John Block

‘Superspreader’: Deb Haaland wanted to throw a party—Biden shut it down quick

1 Comment / New Mexico, News, Politics / By

On Friday, it was reported that newly sworn-in Department of the Interior secretary Deb Haaland tried to hold a party to celebrate her ascension to the command of the Department. Apparently, Jennifer Van der Heide, the Interior chief of staff, wanted to throw a “Southwest-themed” party for 50 people to commemorate the event. The event was scheduled to be held at 4:00 p.m. in the library of the Interior Department on March 16, 2021. 

But before invitations could be sent out, “The White House eventually got wind of the planned event, and the Office of Cabinet Affairs ordered it shut down.” They reportedly feared it could “ become a superspreader event.” 

“In addition to concerns about the size of the party in the middle of a still-virulent pandemic, White House officials expressed consternation about the political optics of hosting such an affair while the administration was urging Americans to be responsible about public health,” reports POLITICO. 

“The secretary and Interior leadership have diligently observed Covid protocols both in and out of the building,” said an Interior spokesperson in a statement. “That includes implementing a first-ever mask mandate for the agency, a stringent telework posture, and multiple communications to staff assuring them that their health and safety is a critical priority. What this shows is that junior staff made soft inquiries for something that never happened. That the new team conducted research and gathered estimates for potential future events and opportunities should not be shocking. There was no event at Interior.”

The POLITICO report also noted that “This is not the first time that Van der Heide has attracted negative attention for her work for a boss. In 2015, the Office of Congressional Ethics said that Van der Heide, when she was chief of staff for former Rep. Mike Honda (D-Calif.), had appeared to have run afoul of ethical guidelines that separate government activities from campaign activities. One example was how she emailed a campaign staffer asking the person “how are we doing to outreach to them for $?” for a State Department event that Honda co-hosted in 2013.” 

If the party was allowed to go forward, it would have directly violated the Biden administration’s March 8, 2021 guidelines recommending people “[a]void large events and gatherings, when possible.”

“Another Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) webpage, updated Feb. 18, says: “As much as possible, avoid crowds and indoor spaces that do not offer fresh air from the outdoors.” The D.C. public health emergency’s latest notice, issued last week, also says that indoor gatherings are limited to 10 people,” the report reads.

Also, the Biden administration’s Interior Department coronavirus workplace safety plan issued at the beginning of the year explicitly states that “no DOI indoor workplace or visitor experience facility, venue, or other areas where visitors typically congregate in large crowds should operate above 25% of normal occupancy standards during periods of significant or high community transmission as defined by CDC.”

“The party also seemed to violate the spirit of the Covid-19 telework and travel guidance for the White House issued to Cabinet agencies. ‘Remember that you and your senior staff are setting an example, not only for your agency staff and the rest of government, but for the American people,’ the guidance advises,” according to POLITICO. 

Haaland appears to be starting her tenure at the Department of the Interior much the same as she did while she was in Congress, where she repeatedly disgraced her office by claiming Antifa terrorists were “peaceful protesters” and demanding she will hold onto power while claiming President Trump is a “dictator.”

State Sen. Mark Moores wins GOP nomination to replace Deb Haaland in Congress

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On Saturday, the Republican Party of New Mexico State Central Committee met to consider the candidates running to replace former U.S. Congresswoman Deb Haaland in the First Congressional District, which encompasses most of Albuquerque and a large swath of Torrance County. 

Haaland, a far-left extremist member of Congress who repeatedly lied to constituents about countless issues, will now carry out Joe Biden’s assault on the energy industry in her new role as Department of the Interior under the allegedly fraudulent administration.

After some discussion and the final vote, moderate state Sen. Mark Moores, who was endorsed by many of his fellow moderate legislators, including Rep. Kelly Fajardo (R-Valencia), Sen. Ron Griggs (R-Doña Ana, Eddy, and Otero), and Sen. Greg Baca (R-Bernalillo & Valencia), won with 49 votes to the closest competitor garnering 34 votes.

