New Mexico

Legislative Update: GOP vaccine exemption bill advances, ‘red flag’ update bill heads to House floor

1 Comment / New Mexico, News, Politics / By

On Monday, many consequential bills were heard in New Mexico House and Senate committees, with some bad bills advancing, while one good bill advanced as well. Read our briefing below about these bills considered Monday and committees you can join on Tuesday. 

H.B. 9 was considered in the House Government, Elections, and Indian Affairs Committee on Monday. The bill would be the second phase of Gov. Lujan Grisham’s “Green New Deal” seeks to force extreme carbon emission requirements on all sectors with a “net-zero” carbon emission standard by 2050, the same timeline as the federal “Green New Deal” and the “Energy Transition Act” passed in 2019. Most of the bill’s supporters came from areas most affected by the extreme bill, such as natural resources-rich areas of the state. The opposition was mainly “community organizers” with far-out dark money groups and law firms that would benefit off of all the litigation involved in the passage of this bill. H.B. 9 was rolled over to a committee vote on Wednesday.  

H.B. 110, a bill sponsored by Rep. Patricia Roybal Caballero (D-Bernalillo) sought to raise the minimum wage to $12 by 2022 and $15 by 2024. The bill was heard in the Commerce and Economic Development Committee, however, it was not voted on or tabled. Rep. Roybal Caballero brought in an “expert witness,” Pameyla Herndon, to field questions about the bill. Herndon bragged in a 2020 Democrat fundraising call about ballot harvesting votes from senior citizens. 

Members of the committee commented on the bill, most notably Rep. Javier Martinez (D-Bernalilo) who went on a tangent about how he wanted to create a “universal basic income” through entitlements. 

“We need to reimagine the way we do public benefits. Ims tartgin to work around the concept of a universal basic income, for example, instead of putting as much as we do into these public benefits programs that, you know, for the last fifty years I think have been a safety net for many families, a very much needed safety net. But one could argue that they haven’t in some—in most cases—succeeded in uplifting people, with some exceptions, right? There’s always the story of me. ‘I did it.’ But generally speaking, we haven’t seen that transition of using a safety net into a better place…. I think until we reimagine that system, we still have the problem of if you’re —under hte current law by 2022, by 2025 youll get bumped three dollars. Will that impact your public benefits at that point? Maybe it does, maybe it doesn’t but it’s something to think about.”  

H.B. 193 sponsored by Reps. Daymon Ely (D-Bernalillo) and Joy Garratt (D-Bernalillo), which seeks to expand the extreme “Red Flag” law passed in 2020, was heard in the House Judiciary Committee, where it passed the committee on party lines. Far-left extremist Sheriff Kim Stewart (D-Doña Ana) lauded the bill during the committee hearing. 

Many people spoke in opposition, with many arguments arguing its unconstitutionality defiant to the 4th Amendment regarding unlawful search and seizure. Multiple people from fringe anti-gun groups such as “Everytown” and “Moms Demand Action” supported the anti-gun unconstitutional measure. It passed the committee on a party-line vote of 8-4. 

Another anti-gun bill, H.B. 166 which sought to criminalize the creation and possession of multiple firearms and components was rolled over to a future hearing in the committee. 

S.B. 232 sponsored by Sen. Gregg Schmedes, M.D. (R-Bernalillo, Sandoval, Santa Fe & Torrance) sought to give parents the ability to refuse a vaccination for their child based on conscientious objections to the vaccine. The bill was considered in the Senate Health and Public Affairs Committee. Most of the public was in support of the measure, while most of the opposition claimed its passage would put more individuals at risk due to fewer vaccinations. Sen. Schmedes made a commonsense case for the bill, which was able to garner the support of one Democrat, Sen. Antoinette Sedillo-Lopez (D-Bernalillo), resulting in the bill’s passage on a vote of 4-3. 

