Renato Costa

House committee kills Dem ‘paid family leave’ bill

6 Comments / New Mexico, News, Politics / By

On Monday, the House Commerce and Economic Development Committee voted 6-5 to table S.B. 11, a proposal mandating up to 12 weeks of “paid family leave” for all New Mexico businesses.

The move would have been a multi-million dollar tax on employees that would have forced small businesses and employees to pay into a fund for paid leave. 

According to the group Better Together New Mexico, “SB 11, the Paid Family Medical Leave Act  (PFMLA) is estimated to cost well over $400 million dollars if it becomes law. This act forces employees and employers to pay out of pocket into a fund managed by the New Mexico Department of Workforce Solutions. That’s the same agency that overpaid an estimated $250 million dollars in unemployment benefits during 2020-21.”

“Many New Mexicans are already dealing with the financial strain of inflation, and for many families, an additional .5% of their wages would go into this state-managed fund.”

The bill carried by Rep. Linda Serrato (D-Santa Fe) died with two Democrats, Reps. Patricia Lundstrom (Gallup) and Marian Matthews (Albuquerque) voting with all four Republicans against the costly measure.  

“Lundstrom also expressed concern about the long-term solvency of the initial fund, saying it’s likely businesses would have to pay more to keep it afloat down the line,” according to the Santa Fe New Mexican.

With the 2023 Legislative Session ending at noon on Saturday, the bill is undoubtedly dead.

Supporters of the extreme bill, including AARP New Mexico, told reporters they are optimistic the bill will come back in another legislative session, despite its extreme cost to businesses and workers, who would be significantly taxed for the socialized program.

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Dems’ extreme election code rewrite heads to governor’s desk

9 Comments / New Mexico, News, Politics / By

On Monday, the New Mexico House of Representatives voted 42-25 to concur with the Senate’s changes of H.B. 4, an extreme rewrite of many portions of the state’s election code. The bill now goes to the governor’s desk.

Provisions in the bill would erode election security by letting felons vote, mandating a permanent absentee voter list, ballot drop boxes, and mandating voters be automatically registered at the Motor Vehicle Division (MVD), where they would have to opt out by mail.

There were many concerns in committees and during floor discussions about the bill infringing on religious freedoms because some religions do not permit voting. Forcibly registering people to vote would be a violation.

According to the bill’s fiscal impact report, the Taxation and Revenue Department reports that “implementation of this bill will have a high impact on its IT Division. The estimated time to develop, test, and implement the changes is approximately 2,704 hours or 17 months and approximately $717,700 ($567,800 contractual resources including gross receipts tax and staff workload costs of $149,900). The bill will require MVD to partner with [the Secretary of State’s office] to make changes to the interface between the two agencies.”

According to the New Mexico Sun, “The New Mexico Business Coalition (NMBC) strongly opposes HB 4. NMBC President Carla Sonntag published a letter arguing that the legislation would endanger both voting rights and voting system integrity in many ways, including automatically registering voters without their consent, increasing the likelihood of non-U.S. citizens being registered to vote and giving full voting rights to felons prior to completion of parole/probation.”

Provisions on the Senate side that were amended in include giving county clerks the opportunity to get waivers from the Secretary of State’s office to opt out of ballot drop boxes and clarifying language regarding prisons and detention facilities.

The bill now goes to Democrat Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham’s desk for a signature.

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Dem bill forcing public bodies to facilitate abortions, ‘gender-affirming care’ passes

17 Comments / New Mexico, News, Politics / By

On Friday, the New Mexico House of Representatives concurred with changes the state Senate made to the extreme H.B. 7 sponsored by Rep. Linda Serrato (D-Santa Fe). 

The bill, if signed, will ​​force public bodies to facilitate abortions and “gender-affirming care” (transgender treatments and surgeries) or face lawsuits.

The bill also explicitly bans municipalities and counties from passing local laws to protect children in the womb from being aborted, meaning places like Roosevelt County would be banned from enforcing their ordinances.

The bill would “prohibit public bodies from discriminating against persons based on their use or non-use of reproductive or gender-affirming care,” meaning it could push teachers and any other public workers to support body mutilation for all ages, including children, as well as abortion, according to the bill’s fiscal impact report. 