Moores said during the meeting that he has already raised over $225,000 and is ready to get television advertisements in the works by tomorrow. He also claimed to have support from the Right to Life Committee of New Mexico and the National Rifle Association. 

Sen. Moores will now face off against the Democrats’ nominee, who will be picked on March 30, 2021. Candidates on the Democrat side include former UNM Law professor and state Sen. Antoinette Sedillo-Lopez, Reps. Georgene Louis, Melanie Stansbury, and Patricia Roybal Caballero, as well as former Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham staffer Victor Reyes, lawyer Randi McGinn, activist Selinda Guerrero, and Francisco Fernández. 

The apparent favorite on the Democrat side by the far-left Working Families Party is Sen. Sedillo-Lopez, followed by Rep. Stansbury. The Democrats will hold a candidate forum on Sunday ahead of their vote. The special election will be held on June 1, 2021.

The latest victim of Gov. Lujan Grisham’s lockdown: ENMU men’s soccer program

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On Friday, the Eastern New Mexico University (ENMU) Board of Regents in Portales announced that the university would be cutting its men’s soccer program “with the long-term interest of all our Eastern New Mexico students in mind,” according to athletic director Matt Billings.

According to a press release from the school, “The Greyhound soccer team became an NCAA varsity program in 2004. Most recently, during the 2019 season, the Hounds posted the most wins in a season in program history with an overall record of 12-5-1. Overall the program compiled a 75-134-35 record in 16 seasons.”

“All current men’s soccer student-athletes will have their athletic scholarships honored if they choose to remain at Eastern New Mexico. Those wishing to transfer will be given assistance moving to another program.”

The news comes as other programs across the country have been cut for good amid the COVID-19 pandemic, where lockdowns have virtually stopped all playing of college sports altogether, especially in New Mexico.

In October 2020, NBC News reported that “Twenty-six colleges and universities, from Stanford to Dartmouth College, have cut more than 90 sports programs.” That list has only grown since. 

Another tracker from Business of College Sports lists many other schools that have permanently cut programs, including universities such as Stanford, Dartmouth, Brown, and others.

The ENMU soccer program joins other entities across the state closing for good amid the pandemic, which has forced many college sports teams to flee the state altogether and play in states like Nevada and Texas.

For example, the 2020 New Mexico Bowl took place in Frisco, Texas due to Gov. Lujan Grisham’s strict COVID-19 lockdowns, which have shuttered countless communities resulting in financial ruin. 

NM pot org chief: ‘social justice’ provisions of special session weed bill ‘absolutely required’

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On Thursday’s episode of a startup podcast called “New Mexico Grass,” the show featured the New Mexico Cannabis Chamber of Commerce executive director Ben Lewinger to talk about marijuana legalization and his thoughts on New Mexico politics. The Chamber’s members include Big Pot donors to many legislators’ campaigns, such as PurLife and Nature RX.

During the interview, Lewinger was asked why it has taken so long to get close to a recreational marijuana bill passing. In his answer, he characterized rural areas of the state that lean Republican as stigmatized, claiming, “New Mexico is a hard blue state — a very progressive state, but once you get out of the urban areas of Las Cruces, Albuquerque, and Santa Fe, New Mexico is rural and conservative. And I think still the stigma around cannabis as an illicit substance is very much alive and well.”

He also blasted New Mexico’s citizen legislature, saying, “You know, for several reasons, New Mexico is not a state that is one that is set up to get things done quickly. Right?! We have — we’re the last state that has a volunteer legislature. If you look at, like, you know, California, those are full-time jobs.”

He added, “We’re the last state with volunteer legislators, and they meet 30 and 60 days alternating each year compared to California where it’s like Congress where they’re in session most of the year, and they can just get a lot more done.” 

“I think New Mexico still very much suffers from this idea that we don’t have the same ability to create our own reality as other states do,” said Lewinger. 

Regarding the marijuana proposal’s left-wing social justice aspects, Lewinger said these portions of the bill are “super important” and “absolutely required” for the bill. He said, “We absolutely have to do that.” 