Tuesday Committee Hearings:

SENATOR ELIZABETH STEFANICS, CHAIR Convenes Tuesday, February 23, 2021, 9:00 a.m. via Zoom

Please click here to register for public comment on a bill being heard by this committee: https://forms.gle/5pgx2bgxGyHEDeCS8

S.B. 312 GAME & FISH & WILDLIFE CHANGES by Sen. Jeff Steinborn (D-Doña Ana) and Rep. Nathan Small (D-Doña Ana). – BAD

S.B. 312 is a costly bill that takes power away from the people and gives it to the government, according to liberals, giving “wildlife conservation” a “modern approach to wildlife management. It directs the state to manage and conserve the public’s wildlife.” This power-grab would mean higher permit prices for many out-of-state permits, harsher restrictions on what wildlife one could hunt, and it would rename the New Mexico Department of Game and Fish to the “Department of Wildlife Conservation.” 

While the Piñon Post supports conservation efforts in our state, this 241-page overhaul bill further bureaucratizes the New Mexico Department of Game and Fish and according to the bill itself, “[narrows] conditions for landowners on taking or killing animals on private land.” That means, in part, that it usurps the right for landowners to kill a wild animal on their land, for reasons of immediate threats to human life and for damage of property, including crops, it would now only allow killing the animal for the threat to human life. This would be required to be reported to the Department within 24 hours of disposal of the carcass. 

These burdensome restrictions, among countless other flaws in the bill, such as a large appropriation necessary for its passage, are a detriment to taxpayers, landowners, and hunters in the state. Read the fiscal impact report on the bill for more information.

SENATE TAX, BUSINESS AND TRANSPORTATION COMMITTEE
SENATOR BENNY SHENDO JR., CHAIRMAN Tuesday, February 23, 2021, 1:30 pm 

*For Public Participation send an email to SCORC@nmlegis.gov with: Name, Entity Representing, Bill #, For or Against, and email address by Feb. 23, at 10 am. You will be contacted by our Zoom Operator with virtual meeting instructions.

S.B. 11 (as amended) CLEAN FUEL STANDARD ACT by Sen. Mimi Stewart (D-Bernalillo) and Nathan Small (D-Doña Ana) – BAD (This is one of Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham’s legislative priorities).

This anti-business bill put forth by two anti-energy extremist legislators, would in the bill sponsors’ own words, “[require] fuel providers that refine, blend, make or import fuel used in New Mexico to gradually reduce the carbon intensity of the transportation fuel itself, we can reduce emissions by 4.7 million metric tons in carbon dioxide equivalent by 2040. That’s like taking 44,000 cars off the road every year for 15 years.” 

This bill would harm critical industries in New Mexico with expensive and punitive new regulations on the transportation of the fuels New Mexicans rely on to keep them driving and doing business. This bill has an appropriation of $1,210,000 for the 2022 fiscal year alone, with it gradually increasing annually. 

HOUSE CONSUMER AND PUBLIC AFFAIRS COMMITTEE
ELIZABETH “LIZ” THOMSON, CHAIR, Convenes Tuesday, February 23, 2021 – 1:30 p.m. – Zoom

H.B. 254 – USE OF DEADLY FORCE REPORTING by Sen. Antoinette Sedillo-Lopez (D-Bernalillo) and Rep. Patricia Roybal Caballero (D-Bernalillo) – BAD

Note: both of these women are running for Congress in CD-1. This is the House version of the Senate’s S.B. 274. 

According to the bill, “Within twenty-four hours of a person suffering great bodily harm or death as a result of a peace officer’s actions, the sheriff or the chief of police of the jurisdiction in which the great bodily harm or death occurred shall report the great bodily harm or death in writing to the district attorney of the judicial district in which the great bodily harm or death occurred. The sheriff or chief of police shall report all instances of suspected great bodily harm to the appropriate district attorney, even if a more thorough assessment of great bodily harm will be undertaken at a later date,” 

The bill would put undue suspicion of wrongdoing on the part of the law enforcement officer, overburdening local sheriffs and district attorneys, while not trusting police officers to carry forth their duties. 

H.B. 279 NO GOV. RESTRICTIONS ON GUN & AMMO STORES sponsored by Rep. Stefani Lord would do the following, according to the fiscal impact report: 

“Eliminate the governor’s current authority during a state of emergency to prohibit the possession of firearms or any other deadly weapon in any place other than a person’s residence or business; and  Prohibit the governor during a state of emergency from restricting the operations of firearm manufacturers, distributors, suppliers and sellers, the sale or transportation of firearms, the operations of shooting ranges, or the operations of businesses that provide firearm instruction.” 

