Piñon Post

Aztec lawmaker Steve Lanier seeks to end Dems’ gold on NM governor’s office

Leave a Comment / New Mexico, News, Politics / By

Republican state Sen. Steve Lanier of Aztec has officially entered the 2026 race for New Mexico governor, joining what is shaping up to be a competitive GOP primary field.

Lanier, who represents Senate District 2 in the Four Corners region, announced his candidacy Thursday, promising to restore accountability and deliver what he described as “real, servant leadership” for the state. His entry comes as Republicans aim to reclaim the Governor’s Office after nearly a decade of Democratic control under Michelle Lujan Grisham.

“As someone who has spent my life serving this community — in the classroom, on the field, and now in the legislature — I know what makes New Mexico special,” Lanier said in a prepared statement. “Our state deserves leadership that listens, works hard, and puts people first.”

Before his election to the state Senate in 2024, Lanier spent nearly three decades as a teacher and football coach at Aztec High School. A graduate of Western New Mexico University, he later served on the San Juan County Commission from 2020 to 2022 before moving on to the Legislature. His campaign, according to a news release, “aims to rebuild trust in government, support rural communities, enhance education, and develop safe, prosperous neighborhoods throughout New Mexico.”

Lanier’s deep ties to the region and background in public service are expected to be central themes of his campaign. He has built a reputation as a pragmatic conservative who emphasizes traditional values, fiscal responsibility, and respect for local control—issues that often resonate with rural voters across the state.

The Republican field also includes Rio Rancho Mayor Gregg Hull, who announced his campaign earlier this year and has already begun fundraising. Hull, the city’s longest-serving mayor, is emphasizing economic growth and public safety as key planks in his platform. According to state campaign finance records, Hull is currently the only GOP contender actively raising money. Three other Republicans have filed initial paperwork with the Secretary of State’s Office.

On the Democratic side, several high-profile figures are vying to succeed term-limited Gov. Lujan Grisham. They include U.S. Interior Secretary and former Congresswoman Deb Haaland, Bernalillo County District Attorney Sam Bregman, and longtime Las Cruces Mayor Ken Miyagishima.

Although Democrats maintain a roughly 130,000-voter registration advantage and hold all statewide offices, Republicans remain hopeful they can capitalize on national momentum and President Donald Trump’s 2024 performance in New Mexico, when he came within six points of winning the state — the best showing for a GOP presidential candidate since George W. Bush narrowly carried it in 2004.

The primary elections for both parties will take place in June 2026, setting the stage for a potentially high-stakes general election in November. Whoever emerges victorious will inherit a state facing challenges ranging from crime and education to economic development and energy policy — issues likely to dominate the campaign trail in the months ahead.

Lanier’s campaign announcement marks a renewed Republican effort to present a united front behind candidates who can appeal to voters across party lines and offer an alternative to years of Democratic rule in Santa Fe.

Aztec lawmaker Steve Lanier seeks to end Dems’ gold on NM governor’s office Read More »

What to know about Mon. special session as Luján, Heinrich refuse to reopen gov’t

13 Comments / New Mexico, News, Politics / By

The New Mexico Legislature will return to Santa Fe on Monday, November 10, for a one-day special session called by Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham to continue emergency food assistance for roughly 460,000 New Mexicans receiving Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits, which the ongoing federal government shutdown has disrupted.

The shutdown — now the longest in U.S. history — stems from Democrats in Washington refusing to pass government-funding legislation unless it includes an extension of COVID-era health insurance subsidies to large health insurance companies and the wealthy. As a result, key federal programs, including SNAP, have been halted, leaving millions of Americans uncertain about costs.

What Lawmakers Will Address

According to information circulating in Santa Fe, the legislation expected to be considered on Monday would authorize up to $20 million per week from the state’s general fund operating reserve to continue food assistance until the federal government resumes funding or until mid-January 2026. The measure also includes reverting unused balances from prior state health programs to the general fund and small appropriations for legislative expenses and court security upgrades.

The proposal follows the governor’s earlier decision to release $30 million in emergency funds in early November to provide temporary state-funded SNAP benefits. Those funds are expected to run out by Monday.

