Piñon Post

Urgent crises ignored as MLG pushes vaccine mandates, attacks on Trump

21 Comments / New Mexico, News, Politics / By

As New Mexico’s Oct. 1 special legislative session looms, Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham and Democrat leadership are under fire for prioritizing a political agenda over pressing crises facing the state—namely, a crippling doctor shortage, an unraveling child welfare system, and rampant crime.

Rather than confronting the root causes behind the exodus of medical providers, such as ballooning medical malpractice insurance premiums and restrictive licensure laws, the governor appears intent on advancing vaccine mandates and targeting President Donald Trump in the session. Critics say that priority inversion amounts to political theater at the expense of real, urgent needs.

Vaccine mandates, not malpractice reform

The surprise inclusion of vaccination policy in the special session agenda has drawn sharp criticism. Senate Majority Leader Peter Wirth told Source NM that the bill would allow the New Mexico Department of Health to “set their own standards,” decoupling state policy from shifting federal rules. “The federal standards are being thrown all over the place,” Wirth said. “As we go into COVID season and flu season, we’ve got to make sure vaccines are available based on the recommendations of our health folks, not tied to the federal standards.” 

The governor’s office confirmed vaccines are “on the call,” though the exact language has not yet been released. The agenda item is meant to attack the Trump administration’s move to empower parents to choose vaccinations for their children under the leadership of the U.S. Health and Human Services Sec. Robert F. Kennedy, Jr.

Under Lujan Grisham’s rule during COVID-19, she locked down the state—killing an innumerable amount of jobs—and also pushed the strictest vaccine mandates in the entire country, if not the world. 

Meanwhile, neither advanced malpractice reform nor interstate medical compacts are slated for consideration. Think New Mexico and other advocacy groups have long argued that interstate licensure compacts (which would allow doctors licensed in other states to practice in New Mexico more easily) are among the most straightforward levers to ease the doctor shortage. Yet, powerful trial attorney interests have consistently opposed those compacts because they would limit their ability to sue entities participating in the compacts. 

To make matters worse, New Mexico’s medical malpractice environment is a key driver behind the state’s vanishing provider base. Premiums have soared due to a combination of aggressive litigation incentives and caps that increased liability exposure. Hospitals—especially public and rural ones—face ballooning insurance bills that threaten to outstrip their ability to pay. Yet, the special session package does not include serious reforms, such as capping attorney fees, reforming damage awards, or restructuring the patient compensation fund. 

CYFD chaos and crime get short shrift

New Mexico’s Children, Youth, and Families Department (CYFD) remains in crisis. The agency is beset by chronic staffing shortages, legal backlogs, and tragic system failures. Yet the special session agenda, as currently known, offers no targeted intervention. It also has no current secretary, as the previous CYFD chief, Teresa Casados, abruptly “retired.” 

Similarly, violent crime continues to plague New Mexico’s streets. Earlier this year, Gov. Lujan Grisham touted a “crime and behavioral health” package she signed into law. Nevertheless, many critics argue that those laws constitute incremental steps rather than comprehensive reform, and that punitive policing strategies alone haven’t stemmed the tide of violence.

While Lujan Grisham initially floated addressing crime in this session, Republicans urged the inclusion of juvenile justice and public safety measures. However, Democratic leadership has resisted expanding the agenda—the result is no immediate legislative strategy to turbocharge criminal justice reform.

Meaningless Trump-bashing over meaningful action

Observers say this special session may mark a turning point in public confidence in state leadership. Instead of tackling arguably the most glaring failures—physician departures, child welfare breakdown, and spiraling crime—the governor seems more intent on attacking Trump and anchoring vaccine policy in state law.

Some Democratic staffers and allied groups have urged inclusion of medical compacts, warning that missing the federal funding window for rural hospitals would be costly. The risk is that, by prioritizing politically charged measures, the administration will lose its chance to address structural ailments that have burdened New Mexicans for years.

Urgent crises ignored as MLG pushes vaccine mandates, attacks on Trump Read More »

NM Dem doubles down on violent rhetoric: ‘ICE is acting like the KKK’

27 Comments / New Mexico, News, Politics / By

During Wednesday’s meeting of the Legislative Courts, Corrections, and Justice Committee (CCJ), state Rep. John Block (R-Alamogordo), founder and editor of the Piñon Post, condemned Democrats’ increasingly radical rhetoric, warning it is fueling violence against U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officers. His comments came the same day a gunman in Dallas opened fire at an ICE facility with bullets inscribed “anti-ICE,” killing two migrants.

