him from Stewart the day prior: Resign as chairman of the Senate Rules Committee and Stewart would make sure a confidential report that revealed new allegations against Ivey-Soto wouldn’t get leaked.”

“But if I did not agree to resign, then the report would be leaked,” he said to the New Mexican. “That is the very definition of extortion, and that is the reason why I reported that to the FBI at 3:30 [Thursday] afternoon, which was prior to [the report] being released.”

“The message was delivered through a third party, so there’s a witness to the communication,” said Ivey-Soto, adding, “I did inform the FBI who the third party was.”

Ivey-Soto says he “felt the need to contact the FBI because threatening an elected official is unlawful and threatening an elected official to take an official action [resign from a legislative committee] falls under public corruption. I took that very seriously.”

When the third party delivered the message that Ivey-Soto declined to be extorted, Steward leaked the report, as she allegedly threatened. 

The complaint filed over the sexual assault allegations was suspended according to Ivey-Soto, who said, “Last week my attorney was informed that the current matter before the [committee] regarding the complaint is indefinitely suspended, with no further action to be taken.”

Some of the sexual accusers are former Michelle Lujan Grisham staffers and have previously made bogus sexual assault claims, including that of lobbyist Marianna Anaya.

As we previously reported on Anaya:

Anaya is a far-left activist who supported now-Gov. Lujan Grisham’s failed pro-voter fraud bill, S.B. 8 and S.B. 144, that would have instituted widespread voter suppression and election corruption, is now apparently bringing forth the claim after she didn’t get what she wanted — stolen New Mexico elections.

“You deliberately prevented the bill from receiving a timely hearing, knowing that such delays were an effective death sentence for any piece of important legislation during a short session,” Anaya claimed.

Anaya further claimed that at a recent dinner before the voting bill was considered, Ivey-Soto became “aggressive,” while at dinner where she said she confronted him over said accusations. She claims he “put the breaks” on the bill Senate Rules Committee, which he chairs, because of her.

She wrote, “The way that the bill was slow-pedaled by Sen. Ivey-Soto after this confrontation in his capacity as Rules chair had the indicia of retaliation.”

Anaya hired the same lawyer, Levi Monagle, who participated in the slander of former state Rep. Carl Trujillo (D-Santa Fe), which led to Trujillo losing his seat in 2018. Trujillo’s case happened in tandem with Planned Parenthood lobbyist Juliana Koob, whose dark money organization she represents spread the false accusations against Trujillo.

Ex-MLG aide claims groping by senator but was mum on MLG sex assault settlements
Soros dark money groups demand investigation into Sen. Ivey-Soto

Docs. appear to confirm MLG violated another of her lockdown orders

16 Comments / New Mexico, News, Politics / By

While New Mexicans were under lockdown during Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham’s brutal pandemic orders, new documents posted by Brett Kokinadis of “Stop MLG PAC” appear to confirm previously speculated reports that the Governor broke her rules to go on a lake trip to Navajo Lake State Park.

Kokinadis wrote that Information of Public Records Act (IPRA) requests “from DFA (Department of Finance and Administration) show Munoz, Valles, & Medina, members of the gov’s security detail, received their Basic Boating certification during #COVID lockdowns. Why would you need to be boating during COVID, @GovMLG?”

One commenter noted on the post that Lujan Grisham “had already imposed her emergency order -which we are now 917 days into- when she was frolicking at Navajo Lake. Maybe this is what she meant by, you can never be too safe. She was ta[l]king about boating.”

The boating certifications, issued through AceBoter.com for Andrea K. Medina and Jose A. Munoz, are marked with a date of September 16, 2020. 

According to the Governor’s office, her August 29, 2020, executive order mandating the pandemic closures ended on September 18, 2020, and was renewed on that date to go through October 16, 2020. It was also renewed after that.

The  Energy, Minerals and Natural Resources Department (EMNRD), which oversees state parks, noted in a press release on May 28, 2020, that state parks were only open for day use by New Mexico residents starting May 28, but overnight stays (such as having a houseboat) was banned.