While the governor and Democrat leaders have characterized the session as a humanitarian necessity, Republican lawmakers argue that the crisis is entirely avoidable — and caused by Washington Democrats themselves.

GOP Leaders: “Democrats Are Holding Families Hostage”

House Republican Leader Gail Armstrong (R-Magdalena) blasted the governor’s decision to call another special session, saying it is the direct result of the federal inaction of New Mexico’s Democrat U.S. Senators.

“We are being called into another special session because Senators Luján and Heinrich are refusing to fund SNAP benefits for the neediest New Mexicans,” said Armstrong. “I would much prefer the Governor use her authority and influence to urge our Senate delegation to end this crisis by voting to reopen the federal government. Instead, they are holding vulnerable New Mexicans hostage for political leverage. The people of this state deserve more than the costly and dangerous political games Senators Luján and Heinrich continue to play.”

Senate Republican Leader Bill Sharer (R-Farmington) echoed that sentiment, placing full responsibility on New Mexico’s Democrat delegation in Washington.

“Ben Ray Luján and Martin Heinrich have made it crystal clear: They don’t care about you,” Sharer said. “They have prioritized party politics over serving their constituents back home. Senators Luján and Heinrich have set a new low by holding the hard-working people of New Mexico hostage as political pawns for their partisan theatrics, forcing state lawmakers to shoulder the cost so that vulnerable New Mexicans can put food on their tables for the holidays.”

Sharer added that without the state’s oil and gas industry — which generates the revenue for New Mexico’s operating reserves — the state would have no means to cover this lapse in federal funding. “We should all be grateful for our state’s oil & gas industries; without the revenues they generate, New Mexico would not even have the funds available to cover this lapse,” he said.

A Question of Fiscal Responsibility

Fiscal conservatives have warned that while the state can temporarily sustain food assistance, relying on emergency reserves to backfill federal programs is unsustainable. “Temporary state intervention is understandable, but it cannot become a habit,” one legislative analyst said. “New Mexico should not be forced to pay for Washington’s failures.”

The special session, expected to last one day, will convene at noon Monday at the State Capitol. Acting Gov. Howie Morales will preside while Gov. Lujan Grisham attends the United Nations climate conference in Brazil.

While lawmakers across party lines agree that no family should go hungry, the broader debate remains clear: whether Santa Fe should continue to patch over a crisis created by what Republicans call “the Democrat shutdown” — or demand accountability from Washington to reopen the government and restore fiscal order.

What to know about Mon. special session as Luján, Heinrich refuse to reopen gov’t Read More »

President Trump nominates Fmr. NM Congressman Pearce to lead BLM

13 Comments / New Mexico, News, Politics / By

President Donald Trump has nominated Republican former New Mexico Congressman Steve Pearce to serve as director of the Bureau of Land Management (BLM), the federal agency that oversees more than 245 million acres of public lands across the country, including millions in New Mexico. 

Pearce, a longtime conservative and former state Republican Party chairman, would take over an agency that manages nearly half of all federal lands in New Mexico and a significant portion of the state’s oil and natural gas production.

Pearce’s nomination comes months after Trump’s first choice, Kathleen Sgamma, withdrew her name from consideration following controversy over past remarks about the January 6, 2021, Capitol riot. Trump’s pick of Pearce, a Hobbs native who represented New Mexico’s Second Congressional District from 2003 to 2009 and again from 2011 to 2019, signals an effort to install a seasoned Western lawmaker who has long championed energy development and rural industries. 

As a member of the U.S. House Natural Resources Committee, Pearce helped oversee BLM activities. He often criticized what he saw as federal overreach on land and energy policies that, he argued, hurt working families and small businesses in his state.

Supporters of the nomination applauded the move. Wyoming Republican Sen. Cynthia Lummis called Pearce’s selection “a major win for the West,” adding, “Steve’s leadership will be invaluable in managing our public lands and wisely stewarding our resources.” The National Cattlemen’s Beef Association also issued a statement supporting Pearce, noting his familiarity with the challenges facing Western ranchers and landowners. “Having represented New Mexico, former Rep. Steve Pearce understands the important role that public lands play across the West,” the group said.