Block’s remarks followed CCJ Chairman Sen. Joseph Cervantes’ (D-Las Cruces) shocking comparison of ICE agents to the Ku Klux Klan. On Tuesday, Cervantes claimed: “When children are being put on planes and people are being taken in the night and people are raiding mobile home parks and they are doing it with masks and, you know, something we haven’t seen since the KKK days, right?”

By Wednesday, Cervantes attempted to soften his words, insisting he meant only to equate the act of ICE agents wearing masks with the Klan. Yet his clarification still drew outrage, since agents are forced to conceal their identities precisely because of leftist harassment, doxxing, and threats targeting them and their families.

Block pushed back forcefully. “We need to protect the people who are protecting us — the ICE agents who are doing their jobs — and I also think it is the prerogative of the chair, the vice-chair, and every member of this committee to tone down the rhetoric because it’s resulting… in people being hurt, people being doxxed, people being killed, harassed, and yes, assassinated.”

He added pointedly, “Maybe don’t correlate ICE agents to the KKK. Maybe don’t talk about these people who go every single day, put the badge on every single day to protect our country, maybe don’t talk about them as enemies.”

Block underscored the absurdity of the comparison: “The KKK was the first domestic terror organization in this country, targeting Black people, lynching people. I don’t see ICE agents doing that. They’re not. They’re doing their job to protect this country. And people who came to this country illegally did not do it correctly. They are being processed humanely and swiftly back to their home destinations.”

He concluded with a direct challenge to the committee: “It is the prerogative of this committee to stop the political rhetoric, to stop with the performative outrage. It starts right here, right now.”

Despite the call for civility, Democrats escalated the rhetoric. Rep. Eleanor Chávez (D-Albuquerque) dismissed the appeal outright: “Try to tone that down? I don’t think so.” She went further, declaring, “I’m gonna call it what it is. It’s fascism, and ICE is acting like the KKK. And we’ve got to stop our local police, our state police, we’ve got to stop those state employees who are collaborating with ICE. We’ve got to stop them.”

Following Chavez’s inflammatory comments, state Sen. Crystal Brantley (R-Elephant Butte) wrote via X, “NM Democrat just hours after a left wing psychopath attacks ICE office in TX, killing 3 detainees. Gasoline on fire.”

Chávez is endorsed by the Democratic Socialists of America and visited the University of New Mexico student “encampment” supporting “Palestine.”

The phrase “ICE = KKK” was tagged on the New Mexico Republican Party headquarters this March when it was firebombed by a radicalized leftist, Jamison Wagner, who is charged with the politically motivated arson. 

The exchange revealed a stark partisan divide: while Democrats equated federal law enforcement officers with America’s most notorious hate group, Republicans insisted that reckless rhetoric has real-world consequences — including violence against those tasked with enforcing the nation’s laws.

NM Dem doubles down on violent rhetoric: ‘ICE is acting like the KKK’ Read More »

We saw the truth in Israel: Hamas wants war, Israel wants peace

19 Comments / Opinion / By

It was a privilege to be part of the largest diplomatic delegation ever to visit the state of Israel.

The 250 State legislators were a contingent of Republicans and Democrats who traveled from every state in America.

While in Israel, we visited Jewish, Christian, and Muslim holy sites as well as the site where the Nova Festival massacre took place, and where over 400 young partygoers were murdered, and where hundreds more were raped, tortured, and taken hostage by the Hamas terrorist group.

We also visited the Be’eri Kibbutz, where farmers, with just 10 rifles allowed in the entire community, were viciously slaughtered by thousands of terrorists. Many of them had to watch as their children were burned alive in front of them. The burned and bullet-riddled homes in the kibbutz were a shock to our sense,s and they stand today as a monument to the blind hatred so many have towards Israel and the Jewish community.

The invasion by Hamas on October 7th was just one front of the coordinated attack on Israel. While Hamas attacked from the ground, Hezbollah and the Houthis attacked Israel from the air with rockets and drones, which were provided by the Iranian regime.

