John Block

MLG extends COVID emergency order, Scrase insists New Mexicans get jabbed

17 Comments / New Mexico, News, Politics / By

On Friday, Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham’s New Mexico Department of Health renewed COVID-19 “emergency health orders” throughout May 16, 2022.

In a news release, the Department wrote, “COVID-19 cases have dropped since March and hospitalizations continue to be low. However, the most recent two-week data shows the new Omicron BA.2 variant makes up 22.1 percent of cases in New Mexico and continues to expand across the state, trailing behind the rest of the county.”

Health Secretary Dr. David Scrase, who has repeatedly flip-flopped on science during the pandemic, claimed that New Mexicans must now get another dose of the coronavirus shot.

“If you need your first, second, third or fourth vaccine dose, please get vaccinated – this is especially important for more socially vulnerable individuals and communities, where the risk of severe disease is more than doubled.”

In response to the renewed health orders, state Rep. Rebecca Dow (R-Truth or Consequences), who is running for governor, wrote, “MLG just renewed the ‘emergency health orders’ through May 16th. As long as she is in office they will never end!”

She added, “No more COVID tyranny. No more mandates. No More vaccination requirements as a condition or employment or enrollment at public colleges. End it now!” 

Other Democrat-run places like Philadelphia, Pennsylvania have already begun new lockdown orders, with mask mandates returning.

It is unclear if similar measures will be reimplemented again in New Mexico, but it may be unlikely due to Gov. Lujan Grisham facing a tough reelection. Any extension of the pandemic theatre may significantly lose independent and Democrat votes she would need to secure a second term.

MLG extends COVID emergency order, Scrase insists New Mexicans get jabbed Read More »

MLG’s NM Enviro Dept. releases ‘strict’ Green New Deal-style emissions rule

3 Comments / New Mexico, News, Politics / By

On Friday, Democrat Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham’s New Mexico Environment Department released its crippling new enviro-Marxist emissions rules that will further harm New Mexico’s industries and consumers. 

According to a release from the Department, “The new rule establishes emission reduction requirements for equipment including storage vessels, compressors, turbines, heaters, engines, dehydrators, pneumatic devices, produced water management units, and more. The new rule also establishes emission reduction requirements for processes such as well workovers, hydrocarbon liquid transfers, liquids unloading, pig launching and receiving, and more.” 

“The new rule sets foundational requirements for all oil and gas operators to calculate emission rates and have those calculations certified by a qualified engineer, perform monthly checks for leaks and fix them within 15 days, and maintain records to demonstrate continuous compliance. Building upon the foundational requirements are strict standards for equipment and processes that emit larger quantities of pollution,” it continues.

The Department claims the rule “will eliminate hundreds of millions of pounds” of emissions from oil and gas in New Mexico to establish “ innovative and actionable regulations to curb the formation of ground-level ozone.” 

Lujan Grisham lauded the new rule, claiming, “This is a momentous step forward in achieving our goals of lowering emissions and improving air quality.”

Environment Department Secretary James Kenney added, “Over the next few months, we will begin robust and innovative compliance assurance activities to ensure oil and gas operations are adhering to these new requirements.”

Enviro-Marxist groups lauded the emissions rule as a “big win” for “climate action.”

Larry Behrens, the Western States Director for the pro-energy group Power The Future wrote regarding the emissions rule, “Just like Joe Biden, Governor Lujan Grisham is forcing radical green policies through bureaucratic back doors instead of trying to pass them through the legislature. Even a legislature dominated by her party rejected her extreme gas price hike this year, but that’s not stopping her from pushing her agenda. The next time the governor’s shrinking group of supporters claims she has no responsibility in the high gas prices in our state, you can point to decisions like this one.”


“We participated in the … efforts to regulate ozone precursors, even though the oil and gas industry contributes less than 3 parts per billion of ozone out of the roughly 75 parts per billion that exists today,” Doug Ackerman, president and CEO of the New Mexico Oil and Gas Association, wrote in an email to the Santa Fe New Mexican.

MLG’s NM Enviro Dept. releases ‘strict’ Green New Deal-style emissions rule Read More »

Lujan Grisham, campaign staff duck the press amid latest campaign filing

3 Comments / New Mexico, News, Politics / By

After scandal-ridden alleged serial groper Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham’s latest campaign finance report dropped, many are asking questions about expenses she listed on the filing. That included the leftist Santa Fe-area paper, the Santa Fe New Mexican.