Multiple correspondences obtained by the Pinon Post show that many in-state and out-of-state residents requested access to their houseboats at Navajo Lake State Park but were denied.

One person wrote to the Governor’s office on September 8, 2020, “We have been denied access to our private property for several months now,” adding, “We believe our houseboat should be considered a NM residence and its owners allowed to access it.”

ENMRD responded, “Park staff and other law enforcement agencies will be checking identification and enforcing this order” banning access.

Another New Mexican wrote on May 28, 2020, “I’m a citizen of the NW part of NM…. My family and I are disciplined in practicing social isolation,” continuing, “We desperately miss our houseboat at Navajo Lake. We do not have visitors when we stay on the lake during the week.”

“Without visiting Navajo Marina and the lake, I realize you may assume a different opinion; however, they are prepared, [set up] to continue business under the new isolation standards.” 

But according to the documents from Stop MLG PAC and other reports, Lujan Grisham allegedly stayed on Navajo lake during this pandemic lockdown period, which directly violated her day use-only order, per the ENMRD. 

According to a press release from Stop MLG PAC:

Reports included certificates for boating safety courses, VRBO lodging, Navajo Lake Marina fees, and boating packages.

“There are nearly 1,000 pages of receipts containing lavish catered items and alcohol for large parties, excessive daily shopping, travel, and even perhaps activities in Taos, Vail, and boating on a Navajo lake. All this while the Governor scolded New Mexicans and ordered them to stay indoors, away from loved ones, and left to stand in the cold for groceries.”, Kokinadis continued.

Through the inspection of the Public Records Act, Kokinadis was able to target specific violations that violated COVID policies and cost NM taxpayers. In May, Governor Grisham was criticized for violating emergency public health orders, reportedly for keeping a business open so she could buy jewelry. Purchasing jewelry was not the Governor’s only violation of her policy.

Outdoor parks and lakes were closed when these specific boating certifications and Navajo Lake Marina fees were acquired and paid for by taxpayers. Many New Mexicans were banned from enjoying the same outdoor activities the Governor, and her detail enjoyed while on lockdown.

“It’s alarming to see how the Governor and staff waste taxpayer dollars, especially when so many people continue to suffer from her unfair and failed policies. We’re still reviewing the extensive documents and discovering other questionable uses of taxpayer funds.” Kokinadis continued.

Previously, Lujan Grisham was exposed for breaking her pandemic lockdown orders to buy lavish jewelry at Lilly Barrack, an Albuquerque-based luxury jeweler.

The Governor’s Office has been contacted for comment, but no response has been given as of publication.

Petition to strip Alamogordo’s pro-life sanctuary resolution fails miserably

6 Comments / New Mexico, News, Politics / By

Pro-abortion radicals suffered a crippling defeat Tuesday when they failed to get a mere 589 signatures for a special election to overturn Alamogordo’s resolution declaring itself a Sanctuary City for the Unborn previously passed by the Alamogordo City Commission, according to documents obtained via an Inspection of Public Records Act (IPRA) request.

The City wrote in a press release, “A petition to take Resolution 2022-38, passed by City Commission on August 2, 2022, at a Special Meeting, for referendum was filed with the City Clerk on September 1, 2022. In accordance with NMSA 1978 § 3-1-5. Petitions, examinations of signatures; purging; judicial review, and in consultation with the Secretary of State and New Mexico Municipal League, the petition did not meet the statutory requirements. As such, the city will take no additional action on this matter.”

The pro-life measure passed in August with support from all but two apparently pro-abortion members, Mayor Susan Payne and Commissioner Sharon McDonald, on the seven-member commission.

The pro-abortion radicals who attempted to force a special election that would cost $30,000 in taxpayer funds included an unregistered group, “New Voices Otero,” with influence from outside pro-abortion organizations, including the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) and the Planned Parenthood abortion business.

Although pro-abortion individuals make up the extreme minority in conservative, pro-life Alamogordo, the tiny band of radicals organized and declared that they got enough signatures on Thursday, September 1 — the deadline for submission.