Their determination to destroy Israel continues to this day. While we were in Israel, our delegation had to seek protective shelter 3 times in 5 days due to rockets launched towards us.

As we travel home, we have been made aware of a protest against the false claim of genocide of Palestinians. If Israel has genocidal intent, they’re sure bad at it. Just one day of bombing Gaza (with the capabilities the Israeli army has) would utterly destroy them, but instead, the IDF does everything possible to avoid killing Gazan civilians who are being used as human shields.

They strive to limit casualties by warning Gazans ahead of time to leave battle zones with millions of text messages, phone calls, dropping leaflets, and by making smaller targeted attacks. 

Since the beginning of the war, Israel has made it clear that Hamas must return all of the hostages, including 2 Americans, for the war to end. Once this happens, the war will end, and rebuilding can start for both sides.

Unfortunately, Hamas has no intention of keeping any cease-fire deal. They prefer to sacrifice their own people in order to gain sympathy from the unknowing public.

If we’re being honest, Americans would never put up with daily rocket fire into our country or the blatant torture, rape, and murder of our women and children by neighboring countries. 

Venezuelan Narco-Terrorists who are flooding our streets with their poison should take note of this.

Israel must be allowed to protect their citizens, as well as the 750,000 Americans who live within their borders; as a matter of fact, the United States should demand it.

Although this op-ed appears under the Piñon Post byline, it was authored by members of the New Mexico Delegation that recently traveled to Israel. The Delegation includes Sens. Jay Block and Ant Thornton and Reps. Rod Montoya, Stefani Lord, John Block, and Jenifer Jones.

We saw the truth in Israel: Hamas wants war, Israel wants peace Read More »

‘Dirty sewer rat’: Speaker Martínez goes on rage-filled ran after Kirk killing

15 Comments / New Mexico, News, Politics / By

Far-left New Mexico House Speaker Javier Martínez (D-Albuquerque) unleashed an unhinged and profanity-laced Facebook post on the very day conservative leader Charlie Kirk was assassinated at a Utah college campus, raising outrage across the state. Rather than show restraint or call for calm, Martínez chose the moment to attack conservatives, insult Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem as “ICE Barbie,” and demean nearly half of New Mexico voters.

Martínez wrote in part:

“Second, read a g*ddamn book. Although, can she read? Doubtful.
… if you hate my people and/or enable that dirty sewer rat in the White House, go kick a rock. (With all due respect to sewer rats).
… (Yes, this immigrant is the Speaker of the NM House. Choke on that, haters).
… I might be my ancestors’ wildest dream, but I’m also a fascist’s worst nightmare. Bring it.”

The Speaker’s crude tirade, posted from his official Facebook page, shocked many New Mexicans for both its content and its timing. Conservatives noted the hypocrisy: if a Republican leader had smeared Democrats as “rats” or told half the state to “kick a rock” on the same day of a political assassination, calls for resignation would be deafening.

Rep. Rod Montoya (R-Farmington) issued a blistering response, accusing Martínez of abandoning his duty to represent all New Mexicans:

“First off, Mr. Speaker, you represent the state of New Mexico. I would hope that the citizens of New Mexico are your people. But that is not what you seem to be saying here… you’ve just told 47 percent of the people in New Mexico who voted for President Trump to go kick a rock. Mr. Speaker, your job is to represent all of New Mexico. Apparently, your goal is to represent Mexico.”

Montoya also called out Martínez’s misuse of the word “fascist,” noting that the actual silencing of speech and violent attacks are overwhelmingly coming from the political left:

“A fascist is somebody like the person who had to shut Charlie Kirk’s mouth up permanently with an assassin’s bullet. That’s not happening on the right. That’s happening on the left. The cancel culture and all of these school shootings that have been taking place over the last several years are all coming from people on the left who hate traditional Americans, and Mr. Speaker, it doesn’t appear you have any use for traditional Americans either.”

The Speaker’s sign-off — “Bring it” — drew further concern. Montoya warned that it could be taken as an endorsement of further anarchy and civil unrest rather than debate.