“The way we’re trying to do it creates a mechanism for us to incorporate a lot of the very important social equity pieces, but it doesn’t mean that it’s the easiest way to do it. And that’s why, you know, we worked for several years to figure out how to create this legislative vehicle to get it done,” he said. 

Later in the interview, Lewinger said that he thought the Democrats’ recreational marijuana bill had an 88% to 100% chance of passing during a special session of the New Mexico Legislature. 

When asked about cannabis legalization on the national level, Lewinger said that he doesn’t expect Joe Biden to legalize cannabis nationwide. However, he says he will take it off the “schedule,” thereby decriminalizing it.

Lewinger then said, “I think the next Democratic president — Kamala Harris — will probably legalize cannabis.” 

Gov. Lujan Grisham has announced a special session to commence on March 30 to hash out the marijuana bill, as well as an economic development program, which is likely to extend through Holy Week ahead of Easter.

Read more about Big Pot’s donations to legislators’ campaigns here.

Congresswoman Herrell, GOP reps. talk oil and gas in Artesia amid Biden assault on energy industry

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On Thursday Congresswoman Yvette Herrell of New Mexico’s Second District and three of her Republican colleagues from around the country, Reps. Ronnie Jackson (R-TX), Rep. Claudia Tenney (R-NY), and Rep. Pete Stauber (R-MN), to discuss protecting the oil and gas sector. 

The delegation met with industry leaders in Artesia, which is in Eddy County, New Mexico’s second-largest oil-producing county, and especially hit hard by Joe Biden’s drilling ban on federal lands. 

Rep. Herrell said, “We had a great roundtable with several of the (oil and gas) stakeholders this morning so we could understand the challenges unique to the industry.” 

She also challenged Joe Biden to visit Artesia to “show him firsthand what is happening.” 

Rep. Stauber, who is the Ranking Member on the Energy and Mineral Resources Subcommittee, spoke about how his district is reliant on oil and natural gas, saying, “We’re not only an iron ore mining district but we’re also critical minerals, there’s a lot of pushback of mining critical minerals just as they are oil and gas production down here.” 

He added, “Meeting the environmental and labor standards and I think it brings good paying jobs to the community here. It helps with the schools. It brings money to the local communities and I think as we go forward, we have to recognize not only energy independence but dominating the energy sector.” 

Rep. Tenney said, “We have a moratorium in New York and we’re not allowed to access in many cases a lot of that shale and I just wanted to learn and listen how the energy sector affected the economy here.” 

“We’re grateful to learn and thank you Artesia to the wonderful people we met here. We’re very proud of their community and we are just grateful to hear from them and hear their concerns and take them back to Washington,” Tenney continued.

Rep. Jackson, whose district spans from Amarillo to Wichita Falls, Texas said that “It’s really interesting to hear the discussions we had today and I’ll just say, I think it’s really important how people in New Mexico need to know, especially people in urban areas, they need to know how important oil and gas is to their livelihood.” 

The delegation also visited a production facility to see first-hand the critical industry that is at stake if Biden continues his assault on the oil and gas industry. The four members of Congress toured an EOG Resources facility, where they got a hands-on look at the resources they are working in Congress to protect.

Stauber applauded Herrell in a tweet about his visit, saying, “When Biden issued bans on oil & gas development, she led the charge against his harmful action.” He also wrote, “I am proud to join her in defending American energy independence and our overall way of life!” 

Red to green: No matter what ‘color’ your county is, never forget MLG locked you down

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On Wednesday, many restaurants, shops, and other small businesses celebrated the shift from “red” (meaning nearly completely locked down) counties to less harsh yellow, turquoise, and green reopening statuses. With Wednesday’s announcement, not a single new Mexico county is in the “red.”

However, Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham (MLG) should not be thanked for these counties’ reopening plans. After all, MLG is the one who locked down the state to the harshest criteria in the nation throughout the pandemic, with sporadic reopening and then reclosing plans, which led to thousands of New Mexico small businesses going under–for good.