Environmental organizations quickly denounced the appointment. The Denver-based Center for Western Priorities said Pearce “has spent his entire political career blocking Americans’ access to public lands while giving the oil and gas industry free rein to drill and frack anywhere they wanted.” 

Conservationists also cited Pearce’s long-standing opposition to the creation of the Organ Mountains–Desert Peaks National Monument near Las Cruces, which was established in 2014 under President Barack Obama despite Pearce’s objections. During his time in Congress, Pearce argued that such designations hindered economic growth and local control, a position that drew sharp criticism from environmental groups and Democratic lawmakers.

New Mexico’s Democratic senators, Martin Heinrich and Ben Ray Luján, expressed skepticism about the nomination. Luján said he had “serious concerns that Mr. Pearce would serve only to advance President Trump’s agenda and roll back the progress we’ve fought to achieve — from strengthening our outdoor recreation economy to protecting our lands and environment.” 

Heinrich said he would review the nomination carefully but warned that “we need a person in this position who will be a good steward of our public lands for all of us, not divvy them out as political favors.”

The BLM plays an especially influential role in New Mexico, managing about 13.5 million acres—roughly 17 percent of the state’s total land area—and overseeing major oil and gas operations that provide a significant share of the state’s revenue. 

Royalties from federal production have fueled New Mexico’s budget surplus and helped grow the state’s Early Childhood Trust Fund, which now exceeds $10 billion. Pearce, who previously owned an oilfield services company, has long advocated for expanding domestic energy production and reducing federal restrictions on development.

The 78-year-old Pearce has been a fixture in New Mexico politics for decades. In addition to his years in Congress, he served in the state House of Representatives in the 1990s and led the state Republican Party for six years until stepping down last year. Pearce ran unsuccessfully for the U.S. Senate in 2008 against Democrat Tom Udall and for governor in 2018 against Michelle Lujan Grisham. 

His nomination to the BLM post will now go before the U.S. Senate for confirmation, though the ongoing federal government shutdown could delay a vote. If confirmed, Pearce would replace outgoing director Tracy Stone-Manning and would become one of the most influential figures shaping federal land policy in the American West.

President Trump nominates Fmr. NM Congressman Pearce to lead BLM Read More »

Disgraced ex-WNMU prez accuses top Dems of racketeering, political payback

10 Comments / New Mexico, News, Politics / By

A newly filed whistleblower and racketeering lawsuit from disgraced former Western New Mexico University (WNMU) President Dr. Joseph Shepard has exploded into one of the most serious allegations of political retaliation and corruption in recent New Mexico history. The 75-page complaint, filed in Grant County District Court, names as defendants WNMU, Senate Finance Chairman George Muñoz, former State Senator Siah Correa Hemphill, Senate President Pro Tem Mimi Stewart, State Auditor Joseph Maestas, and WNMU Board of Regents Vice Chair John Wertheim.

Shepard’s lawsuit claims he became the target of a coordinated campaign to destroy his career and reputation after he exposed what he describes as a fraudulent $1 million legislative appropriation involving Sen. Correa Hemphill and Sen. Muñoz. The appropriation allegedly funneled taxpayer dollars through WNMU to the Aldo Leopold Charter School, where Correa Hemphill’s children attended. Shepard alleges the money was laundered to benefit the senator and her husband, Jay Hemphill, a WNMU photographer, and that another $250,000 was steered to the university’s Mimbres Press to publish a photography book by her husband.

According to the complaint, when Shepard raised concerns about the scheme in 2023, Sen. Muñoz threatened him directly, saying he would “use all of his powers as Chair of the Finance Committee” to conduct an audit and “make life difficult for Shepard”. Shortly afterward, the Office of the State Auditor launched multiple investigations into WNMU, aided by the State Ethics Commission and the Higher Education Department. Shepard claims these probes were politically motivated efforts to discredit him after he reported the alleged corruption to state officials, including Attorney General Raúl Torrez.

The lawsuit also implicates powerful Democratic figures in a broader retaliatory conspiracy. Shepard alleges that Senate Pro Tem Mimi Stewart, a political ally of Correa Hemphill, helped coordinate a smear campaign through media contacts, while Auditor Maestas abused his office to “weaponize” investigations against him. The filing accuses WNMU Regent John Wertheim—a former state Democratic Party chairman and ally of Sen. Muñoz—of colluding with newly appointed Regents to invalidate Shepard’s separation agreement and faculty contract in violation of the Whistleblower Protection Act.