For many, the episode highlighted Martínez’s radical priorities. Instead of condemning violence or showing unity, he doubled down on insults, profanity, and division. And while Democrats in New Mexico have so far stayed silent, critics argue the Speaker’s words reveal the contempt many in his party hold for traditional Americans.

In the aftermath of Charlie Kirk’s tragic assassination, the contrast could not be starker: while conservatives called for peace and accountability, the highest-ranking Democrat in the New Mexico House chose to mock, sneer, and provoke.

‘Dirty sewer rat’: Speaker Martínez goes on rage-filled ran after Kirk killing Read More »

National backlash erupts after NM doctor says Charlie Kirk ‘deserved’ to die

47 Comments / New Mexico, News, Politics / By

In the wake of the assassination of Charlie Kirk, founder of Turning Point USA, a doctor in Albuquerque has drawn national attention and condemnation for social media posts in which he appeared to celebrate the violence.

Dr. John R. Vigil, identified in his public profile as board-certified in Addiction Medicine (not Virgil), a Fellow of the American Society of Addiction Medicine, a Master Addiction Counselor, and associated with the University of New Mexico School of Medicine and JRV Medical Group, posted two messages on Facebook following Kirk’s death. 

In one, he reportedly wrote: “If you’re looking for sympathy from me over the death of a MAGAt, it’s between sh*t and syphilis in the dictionary!” In a second post, he said, “I’ll probably lose friends over this, but besides Trump, I can’t think of a more deserving person to get just Karma!”

Those posts, first shared widely by online commentator Cam Higby of Today is America via X (formerly Twitter), included accusations that Vigil said Kirk deserved to die and called the killing just. According to those who shared the posts, Vigil is a managing partner at JRV Medical Group in Albuquerque. 

Reaction and Broader Context

The posts prompted swift backlash. Some commentators say they amount to glorification of political violence. On social media, prominent figures noticed; among them, Elon Musk replied to one of the posts with “!!” — a brief response that drew attention but has not been further elaborated. 

The controversy arises amid heightened national scrutiny over the assassination of Charlie Kirk, which is being widely treated as a political killing. Kirk was shot while speaking at Utah Valley University, and the event has triggered intense conversation about political violence, free speech, and extremism in the United States.

Credentials and Roles of Dr. Vigil

Dr. Vigil’s social media profile and public listings describe him as:

  • Board-certified in Addiction Medicine,
  • Fellow of the American Society of Addiction Medicine,
  • Master Addiction Counselor,
  • Author,
  • Affiliated with JRV Medical Group, and
  • Affiliated with the University of New Mexico School of Medicine in Albuquerque.

These credentials add weight to the public reaction, as they suggest Vigil operates in roles that involve public trust and professional responsibility.

What Is Confirmed, What Is Not

  • Confirmed: The posts attributed to Vigil, as shown via screenshots and social media shares, contain the quoted language. Multiple sources have made the association between those posts and Vigil’s professional identity. 
  • Not Confirmed / Unclear: There is no public statement yet from Vigil confirming authorship or context beyond what has been shared. It is likewise unclear whether there has been any formal action by his employer, by the University of New Mexico, or by medical licensing boards. There is no record yet (at least in widely circulated national reporting) of institutional investigations.

Potential Consequences and Ethical Dimensions

Such comments from a medical professional raise ethical and political questions. Physicians are generally expected, under professional codes and licensing regulations, to adhere to standards of conduct both inside and outside the clinic, especially when public statements might affect patient trust or public reputation. In some states, professional conduct rules permit investigation into off-duty speech if it reflects adversely on the ability to practice or violates laws (including hate speech, incitement, or threats).

If Vigil’s employer or the UNM School of Medicine becomes involved, possible responses could range from public censure, suspension, or review by a medical board—though action depends on state licensing laws and internal institutional policies.

Looking Ahead

At this time, no formal institutional discipline has been confirmed. It remains to be seen whether Dr. Vigil will issue a public apology, clarification, or retraction. Public reaction continues to simmer, with some calling for consequences and others defending free speech—even harsh speech—in politically charged times.