Daniel Chacón, a reporter for the New Mexican, wrote on Twitter Wednesday, “@GovMLG’s reelection campaign is ignoring my repeated requests for information about specific expenditures in the governor’s campaign finance report. I haven’t even gotten any acknowledgment of the many calls, emails and other messages I’ve sent to spokeswoman 

@kswitmer.”

Chacón was inquiring about another large payment the Lujan Grisham campaign made to an Albuquerque-based law firm, Freedman Boyd Hollander Goldberg Urias & Ward PA, for $72,556. According to the paper, the firm is “believed to have represented the governor in a sexual harassment case.”

The harassment case involved James Hallinan, a former Lujan Grisham campaign staffer, who alleged the Governor poured water over his crotch area and then groped him. Lujan Grisham settled with Hallinan for $150,000, which came in the form of two installments.

On Wednesday, one of Hallinan’s attorneys, Rachel Berlin Benjamin, told the New Mexican, “That is a question best directed to the Governor,” regarding the latest payment to the Albuquerque-area law firm.

Many are now wondering what Lujan Grisham is hiding by ducking the press. What other details could come out regarding the large sum paid to Freedman Boyd Hollander Goldberg Urias & Ward PA?

Far-left ex-Lt. Gov. Diane Denish, who failed in her run for governor in 2010, wrote on Twitter, “Her mother died. Give it a break,” referring to the Governor’s mother who recently passed away.

However, the Lujan Grisham campaign has had time to send out multiple solicitations for campaign cash following the death of the Governor’s mother. But somehow, commenting to the press about one’s campaign finance reports is too much to ask for the failed ex-politician.

Others pointed out how Lujan Grisham has been notorious for ducking the media:

Every single time the Piñon Post has reached out to the Governor’s office or campaign for comment, the request has never been returned. Transparency appears not to be a top priority of the Lujan Grisham administration, judging by how the media is treated.

Read more about all the shady stuff in Lujan Grisham’s latest campaign report here.

Lujan Grisham, campaign staff duck the press amid latest campaign filing Read More »

All the shady stuff in MLG’s latest campaign finance report

6 Comments / New Mexico, News, Politics / By

Candidates recently filed their financial disclosures on April 11 for the first reporting period of the year. While many candidates raked in loads of contributions, scandal-ridden alleged serial groper Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham led the pack by raising over $2.6 million. 

Lujan Grisham is well-known for her lavish spending, such as on hair and makeup and $150,000 in payments to a sexual assault accuser — all being funded by the Governor’s campaign donors. But there were many expenditures in Lujan Grisham’s financial disclosure statement raising eyebrows.

Despite being put on notice for spending thousands on hair and makeup services provided by her daughter, Erin Grisham, Lujan Grisham spent another $400 on these services on February 12, 2022.

In December of 2021, Lujan Grisham spent at least $4,400.30 at the Taos Ski Valley Bavarian Lodge and Restaurant, booking what appears to be 13 rooms at $240.32, while spending on catering and other items.

Lujan Grisham’s campaign gave $4,000 to the far-left pro-abortion group EMERGE New Mexico, which trains radical Democrat women to run for public office. The campaign also spent $6,340.46 on “mail production” supporting the abortion up-to-birth group EMILY’s List, which exclusively gives money to female Democrat pro-abortion politicians.

On January 24, 2022, the Governor’s campaign paid a $4,200 fine to the State of New Mexico. Although it does not specify what the fine was for, it can be gathered it was a campaign finance violation.

Lujan Grisham’s campaign also spent $544 for storage units, one at American Self Storage and one at A-1 Storage, both based in Albuquerque.

Other strange expenses in Lujan Grisham’s report include $9.27 at Last Call Beach Bar in Key West Florida on January 12, 2022, $2,561.62 for “fundraiser” catering to the Santa Fe-based caterer Walter Burke Catering Inc. on March 15, 2022, and multiple expenditures to the Saint Regis Aspen Resort in Colorado on October 13, 2021.