Shepard’s court filing portrays a pattern of political vengeance and state overreach, calling the affair “a roadmap to what transpires if you are deemed a threat to power.” It draws parallels to the political retaliation faced by his wife, former CIA operative Valerie Plame, after her identity was exposed during the Iraq War scandal.

The former university president argues he was unlawfully terminated in July 2025, seven months after a previously approved settlement with the university. He claims the retaliation escalated even after an independent forensic audit cleared him of any wrongdoing—finding no fraud, misuse of funds, or personal enrichment.

Shepard’s complaint seeks damages for retaliation, defamation, and violations under New Mexico’s Whistleblower Protection Act and the state’s RICO statute, asserting that public officials used “the power and unlimited resources of the State to destroy a citizen and his reputation.”

“This case is about principle,” the lawsuit declares. “It brings to light the pervasive corruption in the state of New Mexico that keeps it mired at the bottom of nearly every national ranking of value.”

“As a state senator whose district includes Western New Mexico University, it was my job to ensure transparency and accountability, and that includes asking why Dr. Shepherd was spending public money for first class travel and expensive furniture,” Correa Hemphill told the Albuquerque Journal. “It is disheartening that, out of his position as president, Dr. Shepherd is misrepresenting facts in a lawsuit to attack my credibility. The truth is that his claims are based on legislative funding that he asked for himself, and I trust the court system to set this straight.

“For now, though, I invite the community and media to help ensure that the facts are presented accurately. We all share a common goal of strengthening WNMU and the community.”

The explosive allegations are likely to send shockwaves through state government, potentially implicating top legislators and officials in what Shepard’s attorneys describe as an “orchestrated campaign of retaliation and cover-up.”

Read the full lawsuit for yourself here:

Whistleblower-and-RICO-complaint-ShepardDownload

Disgraced ex-WNMU prez accuses top Dems of racketeering, political payback Read More »

Lame-duck Lujan Grisham jets to Brazil—Leaving NM behind (again)

9 Comments / New Mexico, News, Politics / By

Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham is once again heading overseas—this time to Brazil—for a United Nations climate conference, extending a well-documented pattern of globe-trotting that has characterized much of her tenure. The Democrat, who is now entering her final year in office and is barred by term limits from running again, has made international travel something of a hallmark during her two terms, earning praise from environmental allies and criticism from those who see her as more focused on international photo ops than the needs of New Mexicans.

According to her office, the governor departed the state on Saturday to participate in a two-week U.N. climate change conference in Belém, Brazil, where she will also speak at several panels in Rio de Janeiro before the official start of the summit. She is traveling without any Cabinet secretaries, though her deputy chief of operations, Caroline Buerkle, is accompanying her. Her travel costs are being covered not by taxpayers but by Bloomberg Philanthropies, founded by billionaire Michael Bloomberg. While Lt. Gov. Howie Morales temporarily serves as acting governor, Lujan Grisham will remain out of state until mid-November.

The Brazil trip is only the latest in a string of overseas journeys that critics say highlight the governor’s penchant for luxury travel at a time when many New Mexicans are struggling with high costs and economic stagnation. In recent years, Lujan Grisham has jetted across the world to attend climate summits and trade missions, building what some have called a “jet-setting legacy” as she approaches the end of her administration. She has previously traveled to Glasgow, Scotland, for the COP26 climate conference in 2021, where she proclaimed, “I am so proud of the work we have done in under three years, but I know that we—as a state, as a nation, as a planet—must go further by pursuing bold, equitable, and just climate solutions.” That appearance marked her debut on the international climate stage, where she began branding herself as a global climate leader.

She followed up that appearance with trips to Egypt in 2022 for the next U.N. climate conference and to Dubai in 2023 for another round of talks, continuing to burnish her image abroad while leaving many in New Mexico wondering what tangible benefits such travel has brought to the state. In May 2024, she led a delegation to Rotterdam, Netherlands, promoting hydrogen production and claiming the trip would “sell New Mexico as a dynamic and thriving place for hydrogen industry investment.” That fall, she crossed the Pacific to Australia to attend the Asia-Pacific Hydrogen Summit, again touting the state’s energy transition goals.