This bill is pro-Second Amendment and it helps limit the Governor’s power, making it a bill supported by the Piñon Post. – GOOD.

Please click the link below to join the webinar: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/89243737297 Or iPhone one-tap : US: +16699009128,,89243737297# or +12532158782,,89243737297# Or Telephone: Dial(for higher quality, dial a number based on your current location): US: +1 669 900 9128 or +1 253 215 8782 or +1 346 248 7799 or +1 646 558 8656 or +1 301 715 8592 or +1 312 626 6799 Webinar ID: 892 4373 7297

Legislative Update: GOP vaccine exemption bill advances, ‘red flag’ update bill heads to House floor Read More »

EXCLUSIVE: NM radicals target GOP Rep. Stefani Lord—She fires back

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Over the weekend, the Santa Fe New Mexican shamefully picked up a political hit by a vague group claiming to be “leaders of Black communities and organizations in New Mexico,” claiming that state Rep. Stefani Lord (R-Bernalillo, Sandoval & Santa Fe) and another lawmaker in the Senate had used coded racist language and “overtly racist conduct” to denigrate African Americans in the NM Roundhouse.

The statement from the group also says, “The conduct of these legislators is reflective of a systemic lack of unbiased reverence and respect for Black women and Black people in general.”

According to the Santa Fe New Mexican:

Also earlier this month, Rep. Stefani Lord, R-Sandia Park, called to consult law enforcement during a committee hearing in response to Alexandria Taylor’s description of her research into House Bill 156, which prescribes felony charges for police officers accused of sexually assaulting people in custody.

Lord asked Taylor, deputy director of the New Mexico Coalition of Sexual Assault Programs, if she had spoken with law enforcement about the bill.

“I have had conversations with law enforcement officers about this bill and those who I spoke with who are not harming members of the public did not have an issue with this bill because they are not raping members of the community,” Taylor said.

Lord said she had spoken to law enforcement officers who opposed the bill without being guilty of sexual assault. While explaining her vote against the bill, Lord called an unnamed law enforcement officer.

“When you call the sheriff during a committee hearing because you don’t like the all-too-real narrative of misconduct among law enforcement officers, you’re not making a stand with law enforcement,” New Mexico Black Leadership Council member Mason Graham said at a news conference organized by the nonprofit Saturday morning.

Lord defended the phone call as standard procedure.

“I sought outside counsel and asked them, ‘Is this already a law?’ The phone call was nothing more,” Lord said in a telephone interview Saturday.

The accusation against Rep. Lord is clearly absurd, especially given that none of the news outlets running this story have bothered to share the video of the committee hearing which you can watch HERE. She released the following statement:

As some of you may have noticed, a group of left-wing activists got fed up with me challenging their radicalism in legislative committee meetings. Without any evidence, they have decided to call me a “racist,” which is the word the Left uses whenever it wants to silence someone putting up a fight. Well, I won’t be silenced by accusations made without ANY evidence. 

Furthermore, shame on the Santa Fe New Mexican for publishing BASELESS rumors without even bothering to contact the accused for comments. We need good journalism in this country, but given how far standards have fallen, it’s no wonder the majority of citizens can’t trust their newspapers. 

At the end of the day, these activists are attacking me for defending law enforcement officials from the slander and attacks that they continuously have to endure. When our law enforcement is unjustly slandered, our communities suffer. I will proudly continue to stand up for ALL my constituents’ rights, including those in law enforcement.

EXCLUSIVE: NM radicals target GOP Rep. Stefani Lord—She fires back Read More »

NM House committee rolls over vote on MLG’s Green New Deal 2.0 to Wednesday

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On Monday, the House of Representatives Committee on Government, Elections, and Indian Affairs Committee rolled over the corrosive anti-energy bill, H.B. 9, to Wednesday morning after much testimony from the public and many questions from the committee. The bill would force extreme carbon emission requirements on all sectors, the second phase of Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham’s “Energy Transition Act,” which set harsh “net-zero” standards by 2050 for the electricity sector. 

The bill’s sponsors, Reps. Melanie Stansbury (D-Bernalillo) and Angelica Rubio (D-Doña Ana) introduced the legislation as a desperate measure required to stop “climate change,” which they claimed created “drought, extreme fire, and impacts to agriculture and water supplies,” which are untrue statements not backed up by science.