National backlash erupts after NM doctor says Charlie Kirk ‘deserved’ to die Read More »

AG Torrez cries ‘racism’ after SCOTUS backs DHS crackdown on illegals

19 Comments / New Mexico, News, Politics / By

New Mexico Attorney General Raúl Torrez lashed out Monday at the U.S. Supreme Court for granting the Department of Homeland Security and the Trump Administration authority to continue critical immigration enforcement operations in Los Angeles. In reality, the Court’s action did nothing more than restore the long-standing ability of federal officers to do their jobs while a lawsuit continues in the lower courts.

In a 6–3 decision, the justices stayed a sweeping injunction issued in July by U.S. District Judge Maame Frimpong that had barred ICE agents from considering obvious factors when determining whether someone might be in the country illegally. That order, cheered by activist groups, effectively handcuffed federal law enforcement by forbidding them from looking at context such as location, type of work, language, or appearance when making quick field decisions.

Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem and the Trump Administration appealed, arguing the injunction dangerously tied the hands of immigration officers at a time when illegal crossings and criminal alien activity are overwhelming communities. The Ninth Circuit had upheld Frimpong’s restrictions, but the Supreme Court intervened, restoring federal authority until the case can be fully argued. A district-court hearing on the plaintiffs’ preliminary injunction request is scheduled for September 24.

Justice Brett Kavanaugh, concurring with the majority, underscored that officers must still follow the Constitution by relying on “reasonable suspicion” under the totality of the circumstances — the same standard courts have recognized for decades. What the Court rejected was the idea that officers must blind themselves to reality. It is common sense that language, location, and certain behaviors can factor into suspicion when combined with other evidence.

Torrez, however, responded with dramatic claims that the Court’s decision “allows federal agents to continue to stop and detain people because of their skin color, the language they speak, and the work that they do.” That rhetoric badly misrepresents what the Court did. No justice endorsed racial profiling. The justices simply recognized that ICE agents must retain the discretion to act in high-risk environments without fear that every judgment call will be second-guessed by activist courts.

The facts bear repeating: immigration enforcement operations in Los Angeles were targeting day-labor pickup sites where agents had documented a high concentration of illegal entrants, including individuals with criminal records. Critics of the raids, including the ACLU, want the courts to effectively prevent agents from acting in those contexts. The Supreme Court, by contrast, affirmed that DHS cannot be stripped of its basic enforcement tools while the litigation plays out.

Torrez’s broadside is not about protecting citizens — citizens have nothing to fear if they are law-abiding and carry identification. His outrage is about scoring political points by echoing activist talking points that conflate lawful immigration enforcement with racism. It is telling that he framed the Court’s ruling as an “insult to New Mexicans,” when in truth it simply preserves federal agents’ ability to apprehend criminal aliens before they endanger communities.

The bottom line of the Court’s action is simple: DHS must have the authority to enforce immigration law, and the Supreme Court ensured that authority remains intact. Torrez’s mischaracterization only sows fear and confusion, while Sec. Noem and the Trump Administration have taken the responsible position of defending the tools officers need to protect the public.

AG Torrez cries ‘racism’ after SCOTUS backs DHS crackdown on illegals Read More »

NM’s woke senators whine about illegal aliens being deported

30 Comments / New Mexico, News, Politics / By

New Mexico’s two Democrat U.S. Senators, Martin Heinrich and Ben Ray Luján, are once again prioritizing illegal immigrants over American citizens. This time, they’ve joined more than 40 Senate Democrats in demanding that Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem walk back a commonsense statement from her department acknowledging that Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) recipients are not automatically protected from deportation.

DACA, created by the Obama administration in 2012, shields certain illegal immigrants—often called “Dreamers”—from deportation on a renewable two-year basis. These individuals entered the U.S. unlawfully but have been granted special privileges under the program, including work authorization.

The controversy began after DHS Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin made the obvious point: “Illegal aliens who claim to be recipients of Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) are not automatically protected from deportation.” Heinrich, Luján, and their fellow Democrats rushed to attack the statement, insisting that deporting DACA recipients would violate the intent of the program.

In their letter to Secretary Noem, Heinrich and Luján claimed, “DACA was created to provide protections from immigration enforcement for certain noncitizens brought to the United States as children, also known as Dreamers.” They further demanded that DHS “correct” McLaughlin’s remarks and abide by DACA protections moving forward.

The letter also lamented recent enforcement actions against DACA holders, including the detention of one individual in New Mexico. Democrats argued that such actions “disrupt families, harm communities, and inflict unnecessary social, emotional, and economic costs”.