Earlier this year, she embarked on yet another trade mission—this time to Singapore and Japan—where she met with business leaders and foreign dignitaries, including Singapore’s Prime Minister Lawrence Wong, to discuss advanced manufacturing and clean energy partnerships. Her office emphasized that this trip was financed by a private economic development group, but it did little to quell criticism over her constant absences. As one media report bluntly put it, the governor “has spent more time outside the state than in New Mexico over the past five weeks.”

In addition to her foreign excursions, Lujan Grisham has made frequent visits to Washington, D.C., often appearing at National Governors Association events, White House meetings, and national panels on climate and energy policy. Her D.C. appearances have been frequent enough to draw scrutiny from local observers, who argue that her increasing national profile has come at the expense of hands-on leadership at home.

The governor’s office defends the travel as part of a broader effort to bring investment to New Mexico, particularly in renewable energy. However, her international agenda stands in stark contrast with her pragmatic posture toward the state’s oil and gas industry, which remains one of the largest in the country. She has described her approach as “balanced” and “pragmatic,” acknowledging in a September press conference that “someone is going to sue us on either side of this equation.” Despite such rhetoric, her administration faces lawsuits from both environmentalists who say she hasn’t gone far enough to protect residents from pollution and energy advocates who say she has strangled development with regulation.

For many New Mexicans, though, the central issue is less about her climate record than her visibility. From Scotland to Egypt, Dubai to Rotterdam, and Singapore to Japan, the governor has amassed an impressive collection of stamps in her passport—yet the tangible results for New Mexico remain murky. Her defenders point to international recognition and new business ties; her critics see a lame-duck governor more concerned with her global reputation than the realities of a struggling state.

As she attends yet another United Nations conference this month in Brazil—her fifth international climate summit since 2021—New Mexicans are left to question whether these trips are truly about advancing the state’s interests or polishing her personal legacy on the world stage. Either way, the image is clear: while New Mexico grapples with rising crime, lagging education, and persistent poverty, its outgoing governor is spending her final year not in Santa Fe, but jetting across the globe.

Lame-duck Lujan Grisham jets to Brazil—Leaving NM behind (again) Read More »

KOAT 7 interview: Woman who has been on SNAP for three decades fumes

20 Comments / New Mexico, News, Politics / By

For Maggie Aragon, a New Mexico woman who’s relied on federal food assistance for more than 30 years, the moment her SNAP balance dropped to zero was life-altering, she says.

“When I heard, ‘Zero dollars,’ my chest went into my throat,” Aragon told KOAT 7 News, describing the fear and panic that set in when she discovered her benefits had been cut off due to the ongoing Democrat-led government shutdown. “It’s detrimental to my life.”

Aragon, who said she also depends on local food banks to survive, is one of tens of thousands of New Mexicans now facing uncertainty as the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) runs out of funding. However, it shows the cracks in what is supposed to be a temporary system, letting people live off of SNAP for not just years, but decades. With New Mexico having the highest percentage of SNAP recipients in the nation, the effects of the shutdown are being felt most sharply here, making it a wake-up call.

According to federal data, Democrats, including U.S. Sens. Martin Heinrich and Ben Ray Luján of New Mexico, have voted at least 13 times against measures to reopen the government, keeping critical programs like SNAP and WIC unfunded for more than a month. The result has been a funding freeze, leaving millions of Americans — including 460,000 New Mexicans — with empty accounts.

While Democrats such as Rep. Gabe Vasquez (NM-02) have tried to deflect blame, the reality is that their votes to block short-term spending bills directly caused the freeze. SNAP funds were already strained after a 40% program expansion under Joe Biden, which ballooned costs to record levels.

Revelations of widespread fraud and abuse in the SNAP program have further inflamed the situation. In a stunning admission this week, U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins called for a complete overhaul of the EBT system following the exposure of massive corruption.