She also spent over $72,556 on October 6, 2021, to the law offices of Freedman Boyd Hollander Goldberg Urias & Ward PA, another potential sexual assault settlement. Lujan Grisham’s office has refused to provide comment to reporters.

Donations

Lujan Grisham’s campaign received a maxed-out $10,400 donation from the abortion up-to-birth group Planned Parenthood Action Fund Inc. PAC. She got $10,400 from the D.C.-based “Elect Democratic Women” PAC. 

The Governor’s campaign also received two maxed-out donations from the wife of Illinois Gov. J. B. Pritzker, Mary Katherine Pritzker, each of them $10,400.

She received two maxed-out $10,400 donations from Pattern Energy Group Services LP, a solar and wind energy company, and a red flag for a potential campaign finance violation. 

Santa Fe-based novelist George R.R. Martin, well-known for Game of Thrones, donated two $10,400 contributions to the Governor’s campaign on March 22, 2022.

Despite her rabid anti-energy policies, oil company ConocoPhillips donated $10,400 to Lujan Grisham, regardless of her 2019 Green New Deal (Energy Transition Act). 

Pro-mask and school lockdown teacher’s union American Federation of Teachers (AFT) donated $10,400 to Lujan Grisham. 

Rabid Mike Bloomberg-funded anti-gun group “Everytown For Gun Safety Action Fund” maxed out to the Governor with $10,400.

PAC contributions include $1,500 from “Fair Shot PAC,” $2,500 from “Progressive Majority PAC,” $500 from Citigroup, Inc.’s PAC, $2,500 from “Home Depot PAC,” $5,000 from “Windstream Corporation PAC,” and $5,000 from “Halliburton Company PAC.”

Other donors to the Governor’s campaign include Heritage Hotels and Resorts with $10,400 and two $10,400 contributions that did not have a name dated March 30, 2022. There were five other contributions without a name dated March 31, 2022, totaling $38,300. On April 1, 2022, there were two unnamed contributions totaling $12,900. On April 4, 2022, Lujan Grisham received five unnamed contributions totaling $33,300.

This report is not meant to be an exhaustive list of all contributions to the Governor’s campaign. The full report, as Lujan Grisham reported to the New Mexico Secretary of State’s Office, can be accessed here. 

All the shady stuff in MLG’s latest campaign finance report Read More »

Study finds MLG had 4th-worst response to COVID-19 with ‘F’ rating

13 Comments / New Mexico, News, Politics / By

According to a newly released Committee To Unleash Prosperity (CUP) study, alleged serial groper Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham (D) was ranked as the fourth-worst governor handling COVID, coming in only before New York, the District of Columbia, and New Jersey — all run by Democrats.

“The Report Card on the States measures and compares state performance on three metrics: the economy, education, and mortality from the virus. It answers the question: how did states do in balancing the health of their citizens, allowing their economies to remain operational and keeping job losses low, and keeping their schools open so that school-aged children did not suffer long term educational setbacks,” wrote the CUP.

For context, the state with the highest marks, Utah, was rated a 3.46 and an “A” rating. In contrast, New Mexico with its stringent pandemic lockdowns, forced masking, and crippling sanctions on businesses and schools, scored -2.61, an “F” rating.

The report noted how New Mexico was an “outlier” in relation to its geographic neighbors “in the direction of low combined scores.”

New Mexico ranked 40th in excessive age-adjusted mortality due to COVID-19, coming only before states such as New Jersey, New York, and the District of Columbia.

The study researchers wrote, “Our second mortality metric is all-cause excess death expressed as a percentage of expected death, which is widely considered the most accurate measure of pandemic impact because it is not subject to ascertainment bias. It also captures the near-term mortality effects of lockdown policies, such as higher drug and alcohol deaths, and differences in underlying health by being measured relative to the baseline.”

In this second test, New Mexico came in as the second-worst state in regard to Mortality, with only Arizona beating the Land of Enchantment in more COVID deaths with the second mortality metric.

New Mexico also had one of the lowest in-person education percentages, ranking 45 out of 51 during the pandemic with only 34%. 

The study noted, “School closures may ultimately prove to be the largest policy error of the pandemic era in both economic and mortality terms. One study found that school closures at the end of the previous 2019-2020 school year are associated with 13.8 million years of life lost. An NIH analysis found that life expectancy for high school graduates is 4 to 6 years longer than high school dropouts. The OECD estimates that learning losses from pandemic era school closures could cause a 3% decline in lifetime earnings, and that a loss of just one third of a year of learning has a long-term economic impact of $14 trillion.”