What the Democrats ignore is that Congress never passed DACA and that it remains an unconstitutional executive action. Even the courts have repeatedly limited or questioned its legality. Yet Heinrich and Luján are pushing to expand protections for those who entered the country illegally while New Mexico families struggle with crime, poverty, and a broken health care system.

This is not the first time New Mexico’s senators have sided with illegal aliens over their own constituents. Earlier this year, Heinrich introduced legislation to shield DACA recipients’ personal information, and both senators signed on to efforts urging the Biden administration to reopen new applications despite ongoing court challenges.

Instead of addressing border security or the crisis of fentanyl and human trafficking pouring across New Mexico’s southern border, Heinrich and Luján are once again “crowing” about protecting people who broke America’s laws.

NM’s woke senators whine about illegal aliens being deported Read More »

Sen. Luján melts down in hearing, wags ‘starfish pin’ at HHS Secretary Kennedy

30 Comments / New Mexico, News, Politics / By

What was supposed to be a serious Senate Finance Committee hearing on Thursday spiraled into political theater when Sen. Ben Ray Luján (D-NM), a live-action role player (LARPer) of a U.S. senator, repeatedly badgered Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., at one point holding up a novelty starfish pin and declaring the secretary “unworthy” of it.

Luján opened his questioning by accusing Kennedy of ignoring expert advice, citing the resignation letter of Dr. Demetre Daskalakis, a former CDC director. When Kennedy answered that he was regularly briefed, naming Dr. William Thompson, Luján dismissed the reply and pressed for more, berating the secretary as evasive, while unhinged, claiming Kennedy couldn’t understand Luján’s “New Mexico accent.”

The senator then fixated on a contractor, David Geyer, claiming he was secretly conducting a government autism study despite Kennedy’s clear denial. Kennedy explained that Geyer was a contractor with limited access to federal data, but Luján insisted otherwise, throwing accusations and dredging up unrelated past legal disputes. “Do you know who works for you, Mr. Kennedy?” Luján peformatively sneered before repeatedly interrupting Kennedy’s attempts to give him an answer.

The exchange reached peak absurdity when Luján waved a starfish pin he said had been given to him at a town hall in Las Cruces. In a dramatic scolding, he told Kennedy: “I was going to give it to you today, but after your questioning today, I don’t think you deserve it.” Luján went on to lecture Kennedy with a children’s parable about tossing stranded starfish back into the ocean, before concluding, “I’m sorry that you’re not worthy of this nice little pin … today was a failure for you, man.”

Kennedy, visibly frustrated after being repeatedly cut off, accused Luján of “showboating” for the cameras. The back-and-forth left the New Mexico Democrat looking more interested in theatrics than substance, with his condescending tone and props drawing raised eyebrows even from colleagues.

Instead of pressing for answers, Luján’s tirade devolved into what critics described as a bizarre stunt that trivialized a serious discussion on health policy. His “starfish speech” capped off an afternoon where Kennedy was often interrupted and prevented from responding fully to questions.

For many watching, the moment cemented Luján’s reputation for turning hearings into spectacles. What should have been an exchange about facts and policy instead ended with a senator making himself the headline.

Sen. Luján melts down in hearing, wags ‘starfish pin’ at HHS Secretary Kennedy Read More »

Governor’s special session ignores crime crisis, focuses on bashing Trump

15 Comments / New Mexico, News, Politics / By

Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham announced Thursday that she will convene lawmakers in a special session beginning Oct. 1, 2025, citing what she called “devastating” federal budget cuts signed into law by President Donald Trump.

According to the governor’s office, the session will focus on preserving access to critical services in the wake of steep reductions to Medicaid and food assistance programs. The administration’s proposed agenda includes stabilizing rural health care providers through grants, lowering health insurance costs for families losing Medicaid coverage, boosting food aid for children and seniors, and shoring up the state’s Health Care Authority as it braces for new Medicaid enrollment changes.

“New Mexicans should not be forced to shoulder these heavy burdens without help from their elected officials,” Lujan Grisham said, blaming Washington for forcing costs onto the states. Legislative Democrats echoed her message. Senate Majority Leader Peter Wirth (D-Santa Fe) called the session “essential to protect our rural healthcare providers, safeguard Medicaid coverage, and ensure that New Mexicans don’t bear the burden of federal failures.”