Federal investigators found:

  • A 40% surge in SNAP spending under the Biden administration.
  • Twenty-one Democrat-led states refusing to cooperate with federal data-sharing efforts designed to stop illegal immigrant access to benefits.
  • Thousands of fraudulent cases uncovered nationwide, including EBT cards used by deceased recipients.
  • Over 100 arrests tied to SNAP fraud rings exploiting the system.

Critics say the chaos underscores years of Democrat mismanagement and misplaced priorities. Instead of reforming a broken program and protecting taxpayer dollars, Democrats doubled down on waste and dependency — and now the poorest Americans are paying the price.

Even Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham’s measly $30 million state stopgap plan, announced last week, offers little relief — providing just around $65 per recipient.

As the shutdown enters its second month, Aragon’s story captures the human toll of Washington dysfunction: a government that has let a woman rely on federal aid for three decades — and then suddenly being cut off.

The growing scandal has reignited debate over both the future of SNAP and the political games that keep families trapped in dependency while fraudsters exploit the system. For now, as Democrats continue to block efforts to reopen the government, Aragon and millions of others are left staring at zero — and wondering next steps.

KOAT 7 interview: Woman who has been on SNAP for three decades fumes Read More »

Med school applicant with 99th percentile MCAT sues UNM for racist admissions

2 Comments / New Mexico, News, Politics / By

A former top medical school applicant is suing the University of New Mexico School of Medicine, alleging the institution illegally rejected him on the basis of race in violation of federal civil rights laws.

In a federal complaint filed Tuesday in the U.S. District Court for the District of New Mexico, Michael Jakiche claims the university’s admissions office discriminated against him despite his exceptional academic record and test scores. Jakiche says the school waitlisted him in 2024 even though his Medical College Admission Test (MCAT) score was in the 99th percentile, placing him ahead of nearly all applicants.

According to the lawsuit, the Albuquerque-based medical school later rejected his reapplication in 2025, citing “individual qualities,” “experiences,” and “diversity” factors that supposedly outweighed his academic credentials. Jakiche, who is of Syrian descent, argues that these factors were a pretext for racial discrimination.

The lawsuit alleges UNM’s admissions process violates the 2023 Supreme Court ruling that struck down affirmative action and race-based admissions practices in higher education. Jakiche’s legal team contends that the university continues to favor certain racial or ethnic groups over others despite the Court’s decision.

Included in the filing is correspondence from an associate dean who, when asked why Jakiche was not accepted, repeatedly referred to the school’s ongoing commitment to “diversity.” The complaint claims this admission is evidence that race played a role in the decision.

Jakiche, who graduated summa cum laude in biophysics from Arizona State University, is represented by attorneys from the Liberty Justice Center, a Texas-based legal nonprofit that frequently challenges what it views as unconstitutional race-conscious policies. The group announced the lawsuit Thursday.

“Universities have discriminated in admissions for so long, they apparently don’t know how to stop,” said Reilly Stephens, senior counsel for the Liberty Justice Center, in a statement. “Even after the Supreme Court finally made it clear that rigging the system for preferred demographic groups is illegal, it’s proving necessary to remind these institutions of their responsibilities again and again.”

The lawsuit seeks compensation for Jakiche’s application and legal expenses, as well as a court order requiring UNM to reconsider his application and cease using race in admissions decisions.

UNM spokesman Chris Ramirez rejected the allegations in a statement Thursday. “While The University of New Mexico generally does not comment on litigation, we can tell you that UNM follows all state and federal anti-discrimination laws,” he said. “In accordance with federal law, the UNM School of Medicine does not use race or gender as criteria for admission.”

The conservative medical advocacy group Do No Harm also weighed in, previously identifying the UNM School of Medicine as one of the nation’s five worst offenders for maintaining race-conscious policies despite the Supreme Court’s ruling.

“The UNM School of Medicine is an ultra-woke medical school where administrators fixate on identity box-checking and leftist social activism,” said Ian Kingsbury, the organization’s Center for Accountability in Medicine director. “It’s alarming but not surprising that their admissions process is alleged to run afoul of the Supreme Court’s decision to end racially conscious admissions policies.”

The case adds to a growing list of legal challenges testing whether universities are truly complying with the Supreme Court’s landmark ruling, as the broader debate over merit-based admissions versus diversity initiatives continues to divide academia.