Lujan Grisham kept on changing the goalposts throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, repeatedly refusing to ease restrictions despite her supposed plan.

During the heat of the pandemic, Lujan Grisham shuttered businesses and demanded citizens comply with her COVID-19 restrictions. However, once Black Lives Matter and Antifa terrorists began marching in the streets and burning down businesses, she applauded them despite their refusal to obey her restrictions on mass gatherings, with many maskless protesters. 

Instead of reprimanding these people, she applauded their efforts, which undoubtedly helped spread COVID-19 to more New Mexicans. “This is a violation of the mass gatherings, no doubt, but we’re just going to take a leap of faith in protecting protesters who have no other way, quite frankly. Right? There’s no other way to be seen, to be heard, to be respected, and to be clear about your message,” she said.

Before Lujan Grisham’s color-coded lockdown, New Mexicans were subjected to arbitrary “benchmarks,” which she and advisor Dr. David Scrase repeatedly changed on a dime. Then, citizens were subjected to Lujan Grisham’s red, yellow, and green system. Then, she changed her three-color system to a four-color system, adding “turquoise.” 

Now, with New Mexico’s neighboring states reopening, Scrace says, “I get the natural tendency to wonder why we can’t be like them.” However, New Mexico remains shuttered, even at the “green” and “turquoise” levels, New Mexicans are mandated to wear masks, observe “social distancing,” and avoid mass gatherings. 

The Governor is trying to normalize strict lockdowns as the norm in New Mexico. Even at the green level, our state is bleeding cash and losing people to other states where the government is not hostile to businesses merely trying to make ends meet.  

Never forget that Michelle Lujan Grisham locked New Mexico down and crippled countless small businesses in the process. Her hypocritical “leadership” through COVID-19 has caused mass confusion, is responsible for thousands of deaths (including suicides) and is the single person to blame for our state’s bleak economic outlook. Do I even have to mention her jewelry buying spree at a shuttered business and her $200 per pound Wagyu steak dinners on the backs of the taxpayers through the “discretionary” slush fund?

Never forget what she did to you during COVID-19, and if you still are thinking about voting for her, then you are as lost as she is. 

Rep. Herrell, other members of Congress to hold Thursday oil and gas roundtable in Artesia

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On Wednesday, it was reported that Congresswoman Yvette Herrell (R-CD2) will be holding a roundtable with members of Congress from across the nation in Artesia focusing on oil and gas. 

Herrell has been pushing back, along with other Republican members of Congress, against Joe Biden’s extreme anti-energy agenda, including his moratorium on federal drilling permits. Herrell has urged other members of New Mexico’s congressional delegation to join her and Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham in urging Biden to exempt New Mexico from his corrosive anti-energy policies. 

According to Alex Ross of the Roswell Daily Record, Herrell will be joined in Artesia by Rep. Ronnie Jackson (R-TX), Rep. Claudia Tenney (R-NY), and Rep. Pete Stauber (R-MN) to discuss the critical issue. 

Artesia, which is in Eddy County, New Mexico’s second-largest oil-producing county, is especially hit hard by Biden’s anti-energy policies, which Interior Secretary Deb Haaland will no doubt be helping him implement in New Mexico and around the country. 

Herrell has been extremely active in Congress, fighting with her colleagues for many commonsense measures, such as punishment for people who murder police officers, a strong border, a strong agriculture industry, protecting oil and gas, and fighting for free and fair elections. 

On March 16, Herrell joined a congressional delegation visiting the Southern Border in Texas, which included Republican Leader Kevin McCarthy (R-CA) and Rep. Michael Cloud (R-TX). She also visited the U.S.-Mexico border in New Mexico, where she pointed out the meager “fence” protecting miles of border, which is allowing criminal aliens to pour into the U.S. 