But on Tuesday, the City of Alamogordo confirmed that the pro-abortion organizers had failed to meet the signature threshold. This failure deals them a crippling blow and the inability to waste city taxpayers’ funds on a frivolous election — an election which would have only reaffirmed the City Commission’s stance that the rights of the unborn are precious to city residents.

The resolution affirms that “each and every innocent human life is unique and precious to God,” while “human life begins at the moment of conception and continues, uninterrupted, until the moment of natural death,” according to scientific evidence. It also concludes, “The City Commission hereby declares itself a Sanctuary City for the Unborn.”

The pro-abortion petition’s failure is also a blow to Mayor Payne, who not only voted against the pro-life resolution but signed the pro-abortion organizers’ petition that erroneously dubbed the City Commission “extremist.” She also advocated on behalf of the petition, telling the Alamogordo Daily News, “I appreciate the hard work that everybody’s put into this.”

Payne recently responded to a negative, anti-Trump commenter on the Facebook post of City Commissioner Karl Melton, who sponsored the pro-life resolution. The commenter wrote regarding pro-life U.S. Sen. Tom Cotton, “Tom Cotton is another fascist MAGA traitor,” adding, “The democracy hating GOP won’t stop until they suppress every vote that isn’t for them.” 

Payne commented to the detractor, “lol me thinkst [sic] this is happening right here in our fair city recently,” apparently referring to pro-life Republicans making a difference in Alamogordo. Payne also leaked a private conversation she was involved in between city officials to a fringe leftist blogger and convicted felon who supported the pro-abortion radicals’ petition. 

During the meeting to pass the resolution, Payne told the audience before voting against the pro-life resolution, “This is a very controversial subject, and I’m going to be honest with you. It might make some people mad at me, and you know what? If you can’t respect the way I feel, that’s kinda your deal. But this is a very controversial subject, and one I have said all along I did not believe was a function of city government. And I still believe that. I believe that very strongly.”

An independent analysis of the pro-abortion petition by the Piñon Post obtained via an IPRA request found that the signers only had 502 apparently valid signatures — 87 shy of the necessary threshold to call for a costly special election. These included 48 invalidated signatures due to the lack of an address, extremely illegible entries, or duplicate signatures, and 86 signers who were not registered voters.

The City’s count showed the petitioners had only 507 valid signatures — 82 shy of the 589 needed for a special election.

Following the news of the petition’s failure, Commissioner Melton said, “Alamogordo residents showed that they will not fall for the deception from the pro-abortion radicals. The petitioners only needed to get 589 signatures, less than 2% of the population.” 

He added, “The fact that they failed to meet such an easy target is proof that the vast majority of Alamogordo is pro-life. I will continue to do my part to encourage a culture of life here in Alamogordo and Otero County.”

The Commission’s pro-life resolution stands intact, alongside a similar resolution passed by the Otero County Commission standing up for the right to life in the community.

MLG flies off to DC again, then heads to New York

16 Comments / New Mexico, News, Politics / By

On Monday, it was reported that far-left Democrat Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham was heading out to Washington, D.C. again, this time for a Tuesday White House event with Joe Biden to praise his far-left “climate change” law erroneously dubbed the “Inflation Reduction Act.” The mammoth bill costs American taxpayers at least $430 billion, according to Reuters.

Daniel Chacon of the Santa Fe New Mexican reported Monday that Lujan Grisham is “headed to Washington, D.C., at [Joe Biden]’s invitation to attend Tuesday’s signing of the Inflation Reduction Act and also meet with federal officials to advocate for additional wildfire relief.”

“While @GovMLG is in the nation’s capital, she’ll also have a consultation on an ongoing knee injury with an orthopedic surgeon from whom she has previously received treatment, according to her office.” 

Chacon added, “After that, she’ll remain in D.C. and New York for political engagements. @GovMLG will return to New Mexico on Friday.”