Med school applicant with 99th percentile MCAT sues UNM for racist admissions Read More »

Vasquez, Dems shut down government, but he claims to ‘protect troops’ pay’

20 Comments / New Mexico, News, Politics / By

As the federal government shutdown drags into its fifth week, vulnerable Democrat Rep. Gabe Vasquez (NM-02) is facing sharp criticism for what opponents call stunning hypocrisy — publicly demanding troop pay and food assistance even as he voted for the very shutdown that cut off those funds.

According to the National Republican Congressional Committee (NRCC), Democrats have now voted 13 times against reopening the government, leaving programs such as SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program) and WIC (Women, Infants, and Children) defunded. Funding for these programs is set to run out on November 1, potentially cutting off food aid to millions, including around 460,000 New Mexicans, the state with the highest percentage of SNAP recipients in the nation. However, New Mexico is one of the states with the highest SNAP fraud rates. 

In an October 8 press release, Vasquez attempted to distance himself from the consequences of his own vote by urging House Speaker Mike Johnson to “get Republicans back to Washington to vote to pay our servicemen and women.” He warned that “nearly three million military families will miss their next paycheck,” calling the situation “unacceptable.”

Yet, Vasquez conveniently omitted his role in voting to shut down the government — the very action that halted military pay and threatened benefits for service members and their families. “Our troops selflessly serve and defend our country every single day, and they deserve to be paid on time for their work,” Vasquez said. But critics note that his party’s refusal to fund the government is the reason paychecks stopped in the first place.

NRCC spokesman Reilly Richardson blasted Vasquez’s mixed messaging, saying, “Gabe Vasquez jeopardized critical food assistance for millions of New Mexicans so he could score political points with his radical base. Hardworking families know they can’t rely on Vasquez to fight for them in Washington.”

The contradiction goes further. In his press release, Vasquez boasted of “fighting for working-class Americans’ access to health care” and “supporting our troops.” But those very services have been disrupted under the month-long shutdown Democrats continue to defend.

Meanwhile, Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham announced a $30 million state food-assistance package to temporarily “fill the gap” left by the frozen federal funds. However, the plan would amount to just $65.21 per SNAP recipient — hardly enough to offset the economic pain caused by Washington’s dysfunction. 

The NRCC argues that Vasquez’s push for letters, press releases, and symbolic legislation like the Pay Our Troops Act cannot hide the fact that his own vote forced troops to work without pay and put families at risk of hunger.

Even the nation’s labor unions — organizations that have always leaned left — are begging Democrats to reopen the government for the sake of workers. 

As the shutdown hits day 30, frustration is mounting across New Mexico — especially among military families stationed at White Sands Missile Range and Holloman Air Force Base. For them, Vasquez’s rhetoric rings hollow. He can issue as many press releases as he wants, but until Democrats end the blockade and vote to reopen the government, both troops and struggling families will continue paying the price for his party’s political games.

Vasquez, Dems shut down government, but he claims to ‘protect troops’ pay’ Read More »

CNN’s Jake Tapper smacks Melanie Stansbury with dose of reality

26 Comments / New Mexico, News, Politics / By

As the federal government shutdown reaches 30 days, CNN host Jake Tapper pressed far-left Rep. Melanie Stansbury (D–N.M.) on her party’s repeated votes against reopening the government and the growing strain on federal nutrition programs.

During the exchange, Tapper directly challenged Stansbury over Senate Democrats’ refusal to support measures that would end the shutdown.

“This is … a choice by Senate Democrats to NOT vote to open the government,” Tapper said.

Stansbury pushed back, replying, “No, it is not!”

Tapper then followed up:

“If you feel so strongly… why not ask the Senate Democrats from New Mexico to vote to OPEN the government so the SNAP funds…”

Stansbury responded, “I’m fighting for SNAP!”

The far-left Democrat congresswoman tried to claim Democrats were fighting for money already appropriated, but Tapper noted how said funds were only to last weeks at most and not a lasting solution whatsoever, to which Stansbury took offense and continued trying to spar with the CNN host. 

The exchange highlighted the growing tension within the Democratic Party as the shutdown enters its fifth week. Despite Stansbury’s insistence that she supports federal nutrition programs such as SNAP and WIC, she voted against a House bill to keep the government open earlier this month.