So-called “gender-affirming care” means “psychological, behavioral, surgical, medication, and other medical services to support a person’s gender identity,” while “public bodies” are defined as “state and local governments, commissions, or boards established by the state and any branches of state government, such as school districts and universities, that receive state funding.” It would also open up conscientious objectors to civil suits.

According to New Mexico Alliance for Life (NMAFL), “Analysis provided by the ACLJ, reveals the legalized infanticide portion of HB 7 in section 3C mirrors language of radical California and Maryland bills that shocked the nation. In an effort to deceive the public, the abortion lobby behind HB 7 tried to sneak in the operative term, “perinatal” as a part of “reproductive health ” into another section, 2C. **Perinatal as defined in legal terms, encompasses up to 28 days after birth.”

The bill passed the House on concurrence 39-29, with Democrat Reps. Harry Garcia of Grants, D. Wonda Johnson of Church Rock, Patricia Lundstrom of Gallup, and Joseph Sanchez of Alcalde voting with all Republicans against the bill.

Now, the legislation heads to Democrat Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham’s desk, where she has signaled she will sign it. 

During the Senate debate on a similar bill, leftists attacked pro-life state Sen. Crystal Diamond (R-Deming) for opposing the anti-life legislation.

A left-wing Twitter account reportedly wrote, “The only thing that this going to top off the misogyny right now is for #senatebarbie @CrystalRDiamond to make some stupid comment that only applies to wealthy white conservative women.”

State Sen. Mark Moores (D-Bernalillo) said in response on the Senate floor, “I hope this body steps up and defends this senator, who is a hell of a senator,” adding, “You guys want to talk about misogyny. Let’s see if people in this chamber call out that kind of talk on Twitter. It’s inappropriate. I’m going to defend her. That was crap, Mr. President.” 

Dem bill forcing public bodies to facilitate abortions, ‘gender-affirming care’ passes Read More »

Dem anti-gun bill heads to Gov. Lujan Grisham’s desk for a signature

44 Comments / New Mexico, News, Politics / By

On Wednesday, the New Mexico House of Representatives concurred with changes to an anti-gun bill that were made in the state Senate, sending H.B. 9 by Rep. Pamelya Herndon (D-Bernalillo) to Democrat Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham’s desk.

The bill would force citizens to lock up their firearms in “a gun safe or a device that prevents a firearm from being discharged or from being used to expel a projectile by the action of an explosion or a device other than a gun safe that locks a firearm and is designed to prevent children and unauthorized users from firing a firearm, which device may be installed on a firearm, be incorporated into the design of the firearm or prevent access to the firearm.”

If the gun owner does not lock up any and all firearms and their gun is somehow used in an offense by a minor causing “great bodily harm” or death, the parent of that child could be made a felon if the victim of the crime is killed or permanently disabled.

The bill included an amendment from the state Senate that created an exception for minors who have the “authorization of the minor’s parent or guardian for lawful hunting, lawful recreational use or any other lawful purpose.” The “lawful purpose” language would likely keep some people out of jail for not following the vague and confusing law.

It is unclear how the bill if signed, would be enforced since it is a reactionary piece of legislation based on if someone is harmed or killed by a weapon. 

The bill passed on a 34-28 vote with Democrat Reps. Ambrose Castellano of Ribera, Harry Garcia of Grants, Tara Jaramillo of Socorro, Patricia Lunstrom of Gallup, Willie Madrid of Chaparral, and Joseph Sanchez of Alcalde voting alongside all Republicans against concurrence.

Other anti-gun bills have not advanced as far as H.B. 9, but with fewer than nine days left in the legislative session, the likelihood of their passage declines significantly.

Dem anti-gun bill heads to Gov. Lujan Grisham’s desk for a signature Read More »

Radical abortion, infanticide, ‘gender-affirming care’ bill advances

12 Comments / New Mexico, News, Politics / By

On Tuesday, the New Mexico state Senate passed H.B. 7 by Rep. Linda Serrato (D-Santa Fe) and Sen. Katy Duhigg (D-Rio Rancho) to force public bodies to facilitate abortions and “gender-affirming care” (transgender treatments and surgeries) or face lawsuits.