Rep. Herrell recently opened two district offices, one in Roswell and one in Las Cruces. “My staff have already helped hundreds of constituents before even setting foot in their offices,” said Herrell. “We haven’t missed a beat in being accessible to those needing assistance and in communicating with local leaders across the district.”

Alamogordo cleans up two tons of trash in massive ‘Community Cleanup’ event

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On Saturday, Keep Alamogordo Beautiful, the Alamogordo Chamber of Commerce, and NMDOT District Two held a “Community Cleanup” event along the Charles Lee Memorial Relief Route that runs the length of the City of Alamogordo, where citizens helped clean up 4,000 pounds (two tons) of trash. 

According to a press release from the City of Alamogordo, “The event saw approximately 150 volunteers provide a total of 300 volunteer hours, which totals $7,407 in volunteer labor. Community members, clubs, and businesses alike all came out as they saw a need for litter eradication. Some of these clubs and businesses include: Thrive in Southern New Mexico, Boys and Girls Clubs of Otero County, the Rotary Club of White Sands, Pioneer Bank, Tularosa Communications, TDS, Zuni Electric, and Airmen with Holloman Air Force Base.” 

“Being a local business owner who was born and raised here, I’ve seen the growing need for litter removal along our byways. We live in a great community, but we need to help change the mindsets/culture surrounding litter. We need to remind folks to bag their trash, tie it down, and be more responsible,” said Rodney Eaton, President of Zuni Electric Inc.

“As a nation, $9.1 Billion is spent annually by businesses to remove unsightly litter. The presence of litter can reduce the value of a property by a little over 7%, and 36% of business development officials say that litter impacts the decision to locate to a community,” reads the press release. 

“It is our job as community members to limit the lasting footprint we each leave on our community’s environment,” says Josh Sides, Keep Alamogordo Beautiful Program Coordinator. “The Community Cleanup was a much-needed injection of adrenaline to the heart of volunteerism here in Alamogordo. It is important we all do our part to make, and ultimately keep, Alamogordo a clean, green, and more beautiful place. I cannot thank the Alamogordo community enough for the tremendous show of support exhibited on Saturday during the Community Cleanup. This is the first of many to come.” 

 “Adopt-A-Highway volunteers take tremendous pride in keeping New Mexico looking beautiful,” said District Two Maintenance Engineer Francesco Sanchez. “During these challenging financial times as we all try to maintain our highway assets with fewer funds, we rely on volunteers to help us keep our New Mexico roads clean and beautiful.”

The volunteers helped clean up nearly seven miles of roadway and around 4,000 pounds of trash, equating to 450 bags of trash were collected.

The community cleanup event is a shining example of New Mexicans coming together to brighten their communities despite challenging circumstances facing the state and the nation. 

New study finds that NM taxpayers get third-worst return on investment

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On Tuesday, it was first reported by The Center Square that New Mexico had ranked very low on a new Wallethub study showing taxpayer return on investment by state.

New Mexico ranked at the very bottom of the list as #48 with only the leftist states of California and Hawaii following the Land of Enchantment.

“Different states have dramatically different tax burdens. This begs the question of whether people in high-tax states receive superior government services,” Wallethub managing editor John S. Kiernan writes. “Likewise, are low-tax states more efficient or do they receive low-quality services? In short, where do taxpayers get the most and least bang for their buck?”

“While New Mexico residents pay the 14th highest local and state taxes among the 50 states, they receive the second worst services,” writes Dan McCaleb of The Center Square.

According to Wallethub, New Mexico is ranked #50 in education, #49 in violent crime, and #48 in resident poverty. 

“New Mexico has the third lowest taxpayer ROI. Although its residents pay fairly high taxes, around $4,600, the state ranks second to last in terms of the quality of government services received,” Wallethub analyst Jill Gonzalez told The Center Square. “Looking at education, New Mexico ranks last for quality of the school system, and has the lowest public high school graduation rate – less than 74%. Moreover, this rate is projected to decrease by 2032 by more than 11%. As a direct consequence of the low graduation rate, the state also has a large share of idle youth – 16%.”