The trip comes after a slew of disappearances from New Mexico for D.C., including her wedding, which was reported to have been officiated by Kamala Harris.

Lujan Grisham faces a tough reelection challenge from Republican gubernatorial nominee Mark Ronchetti who is polling within single digits of the embattled governor. Libertarian Karen Bedonie is also running.

Lt. Gov. Howie Morales is in charge while Lujan Grisham is away for her East Coast trip.

As NM burns, MLG flies to D.C. for lavish wedding officiated by Kamala Harris

It turns out Michelle Lujan Grisham is an election denier

7 Comments / New Mexico, News, Politics / By

A recently resurfaced video from when Democrat Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham was running for the governorship in 2018 shows she cast doubt on the results of the 2016 election of President Donald J. Trump.

A September 7 tweet from Lujan Grisham claims her regime is “bringing folks together” despite her rhetoric bashing those she disagrees with as “extremists” and calling them “lizard people,” among other jabs, such as during her pandemic lockdown when she belittled the citizens of places like Hobbs and Española.

In response to her tweet, Will Reinert of the Republican Governors Association posted a clip of the governor saying at a campaign event, “I am not Pollyanna about any election. I am living in a world where people I don’t have any idea how they could get elected.” 

She added, “And I know that sounds really harsh, but I have people say the most discriminatory and racist things to me. I don’t know how they could be elected with that perspective. I don’t know how you get elected with hate in your heart. I don’t know how you get elected with no vision. I don’t know how you get elected by saying there should be no federal or state government.” 

“I don’t understand how we have a president… Well, … Kelly is clear he’s the president. I don’t know about Trump. I don’t know how that happened, but it did happen,” she concluded.

WATCH: 

Lujan Grisham appears to have turned into an election denier despite claims previously claiming to stand up for “democracy.” 

Haaland renames 13 supposedly racist NM federal ‘features’ with ‘squaw’ title

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This week, far-left Department of the Interior (DOI) Sec. Deb Haaland announced DOI had removed 650 federal “features” with the name “squaw,” which she claims is a racial slur. In a press release, the Department insisted that squaw has been used as “an offensive ethnic, racial and sexist slur, particularly for Indigenous women.” 

The move came after a vote by the Haaland-established “Derogatory Geographic Names Task Force,” which moved to strike the names from federal lands.

“I feel a deep obligation to use my platform to ensure that our public lands and waters are accessible and welcoming. That starts with removing racist and derogatory names that have graced federal locations for far too long,” said Haaland. 

In New Mexico, there are 13 places renamed, including Squaw Creek Tank reservoir in Catron County, which is now named “Tin Tank Number Two.”

Other instances include Grant County’s Squaw Creek Ridge Tank and Squaw Creek, now named “Ridge Tank” and “Meason Creek,” respectively, Chaves County’s Squaw Canyon valley and Squaw Creek, now named “Janey Canyon,” and “Squaw Creek,” respectively, Soccorro County’s Squaw Peak, renamed to “Bear Peak,” Sierra County’s Squaw Tit Canyon and Squaw Tit summit, now named “Horse Camp Canyon” and “Grandview Peak,” respectively, Catron and Sierra Counties’ Squaw Creek, now named “Tin Creek,” Otero County’s Squaw Tank reservoir, now named “Lone Butte Tank,” Doña Ana County’s Squaw Mountain, now “Bar Mountain,” San Juan County’s Squaw Spring, now “Tuurkava Paachihpi Spring,” and Sandoval County’s Squaw Peak, now “Tamayameh Kah Sta Mah.”

The DOI press release notes, “Secretary’s Order 3405 created a Federal Advisory Committee for the Department to formally receive advice from the public regarding additional derogatory terms, derogatory terms on federal land units, and the process for derogatory name reconciliation. Next steps on the status of that Committee will be announced in the coming weeks.” 

This means the renaming of supposedly racist federal lands from “squaw” is just the tip of the iceberg for Haaland, who is prioritizing social justice over anything else. It is unclear how much the mass renaming of federal lands will cost the taxpayers, who will have to pay to replace signage, maps, merchandise, and all other necessary modifications.