The bill also explicitly bans municipalities and counties from passing local laws to protect children in the womb from being aborted, meaning places like Roosevelt County would be banned from enforcing their ordinances.

The bill would “prohibit public bodies from discriminating against persons based on their use or non-use of reproductive or gender-affirming care,” meaning it could push teachers and any other public workers to support body mutilation for all ages, including children, as well as abortion, according to the bill’s fiscal impact report. 

So-called “gender-affirming care” means “psychological, behavioral, surgical, medication, and other medical services to support a person’s gender identity,” while “public bodies” are defined as “state and local governments, commissions, or boards established by the state and any branches of state government, such as school districts and universities, that receive state funding.” It would also open up conscientious objectors to civil suits.

After debate in the Senate, the chamber passed the bill 23-15, now sending it back to the House after amendments made in the Senate Judiciary Committee.

If the House passes the bill on concurrence, it will then go to the governor for a signature, and Democrat Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham has already signaled her support. 

According to New Mexico Alliance for Life (NMAFL), “Analysis provided by the ACLJ, reveals the legalized infanticide portion of HB 7 in section 3C mirrors language of radical California and Maryland bills that shocked the nation. In an effort to deceive the public, the abortion lobby behind HB 7 tried to sneak in the operative term, “perinatal” as a part of “reproductive health ” into another section, 2C. **Perinatal as defined in legal terms, encompasses up to 28 days after birth.”

NMAFL’s executive director wrote following the vote, “Today was a tragic day for our state as a majority of New Mexico Senate Dems voted in favor of radical HB7’s unscientific infanticde, abortion and transgender mandate. It’s really shameful that the sponsors misled the public throughout this process, until today, Senator Duhigg admits HB 7 is indeed a mandate and aims to “change behavior” regardless of conscience objections, long-term health impact, and parent’s rights.”

Radical abortion, infanticide, ‘gender-affirming care’ bill advances Read More »

NM House Dems vote to give themselves taxpayer-funded salaries

26 Comments / New Mexico, News, Politics / By

On Saturday, all but one New Mexico House Democrat voted to give themselves salaries on the backs of the state’s taxpayers. The proposal, H.J.R. 8 by Rep. Angelica Rubio (D-Doña Ana), passed the House chamber on a 40-24 vote, with Rep. Ambrose Castellano (D-Ribera) joining all Republicans in rejecting the measure.

The chamber debated the resolution for three hours, with Republicans offering an amendment to cap the salary at the median household income of an average New Mexican, which is approximately $54,000 annually. 

The amendment, sponsored by Rep. John Block (R-Alamogordo), was rejected on a party-line vote after a lengthy debate. Democrats advocated for a commission to set the salary without any parameters by the Legislature on how the amount should be set.

Currently, legislators in New Mexico do get paid a per diem, which is $176 a day for a House member and $181 a day for senators. For House members during the 60-day session, they receive $10,560, and senators receive $10,860. They also receive per diem for interim committees that meet throughout the year and, after ten years of service, receive a generous pension. 

Despite the compensation legislators receive, Democrats erroneously claimed New Mexico is the only state in the country that doesn’t pay its lawmakers. However, New Mexico’s system is quite generous versus states like New Hampshire, which pay their legislators only $100 without per diem, or Utah, which pays $285 per legislative day. Currently, New Mexico lawmakers make around $22 per hour based on eight hours of work for the per diem rate.

During the debate, Rep. Alan Martinez (R-Bernalillo) said he is “uncomfortable” voting for legislator pay, saying it incentivizes politicians “to stay here and become entrenched in the system.”

The resolution now heads over to the state Senate for consideration. However, it is unclear if it will pass the chamber with only around 13 days left in the legislative session. If it does pass the Senate, it will go on the 2024 general election ballot for voters to approve or reject the measure. 