New Mexico has been under heavy Democrat control for most of over 80 years, with taxpayers footing the bill for extreme left-wing policies, however, not getting much in return except a place at the top of just about every “bad” list and at the bottom of every “good” list. Democrats just met during the 2021 Legislative Session to raise taxes on thousands of New Mexicans.

Outgoing NMOGA chief Ryan Flynn leaves behind a record of failure for the oil and gas industry

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Last week, Ryan Flynn, the executive director of the New Mexico Oil and Gas Association (NMOGA), announced his departure from the organization, citing personal reasons and that he’s “exploring new opportunities in the private sector,” despite his current contract going through 2024. 

Flynn, a former cabinet secretary under the Susana Martinez administration, joined NMOGA in 2016. Since his ascension to the top of the organization, it has led to crippling defeats in New Mexico for oil producers.

Under Flynn’s leadership, the association took a “neutral” stance on Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham’s “mini” Green New Deal in 2019, a bill that solely seeks to destroy the oil and gas industry in New Mexico under the guise of “environmentalism” and reaching a “net-zero” carbon emissions standard. 

Flynn touts how NMOGA prides itself on its “nonpartisanship.” However, under his leadership, it has almost exclusively given monetary donations to Democrats, including $25,000 to Democrat Speaker Brian Egolf’s PAC in the 2020 cycle, which helped pick off moderate pro-energy Democrats and schlong the GOP in many competitive seats. 

In 2018, NMOGA funneled $5,500 to rabidly anti-energy then-U.S. Rep. Michelle Lujan Grisham’s gubernatorial race, helping her reach the governor’s mansion, directly helping the hostile woman take the reins and ram through the Green New Deal.

In October of 2019, after Lujan Grisham’s win, NMOGA had her speak at their annual meeting, where she claimed to support the industry that the same year she worked to undermine and attempt to destroy. 

NMOGA directly funded a party hostile to pro-energy Republicans, and to make matters worse, it defended Democrat former U.S. Rep. Xochitl Torres Small in her fight against current U.S. Rep. Yvette Herrell in the 2020 2nd Congressional District race. 

Torres Small endorsed Gov. Lujan Grisham’s “mini” Green New Deal, while Herrell has been nothing but a champion for oil and gas during her time in the state Legislature and on the campaign trail. Under Flynn’s leadership, the association also donated $1,500 to Torres Small’s husband, state Rep. Nathan Small (D-Doña Ana).

Flynn’s defense of Torres Small led to Republican leaders sending a letter lambasting his use of NMOGA as a Democrat political machine, writing, “So, what is Flynn’s motive? We aren’t exactly sure, but this pattern of lies has effectively destroyed any trust we had in him to be a fair advocate for NMOGA.” 

“While we cannot dictate to NMOGA who should be running its organization, we would suggest the association consider putting a person in its leadership who does not spread misinformation and puts personal political preferences ahead of the interests of the oil and gas industry and the workers it supports,” the letter continued.

In January, Flynn praised Joe Biden as he began to dismantle energy producers, cut off the Keystone XL Pipeline project, and cut off federal permits for drilling on federal land. Flynn said he was “encouraged” by these moves.

In this legislative session, Flynn’s NMOGA once again took “neutral” stances on rabidly anti-energy proposals, such as S.B. 11, which would have forced through “clean fuel standards,” ultimately driving up the price of gas on consumers by over 20 cents per gallon. New Mexicans heard crickets from Flynn… 

These costly anti-oil proposals, which big national oil companies can afford to take on for a PR stunt to seem more “environmentally friendly,” will not fare well for smaller producers in our state, as they barely hold on as it is.

After this massive record of failure, not to mention Flynn disgracing the association by getting a DWI while driving under the influence with Susana Martinez’s fundraiser, Jessica Perez, it is a travesty he was not removed years ago.

It is unclear who will now take the reins at the New Mexico Oil and Gas Association, but one can only hope it will be an actual champion for New Mexicans and the critical oil and gas industry.

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