Here is the Piñon Post assessment of the bill:

According to the fiscal impact report (FIR) on the bill, it “establishes a climate leadership council, deadlines for the state to achieve specific reductions in greenhouse gas emissions (GHGE), requirements for state agencies to achieve GHGE reductions, and a number of definitions related to climate, economic development, and socioeconomic equity.” 

The FIR also states that the bill “[r]equires New Mexico to reduce statewide GHGE by least 50 percent below 2005 levels by 2030 and achieve net-zero emissions by 2050” and “[m]andates a 60 percent reduction, relative to 2005 levels, in emissions of methane, carbon dioxide, and volatile organic compounds from the oil and gas sector by 2030.”  Note, the “net-zero” emission standard mirrors U.S. Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez’s “Green New Deal,” the most radical and costly proposal in U.S. history to decimate the energy industry.

Opponents of the bill included workers in the energy and agriculture industries who keep the lights on and feed communities. Supporters of the bill mostly from the dark money groups CAFé, OLÉ, the Sierra Club, among others who self-identified as “community organizers.” One individual from extremist group OLÉ claimed “climate change” was a “racial justice issue,” saying “Black, indigenous, and people of color” somehow are disproportionately affected by the fictitious issue. The dark money groups also exploited children named “Alex” and “Adrian,” who were given scripts in the supposed attempt to pull heartstrings, claiming pine trees in the state would disappear. “Will there still be pine trees when I grow up?” asked one. 

Although the committee chair, Rep. Georgene Louis (D-Bernalillo), claimed to give both sides equal time, proponents of the bill were given more time to testify. 

Rep. Greg Nibert (Chaves & Lincoln) asked multiple questions regarding Native American tribes complying with these strict standards, asking if they were required to comply with these mandates. The condescending witness, Noah Long of the National Resources Defense Council (NRDC), said that the Navajo Nation was not subject to it.

When asked about how the bill would bring opportunity to the state, Rep. Rubio went on the defensive, saying, “The fact that it’s still being questioned of whether or not it is something that we need to continue, it minimizes the work being done in communities around the state.” 

Nibert said, “You said it’s a roadmap to diversify the economy….In case you changed it drastically, I don’t see a roadmap there. I see a statement that says “the state shall create economic inclusion opportunity,” which I believe is high-road employment — and so I don’t see a roadmap, and I don’t see how the state is going to create those jobs.”  

“The economy doesn’t create jobs. The people that decide to take risks — They create jobs. The people who decide to produce something — they take a risk…. It’s people who create jobs. It’s not the state. The economy is simply an indication of how well things are going from a standpoint of job-creation and… compensation to employees and standard of living. That’s the economy. I see a lot of words here, but at the end of the day, it’s not your attempt that the state shall create those economic including opportunities. It’s basically you want to set up a framework for which these things are studied, and you hope that people will take risks and see opportunities to use their capital to start a business, expand a business and create additional employment,” Nibert added.

Regarding a question from Nibert about litigation costs of the legislation, Rep. Stansbury claimed that “if consideration of climate change had been included [in Texas], perhaps we may have avoided the shutdown of electricity and water for millions of people” in the state to New Mexico’s east. When Nibert pressed her on her assertion about Texas’ recent crisis with a snowstorm, however, Stansbury retreated, claiming she wanted to comment on “the scope” of her bill. 

Nibert commented that during the harsh storm that affected New Mexico with multiple inches of snow. “The lights in Santa Fe were on because the San Juan Generating Plant had not been shut down yet.” 

The bill’s final vote in the committee has been rolled over to Wednesday morning’s committee hearing.

NM House committee rolls over vote on MLG’s Green New Deal 2.0 to Wednesday Read More »

ACTION ALERT: Your testimony requested in NM Legislative committees Monday, Tuesday

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The New Mexico Legislature is in full swing, and countless pieces of radical legislation are being rammed through committee hearings, many times without significant public input. Some good bills put forth by some legislators need public support. 

At the Piñon Post, we look to change that. New Mexicans must be more involved in politics in our state, which is why we are working around the clock to monitor committee hearings and bills and give you the information you need to have so you can do your part. On Monday and Tuesday, the House of Representatives and the Senate will consider many extreme bills regarding the environment, law enforcement, taxes, and business. Please participate and make your voices heard.