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Senate committees advance anti-gun, gender bills, delay vote on anti-police bill

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On Wednesday, the Senate Judiciary Committee delayed a committee vote on S.B. 252, an anti-police bill that is disguised as a “use of force standard” sponsored by state Sen. Harold Pope (D-Bernalillo) and Rep. Angelica Rubio (D-Doña Ana). The move to delay the vote came after the committee lost its quorum and was not able to take action on the measure.

According to the bill’s fiscal impact report (FIR), “The bill establishes a process for law enforcement agencies to report officer-involved injuries or deaths to the Department of Public Safety (DPS) and for DPS to report annually on all incidents to the governor, Legislature, and the public.” 

Furthermore, “Law enforcement agencies that fail to comply with these reporting requirements are ineligible to apply for any state-agency-administered grants. The bill also requires law enforcement agencies to adopt and publish use of force policies that include a range of requirements” (emphasis added). 

DPS noted major concerns about the constitutionality of the bill. The FIR stated, “DPS asserts that SB252’s definitions of police homicide are unconstitutionally vague because they establish subjective criteria to determine whether an officer failed to evaluate the totality of the circumstances provided in the bill.”

Regarding police dogs, DPS noted that a provision of the bill “to disallow law enforcement officers from bringing police dogs to a protest or demonstration is that it may prevent officers from bringing [bomb sniffing] dogs to protests or demonstrations, a safety measure.”

Many law enforcers showed up at the state Capitol on Wednesday to oppose the bill, including even leftist sheriffs who stood opposed. 

Also in the Senate Judiciary Committee, S.B. 116 by Sen. Carrie Hamblen (D-Doña Ana) to ban firearm purchase and possession for those under 21 stalled on a 4-4 tie vote.

Another extreme bill, H.B. 9, which would make New Mexicans felons if they do not lock up their guns and a third party accesses them, passed the Senate Finance Committee and now heads to the Senate floor, where it will face intense debate. 

The Senate Health and Public Affairs Committee advanced H.B. 7, which would force public bodies to facilitate abortions and “gender-affirming care” after intense debate in that committee. It will next be heard in the Senate Judiciary Committee. 

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ABQ Public Schools official admits to sneaking in woke gender policies

10 Comments / New Mexico, News, Politics / By

A recent undercover video from Project Veritas revealed that Albuquerque Public Schools (APS) officials are admitting to instituting woke gender ideology in the state’s largest school district.

Angela Ruiz, an employee of APS’ Student Health and Life Skills, said school employees are “required to use the name and pronouns” requested by the student without parental consultation.

“If we don’t have family input, we call it a conversation,” Ruiz said in the newly released video. She told teachers, “If you’re intentionally using the wrong pronoun, that can be a Title IX violation,” and, “How they identify at school determines which restroom they choose to use.”

Following the release of the video, New Mexico Alliance for Life executive director Elisa Martinez wrote, “These bills, combined with the revelations from Project Veritas, prove that radical leftist lawmakers are trying to make New Mexico the next California.” She added, “In an effort to profit off of the exploitation of our youth, New Mexico Lawmakers are ignoring the safety of our children. These bills are setting up New Mexico to become the premier abortion and gender-affirming destination by targeting vulnerable children in schools and circumventing parental rights.”

Currently, New Mexico’s legislature is considering a radical bill, H.B. 7, which would force public bodies to facilitate abortions and “gender-affirming care.”

Rep. Ryan Lane (R-Aztec) asked the sponsors in House Judiciary Committee, “Does this bill apply to an 8-year-old?” The bill’s sponsor admitted, “Yes.” This bill applies to an 8-year-old without parents being consulted or informed whatsoever. 

The Senate Health and Public Affairs Committee will consider the extreme bill on Wednesday, March 1, 2023, at 1:30 p.m. 

Register to speak via Zoom with the following information by emailing SHPAC.Zoom@nmlegis.gov. 

The Zoom details are available here:

The meeting may be viewed via Webcast at www.nmlegis.gov

For public participation, please click the link below to

join the zoom webinar

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/81287336647

or via telephone +1 719 359 4580, webinar ID: 812 8733 6647

Contact the committee members here:

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Senate committee shoots down extreme anti-gun bill

13 Comments / New Mexico, News, Politics / By

On Monday, the New Mexico Senate Judiciary Committee tabled 6-3 an extreme anti-gun bill, S.B. 171, by Sen. William Soules (D-Doña Ana). 