Democrats in the Senate have voted 13 times against proposals that would have reopened the government, blocking short-term funding measures advanced by House Republicans, as well as a “clean” bill that would merely keep current funding levels on all programs. Even some Democrat senators, such as Sen. John Fetterman of Pennsylvania, joined Republicans in working to try to reopen the government despite the Democrats’ shutdown.

Those bills would have kept essential programs funded while broader negotiations continued, but Democrats chose to let the benefits run out to give health care to criminal aliens and extend COVID-era programs that Democrat-led congresses and Joe Biden set sunsets on.

As a result, agencies are running low on resources, and programs that provide food assistance to millions of families are nearing exhaustion of contingency funds. Both SNAP and WIC are expected to face service disruptions if Congress does not act soon.

Republicans argue that Democrats are using the shutdown as leverage for political gain — at the expense of families who rely on these programs. Meanwhile, Tapper’s questioning underscored the growing public frustration with the standoff, as Stansbury refused to call on Democrat Sens. Martin Heinrich and Ben Ray Luján to support reopening the government.

With the shutdown now at 30 days and no compromise in sight, critical aid programs continue to hang in the balance.

CNN’s Jake Tapper smacks Melanie Stansbury with dose of reality Read More »

Dem state lawmaker launches site to impede ICE operations, target officers

26 Comments / New Mexico, News, Politics / By

A far-left New Mexico lawmaker is facing backlash after unveiling a controversial website that allows users to track and report Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) activity across the state — a move that legal experts warn could border on federal obstruction of justice.

State Rep. Marianna Anaya (D–Albuquerque) announced the launch of Aguas, a website she says has been in development for months and is designed to “document ICE activity” and “report missing people.” But the project’s premise — encouraging the public to upload photos, videos, and detailed descriptions of federal enforcement actions — has drawn immediate criticism and concern that it could tip off illegal immigrants and criminal suspects to evade arrest.

According to Anaya, her office created the platform so people could “anonymously upload a picture, a video, and a brief description of what they saw and where.” She told local media that all user data would be “scrubbed of metadata” and that “everything that you see on the Aguas website is publicly available.”

However, critics note that such a site effectively crowdsources surveillance of federal officers, a move that could expose their identities, compromise ongoing investigations, and endanger public safety.

Anaya insisted the website is “not to be used for any kind of harassment or interfering with law enforcement,” but its very purpose — to track ICE arrests and movements — raises legal red flags. Under 8 U.S.C. §1324, it is a federal offense to aid, abet, conceal, or harbor an illegal alien or to obstruct federal agents in carrying out immigration enforcement. The law also prohibits anyone from providing information or assistance intended to help individuals evade detection or apprehension by ICE.

Despite these serious concerns, Anaya is framing the effort as a “community resource.” “You do have rights,” she said, claiming the website offers legal and informational tools “if you are approached by anyone.”

The site’s operators admit that the posted submissions are unverified, and that “the only way in which we would change that to something that was verified” would be through confirmation from “community partners.” In other words, the platform relies on activist groups — not law enforcement — to validate reports of ICE activity.

The website also includes a feature to “report missing people,” but given its political slant and the lack of verification standards, the site’s accuracy and intent remain questionable.

Anaya is the same lawmaker who compared ICE detention facilities in New Mexico to a “concentration camp,” blasted as an antisemitic statement that trivializes the Holocaust. 

National observers quickly condemned the project. Libs of TikTok posted on X: “New Mexico State Rep. Marianna Anaya (D) just launched a website to track ICE agents’ movements and operations across New Mexico. Impeding ICE operations is a CRIME.”

Indeed, if users employ the site to warn targets of pending ICE operations or to help criminal aliens evade arrest, it could constitute obstruction of justice or aiding and abetting under federal law — crimes punishable by prison time.

In a state already struggling with border-related crime and drug trafficking, Rep. Anaya’s website blurs the line between “community activism” and active interference with federal immigration enforcement — a distinction that could soon attract attention not only from voters, but from federal prosecutors.

Dem state lawmaker launches site to impede ICE operations, target officers Read More »

1 2 3 4 5 6 … 92
Scroll to Top