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NM ranked one of the states most in need of sales, business tax reform

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According to a report from the nonprofit organization Tax Foundation’s “2022 State Business Tax Climate Index,” New Mexico ranks as one of the top ten states in need of sales tax reform, ranking 41st out of 50 states on tax freedom.

New Mexico is also a state that is ranked toward the bottom when it comes to its sales tax base, which is measured on five criteria, including the variety of the tax base, the typical purchases of consumers, whether it includes services, tax holidays, and excise taxes on things such as gasoline, alcohol, and tobacco. 

“States with the worst scores on the base subindex are Hawaii, Alabama, Washington, California, South Dakota, New Jersey, New Mexico, and Maryland. Their tax systems hamper economic growth by including too many business inputs, excluding too many consumer goods and services, and imposing excessive rates of excise taxation,” writes the group.

According to Tax Foundation, “Legislators in New Mexico created an additional individual income tax bracket on income above $210,000, bringing the state’s top rate from 4.9 percent to 5.9 percent. This dramatic increase caused a 10-place drop in the state’s individual income tax ranking and dropped New Mexico’s overall rank from 22nd to 28th.”

The state also ranks 41st out of all other states in business tax climate, making New Mexico a state with a more hostile tax environment for businesses.

“States that create the most tax pyramiding and economic distortion, and therefore score the worst, are states that levy a sales tax that generally allows no exclusions for business Inputs. Hawaii, New Mexico, South Dakota, and Washington are examples of states that tax many business inputs. The ideal base for sales taxation is all goods and services at the point of sale to the end-user,” the group concludes.

In recent years, Democrats have worked to increase taxes on consumers, businesses, and industries in the state while creating new taxes on many industries. This has all likely contributed to New Mexico’s unfriendly tax structure.

Queen Elizabeth II, longest-reigning female monarch, dead at 96

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On Thursday, it was reported that the longest-reigning female monarch in history, Queen Elizabeth II of England, had passed away, according to Buckingham Palace. The reigns to the throne will now go to Prince Charles, the heir apparent and longest-serving Duke of Wales.

Reuters reports:

Queen Elizabeth, Britain’s longest-reigning monarch and the nation’s figurehead for seven decades, has died aged 96, Buckingham Palace said on Thursday.

“The Queen died peacefully at Balmoral this afternoon,” Buckingham Palace said in a statement.

“The King and The Queen Consort will remain at Balmoral this evening and will return to London tomorrow.”

Her eldest son Charles, 73, automatically becomes king of the United Kingdom and the head of state of 14 other realms including Australia, Canada and New Zealand.

President Trump and First Lady Melania Trump met Queen Elizabeth II while visiting Great Britain, with the President commenting on the long-ruling monarch’s conversation with him.

Trump said afterward, “But I met her, and it turned out to be more than an hour, substantially, because she liked me, and I liked her and she let it be known. She liked me and I let it be known.”

“And I sat next to her and we talked the whole night. And somebody said, ‘we’ve never seen her smile so much.’ 

The Queen came to power following the death of her father, King George VI, on Feb. 6, 1952, when she was just 25.

President Trump released the following statement via Truth Social after the monarch’s death:

Melania and I are deeply saddened to learn of the loss of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II. Together with our family and fellow Americans, we send our sincere condolences to the Royal Family and the people of the United Kingdom during this time of great sorrow and grief. Queen Elizabeth’s historic and remarkable reign left a tremendous legacy of peace and prosperity for Great Britain. Her leadership and enduring diplomacy secured and advanced alliances with the United States and countries around the world.

However, she will always be remembered for her faithfulness to her country and her unwavering devotion to her fellow countrymen and women. Melania and I will always cherish our time together with the Queen, and never forget Her Majesty’s generous friendship, great wisdom, and wonderful sense of humor. What a grand and beautiful lady she was—there was nobody like her!