“Unlike mortality or economic outcomes, closing public schools was entirely under the control of policymakers. Almost all private schools were open,” the study concluded.

With the abysmal figures revealed in the survey, Lujan Grisham’s pandemic response shows to be one of the worst in the nation, and the third-worst state if the District of Columbia is excluded.

Study finds MLG had 4th-worst response to COVID-19 with ‘F’ rating Read More »

Colón endorsed by Planned Parenthood abortion business

4 Comments / New Mexico, News, Politics / By

On Saturday, far-left State Auditor Brian Colón, who is running for New Mexico attorney general, was endorsed by abortion up-to-birth group Planned Parenthood, which commits over 324,000 abortions annually.

Colón wrote on Twitter, “I’m proud to be endorsed by Planned Parenthood Votes NM.” He claimed that “conservative courts” are ignoring precedent regarding abortion, despite the procedure’s inhumane practice of killing children in the womb — a violation of constitutional rights. 

He wrote, “I’ll stand tall” with Planned Parenthood “to be a firewall in NM.” 

The radical abortion group endorsed Colón, as well as other Democrats vying for seats in the Legislature and statewide. 

Other endorsements by the abortion business include scandal-ridden alleged serial groper Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham, Lt. Gov. Howie Morales, Secretary of State Maggie Toulouse Oliver, Public Lands Commissioner Stephanie Garcia Richard, state auditor candidate Zachary Quintero, and left-wing radicals in the House such as Reps. Joy Garratt (D-Bernalillo), Andrea Romero (D-Santa Fe), and Joanne Ferrary (D-Doña Ana). 

According to the most recent statistics from 2019, New Mexico’s abortion rate doubled, while abortion mills open up around New Mexico as Gov. Lujan Grisham recently signed a bill in 2021 to legalize unlimited abortion up-to-birth and infanticide in the state. 

Now, as Colón has received the endorsement of the radical anti-life group, it could help his bid for the seat in the Democrat primary by peddling the far-left pro-abortion agenda. In the general election, however, support for the destruction of human life in the womb may not be as kind to him with the electorate, as pro-life Republican presumptive attorney general nominee Jeremy Gay could peel off pro-life Democrats and sway independents.

Colón endorsed by Planned Parenthood abortion business Read More »

NM man acquitted in Jan. 6 incursion trial

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On Wednesday, a federal judge acquitted Matthew Martin, a contractor for Los Alamos National Labs, of his involvement in the U.S. Capitol incursion which resulted in misdemeanor four misdemeanor.

U.S. District Judge Trevor McFadden acquitted on all four counts, saying Martin’s actions were “about as minimal and non-serious” as anyone who was at the Capitol that day.

McFadden described Martin’s testimony as “largely credible.” The Albuquerque Journal reported, “The judge said it was not unreasonable for him to believe that officers allowed him to enter the Capitol.”

“Defense attorney Dan Cron said Martin saw another person shake a police officer’s hand after entering the Capitol. Martin placed his hand on an officer’s shoulder ‘as a gesture of thanks and of good will,’ Cron said,” according to the Journal.

McFadden added that Martin appeared to be a “silent observer of the actions of others.”

NM man acquitted in Jan. 6 incursion trial Read More »

MLG’s special session: Dems pass payments that could go to illegals

2 Comments / New Mexico, News, Politics / By

On Tuesday, the New Mexico Legislature reconvened upon request of scandal-ridden alleged serial groper Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham. The special meeting of the Legislature came after fierce bipartisan backlash following her veto of $50 million in junior money that would go to each representative’s district. 

At the time, Lujan Grisham said she was “unconvinced” that the distribution of more than $50 million for projects across the state “upholds principles of fiscal responsibility.” This comes after she signed a mammoth $8.5 billion budget that included millions in funding for the Green New Deal, anti-gun programs, and taxpayer-funded “free” college.

Also included in the special session was an apparent attempt to buy votes by giving New Mexicans relief payments amid rising gas prices, but she refused to have the Legislature pass a tax cut on gasoline.