According to the bill’s fiscal impact report, it would have prohibited “the manufacture, sale, barter, trade, gift, transfer or acquisition of… Assault pistols; Automatic firearms; Rifles with barrel lengths less than 16 inches; Shotguns with barrel lengths less than 18 inches; Mufflers, silencers, or devices for deadening or muffling the sound of discharged firearms; Any type of ammunition or any projectile component thereof coated with Teflon or any other similar coating designed primarily to enhance its capabilities to penetrate metal or pierce protective armor; and Any type of ammunition or any projectile component thereof designed or intended to explode or segment upon impact with its target.” 

The panel’s chairman Sen. Joseph Cervantes (D-Doña Ana), joined all Republicans and Sens. Bill O’Neill and Daniel Ivey-Soto (D-Albuquerque) in tabling the bill.

After the bill was defeated, Senate Republican Leader Sen. Greg Baca wrote in a press release, “Like most of the gun bills being considered this Session, Senate Bill 171 needlessly targets law-abiding citizens and threatens them with a felony for exercising their Second Amendment right.”

The committee’s overwhelming rejection of the extreme ant-gun bill could be a sign that another extreme attack on the Second Amendment, H.B. 101 by Rep. Andrea Romero (D-Santa Fe), could die. The bill would make most New Mexican gun owners felons by banning nearly all firearms over ten rounds.

H.B. 101 previously passed the House Consumer and Public Affairs Committee on a party-line vote and awaits a hearing in the House Judiciary Committee. If it survives that committee, it would then need to pass the entire House and the Senate, where it is likely to die in Senate Judiciary Committee. 

Also on Monday, the House Government, Elections, and Indian Affairs Committee advanced a bill along party lines to ban firearms within 100 feet of polling places. This would include ballot drop boxes and ban concealed carry at the polls.

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Lujan Grisham refuses to withdraw Indian Affairs Dept. pick despite rape charge

17 Comments / New Mexico, News, Politics / By

James Mountain, a former San Ildefonso governor who is Democrat Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham’s pick to lead the New Mexico Indian Affairs Department, was previously indicted on charges of rape, kidnapping, and aggravated battery back in 2007.

According to KUNM, “in 2010, the charges were dropped because the prosecution had insufficient evidence to proceed to trial, and court records were then sealed.” 

The Santa Fe New Mexican reported at the time: 

Mountain threw the victim down on the bed and got on top of her, the report says. The victim said she told Mountain “no,” and he should stop when he began to touch her breasts under her shirt and “get aggressive,” according to the report. Mountain took off her jeans and underwear and raped her, the report says.

“When (the victim) began to scream for (her cousin) to help her, James covered her face with a white pillow he had grabbed from the head of the bed,” the report says. “(The victim) told James she could not breathe and explained she thought she was going to lose consciousness.”

When Mountain finished, the victim ran out the bedroom door, which had been locked, and woke up her cousin, the report states. She told the cousin what had happened and the cousin called 911, according to the report.

The Associated Press reported, “On Friday, as calls for Mountain’s recusal from state leaders and activists continued to surface, a spokesperson for New Mexico Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham said the governor was ‘aware’ of the allegations against Mountain but does not intend to withdraw her nomination.” 

Democrat state Sen. Antoinette Sedillo-Lopez said that Mountain should be “fully vetted” before being confirmed by the state Senate for the role.

“I’m very troubled by the idea of having someone with his kind of record in that position that oversees the Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Relatives Task Force,” she said.

State Sen. Shannon Pinto (D-Tohatchi) said, “I’ve been fighting this, will fight it ‘til the end,” adding, “There’s not any compromise for me in it to support it in any manner. It’s just not something that can happen right now. This is not the time. This is not the place. This is not the position that can be compromised, as far as the figurehead representing Native American people within our state.”

It is unclear if Mountain will make it through the Senate confirmation process amid the rape allegations that still loom large over his confirmation. 

Lujan Grisham refuses to withdraw Indian Affairs Dept. pick despite rape charge Read More »

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