Our thoughts and prayers will remain with the great people of the United Kingdom as you honor her most meaningful life and exceptional service to the people. May God bless the Queen, may she reign forever in our hearts, and may God hold her and Prince Philip in abiding care.

NM taxpayers forked over staggering amount for abortions in 2020-2021

11 Comments / New Mexico, News, Politics / By

According to New Mexico Department of Health documents obtained by the pro-life group Abortion Free New Mexico, a shocking number of taxpayer-funded abortions happened right here in New Mexico through Medicaid.

The records obtained by the group indicate, “In 2020, New Mexico Medicaid funded 3,372 abortion procedures that resulted in expenditures to abortion providers totaling $386,096.06.”

“In 2021, the numbers rose as New Mexico Medicaid funded 3,955 abortion procedures that resulted in expenditures to abortion providers totaling $421,026.90.”

The group wrote in the press release that New Mexico’s Medicaid system expended “almost $1 million tax dollars funding 7,327 abortions over the course of two years alone.”

The news comes after Democrat Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham pledged to spend $10 million in 2023 on a new abortion mill in Las Cruces to service Texas women if she wins re-election. 

Tara Shaver of Abortion Free New Mexico wrote, “Nearly $1,000,000 of our tax dollars that are already being paid out by New Mexico Medicaid over the past two years alone for 7,327 abortions should alarm us all and motivate us to act!”

“While we can’t stop New Mexico Medicaid from funding abortions, we can work to prevent Michelle Lujan Grisham’s latest attempt to force us as New Mexican citizens to pay for an abortion center that will cater to out of state women seeking to kill their children by voting pro-life. It is vital that each New Mexican of conscience is mobilized to help get pro-life candidates elected in November. Early voting is right around the corner so time is of the essence to volunteer your time, talents and treasure to the candidate of your choice who will stand for life and make sure that Lujan Grisham’s nefarious plans don’t come to fruition.”

Lujan Grisham faces tough competition from GOP nominee Mark Ronchetti, who is polling within single digits of the embattled abortion up-to-birth governor who previously signed a bill in 2021 to legalize abortion up-to-birth in the state of New Mexico by stripping away all protections for mothers, babies, and doctors.

MLG claimed to be ‘product’ of NM ‘public schools system’ despite going to private school

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On Tuesday, far-left Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham was called out on Twitter by school choice advocates for claiming to be “A product of New Mexico’s public schools system” [sic] despite graduating from a private school.

The Democrat’s education platform reads, “A product of New Mexico’s public schools system, Michelle is dedicated to uplifting every student, parent, educator, and school in New Mexico.”

However, Lujan Grisham graduated from St. Michael’s High School, a private Catholic school in Santa Fe, as she also notes on her official government website, “Lujan Grisham was born in Los Alamos and graduated from St. Michael’s High School in Santa Fe.” 

Corey A. DeAngelis of School Choice Now wrote on Twitter, “New Mexico Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham’s campaign website says she’s ‘a product of New Mexico’s public schools system.’ She graduated from a private school.” 

The Rio Grande Foundation’s Paul Gessing chimed in also:

She also did the very opposite of “uplift” every “ student, parent, educator, and school in New Mexico” due to her pandemic lockdowns which punished teachers who would not get the jab, ramming down the far-left Critical Race Theory curriculum through her Public Education Department, and even going as so far as to remove duly elected school board members who she disagreed with — the antithesis of her promise.

New Mexico’s education marks show 30-year lows in testing, with the deprivation of education for months and years to some children resulting in a barely literate publicly educated student population.

The proficiency tests released by PED show that third-graders had 23% proficiency in language arts, while those figures ebbed and flowed for other grades: fourth-graders (35%), fifth-graders (36%), sixth-graders (33%), seventh-graders (35%), and eighth-graders (33%). 

The state’s schools remain dead last on multiple rankings that show New Mexico has the worst public education system in the nation. Lujan Grisham is endorsed by the leftist teacher’s unions, the American Federation of Teachers, and the National Education Association, both of which advocated for lockdowns, forced masking, jabs, and Critical Race Theory. 

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