According to the Santa Fe New Mexican, these rebates are “payments of either $500 to individual adult taxpayers or $1,000 to households with joint income tax filers.” 

The outlet reported:

The payments will be disbursed in June and August. That way, [Rep. Christine] Chandler said, the economic effect on the state will be split between two budget years — 2022, which ends June 30, and 2023, which begins July 1.

Single taxpayers will receive two payments of $250 each, and couples who filed joint returns will get two payments of $500.

Taxpayers who filed their returns electronically will automatically receive their payments via direct deposit into their bank account. The state will mail checks to others.

But many Republicans claimed the bill would violate the state’s anti-donation clause.

“The gas rebate bill ended up not being a gas rebate bill. HB 2 has nothing to do with gas tax,” said Rep. Stefani Lord (R-Sandia Park). 

“A rebate means you filed taxes, and you get a rebate on personal income. HB 2 had a ‘payment’ (not a rebate) portion in section 2 that not only violated the anti-donation clause of the NM constitution but it also had a financial cap with a first come first serve limitation. 

We presented a substitute that would have removed the constitution violation, but it was denied.”

During the debate, Democrats claimed senior citizens did not know how to file taxes to attempt to ram it through. Rep. Eliseo Alcon (D-Milan) said, “Seniors don’t know how to do taxes.”

Illegal aliens and foreign nationals will receive money through the bill if they are registered with an Individual Taxpayer Identification Number (ITIN). The bill will cost taxpayers $700 million, which is taking more desperately needed money from the state’s general fund.

The bill passed 50-13 in the House of Representatives and by 35-1 in the Senate, with Sen. David Gallegos (D-Eunice) being the one vote against.

MLG’s special session: Dems pass payments that could go to illegals Read More »

BernCo-area elementary student shares edible THC candies with classmates

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According to reports from Tessa Mentus of KOB 4, an Algodones elementary student brought edible THC-infused candies to school, which were shared with classmates. This comes just days after legal recreational marijuana sales began on April 1 following Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham forcing a special legislative session to ram through the bill in 2021.

According to the release from the Bernalillo Public Schools:

At approximately 1:00 p.m., Algodones school administration was notified that a student brought edible THC infused candies and shared them with approximately 14 other students.

The District is collaborating with medical personnel and law enforcement to investigate and respond.

At this time, all involved students have been evaluated and are under the care of medical personnel and are stable. Parents have been notified. We will continue to make sure that all students are safe and healthy.

Like any other school system in New Mexico, we will have to grapple with educating our families, children, and staff on what to look for and how to provide safe environments for our children under this new era of legalization.

BernCo-area elementary student shares edible THC candies with classmates Read More »

MLG complains about self-inflicted fundraising blackout

2 Comments / New Mexico, News, Politics / By

On Tuesday, scandal-ridden alleged serial groper Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham is calling for another special session after she vetoed a junior spending bill that included funding for the Special Olympics, senior centers, and helping solve child abuse cases. 

The special session is likely a tactical move by Lujan Grisham to ram through more of her far-left policies through the pretext of revisiting the special project funding bill. However, reconvening the Legislature for a special session means a fundraising blackout for legislative candidates, sitting legislators, and the governor.

But despite Lujan Grisham’s actions being the sole reason for the special session, she is now complaining about the fundraising blackout. 

She wrote in a fundraising email, “I’m already behind on my fundraising goals because I was not allowed to fundraise during the legislative session from December through March – and ANOTHER fundraising blackout starts Tuesday.” She claimed she needed more cash before the blackout due to her “protect[ing] our state from far-right radicalism.”

In a follow-up email to Lujan Grisham’s, her campaign wrote, “ANOTHER fundraising blackout will start on April 5. This is horrible news in an election year.” 

Apparently, the far-left governor and her team are hoping potential donors to their campaign forget that Lujan Grisham’s fundraising blackout is self-inflicted due to her veto that resulted in bipartisan fury. Now, in true form, the governor is once again playing the victim to raise more cash.

Campaign funds from Lujan Grisham have been used inappropriately in the past, including $150,000 in hush money to the governor’s alleged groping victim and over $8,000 to her own daughter for hair and makeup services — a violation of state campaign finance law.

MLG complains about self-inflicted fundraising blackout Read More »

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