House Speaker Javier Martínez (D-Albuquerque) struck an even sharper tone, saying, “New Mexico is not going to allow Trump and the radical right to take food off your table or kick your family off your healthcare plan.”

But Republicans say the governor’s priorities miss the mark. Senate GOP leaders announced they will use the special session to again press for tougher juvenile justice laws, stronger accountability for repeat offenders, reforms at the troubled Children, Youth and Families Department, and changes to medical malpractice policies they argue would expand health care access.

GOP lawmakers argue that past Democratic opposition has blocked common-sense reforms aimed at curbing crime and protecting vulnerable children. They also point to long-standing Democratic resistance to joining the Interstate Medical Licensure Compact, a move they contend would attract more doctors to the state.

This October’s meeting will mark the seventh special session under Lujan Grisham’s tenure. The governor has also indicated she wants to fold in discussions of behavioral health challenges tied to public safety, which could stretch into next year’s regular 30-day session.

The political clash sets up a familiar dynamic: Democrats framing the gathering as a shield against federal cuts, while Republicans push to address crime, child welfare, and health care reforms they say New Mexicans have demanded for years.

Governor’s special session ignores crime crisis, focuses on bashing Trump Read More »

MLG’s top aides cash in: Raises up to 26% while state workers get 4%

15 Comments / New Mexico, News, Politics / By

Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham’s office has granted sizable raises to roughly 20 senior aides—some as high as 26%—far outpacing the 4% increase most state employees received this year.

Spokesman Michael Coleman defended the adjustments as a response to “market realities,” noting the aides are effectively on call around the clock. “The governor’s senior staff salaries were adjusted to reflect the extraordinary level of expertise and experience they bring to serving New Mexico,” Coleman said. “These seasoned professionals could command higher compensation in the private sector but choose public service.”

Republican leaders objected, arguing taxpayers aren’t seeing commensurate results while the state contends with persistent problems in health care, homelessness, and child welfare. “With so many urgent challenges facing our communities, taxpayers deserve to see meaningful results, not just expanding payrolls for political appointees,” said House Minority Leader Gail Armstrong, R-Magdalena.

Salary records on the state Sunshine Portal show Chief of Staff Daniel Schlegel’s pay moving from $201,893 to $234,000 (16%). General Counsel Holly Agajanian received a 19% increase to $208,000. Deputy Chief of Staff Diego Arencon and Director of Cabinet Affairs Caroline Buerkle each rose 9%. The largest percentage bump went to administrative assistant Leah Mountain, whose salary climbed 26% to $78,000. Coleman himself received a 10% raise.

All state employees received a 4% boost effective July 1 under the $10.8 billion budget approved in March. The Governor’s Office did not specify when its senior staff raises were authorized; if approved before July, the across-the-board 4% would be calculated on the higher base. Coleman framed the larger increases as targeted to “specialized executive roles,” adding, “These professionals have helped secure billions in federal investments, navigate unprecedented challenges, and position New Mexico as a national leader on multiple fronts. That expertise has value, and the governor believes that retaining it serves every New Mexican’s interest.”

This isn’t the first time top aides have seen notable pay hikes under Lujan Grisham. Similar raises were approved in late 2022 and early 2023 after her reelection, and about eight senior staffers received sizable increases in 2020 during the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The governor’s own salary remains $110,000, unchanged since she took office in 2019 because statewide elected officials’ pay is set in statute. Lujan Grisham signed a 2023 law raising those salaries beginning in 2027—after her term—setting the next governor’s pay at $169,714.

Other branches have also lifted compensation. New Mexico Chief Investment Officer Vince Smith’s June raise of nearly 40% makes him the state’s highest-paid employee at $455,000, with many Investment Office staff also receiving increases. Legislative Finance Committee Director Charles Sallee’s salary rose from $193,640 to $213,200 this year, according to Sunshine Portal data.

We have previously exclusively reported on Lujan Grisham’s extravagant staff raises, such as in 2023, where she lavished huge pay bumps to staffers.

MLG’s top aides cash in: Raises up to 26% while state workers get 4% Read More »

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