Committee hearings happening Monday-Tuesday:

HEALTH AND PUBLIC AFFAIRS COMMITTEE
Senator Gerald Ortiz y Pino, Chair, convenes Monday, February 22 at 1:30 p.m.* 

*Times are subject to change depending on the Senate floor schedule. Join the meeting here: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/89738905182 

For public participation, complete the registration form by clicking the following link https://ggle.io/3pe5 .The deadline to respond is Sunday., Feb. 21 at 5:00 p.m. 

S.B. 232  – EXEMPTION FROM IMMUNIZATION by Sen. Gregg Schmedes (R-Bernalillo, Sandoval, Santa Fe, and Torrance) – GOOD

According to the fiscal impact report, “Senate Bill 232 would amend Section 24-5-3 NMSA 1978 to add a fourth reason why a child should be granted an exemption from state-required immunizations for school or dare. The fourth type of exemption, “for reasons of conscience,” would be added to the three existing reasons: medical exemptions; group religious objections to vaccine(s) and individual religious objections to vaccine(s).” This bill is friendly to New Mexicans who have conscience objections to vaccinations. 

S.B. 238 – ELIMINATE SEC. OF HEALTH POWERS by Sen. Gregg Schmedes (R-Bernalillo, Sandoval, Santa Fe, and Torrance) – GOOD

According to the fiscal impact report, “Senate Bill 238 eliminates the authority of the secretary of the Department of Health under the Public Health Emergency Response Act (PHERA) to isolate or quarantine a person who is unwilling or unable to undergo vaccination for reasons of health, religion or conscience. This bill contains an emergency clause and would become effective immediately upon signature by the governor.” This bill is friendly to those who have objections to being forcibly vaccinated by the Department of Health. 

SENATE CONSERVATION COMMITTEE
SENATOR ELIZABETH STEFANICS, CHAIR Convenes Tuesday, February 23, 2021, 9:00 a.m. via Zoom

Please click here to register for public comment on a bill being heard by this committee: https://forms.gle/5pgx2bgxGyHEDeCS8

S.B. 312 GAME & FISH & WILDLIFE CHANGES by Sen. Jeff Steinborn (D-Doña Ana) and Rep. Nathan Small (D-Doña Ana). – BAD

S.B. 312 is a costly bill that takes power away from the people and gives it to the government, according to liberals, giving “wildlife conservation” a “modern approach to wildlife management. It directs the state to manage and conserve the public’s wildlife.” This power-grab would mean higher permit prices for many out-of-state permits, harsher restrictions on what wildlife one could hunt, and it would rename the New Mexico Department of Game and Fish to the “Department of Wildlife Conservation.” 

While the Piñon Post supports conservation efforts in our state, this 241-page overhaul bill further bureaucratizes the New Mexico Department of Game and Fish and according to the bill itself, “[narrows] conditions for landowners on taking or killing animals on private land.” That means, in part, that it usurps the right for landowners to kill a wild animal on their land, for reasons of immediate threats to human life and for damage of property, including crops, it would now only allow killing the animal for the threat to human life. This would be required to be reported to the Department within 24 hours of disposal of the carcass. 

These burdensome restrictions, among countless other flaws in the bill, such as a large appropriation necessary for its passage, are a detriment to taxpayers, landowners, and hunters in the state. Read the fiscal impact report on the bill for more information.

SENATE TAX, BUSINESS AND TRANSPORTATION COMMITTEE
SENATOR BENNY SHENDO JR., CHAIRMAN Tuesday, February 23, 2021, 1:30 pm 

*For Public Participation send an email to SCORC@nmlegis.gov with: Name, Entity Representing, Bill #, For or Against, and email address by Feb. 23, at 10 am. You will be contacted by our Zoom Operator with virtual meeting instructions.

S.B. 11 (as amended) CLEAN FUEL STANDARD ACT by Sen. Mimi Stewart (D-Bernalillo) and Nathan Small (D-Doña Ana) – BAD (This is one of Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham’s legislative priorities).

This anti-business bill put forth by two anti-energy extremist legislators, would in the bill sponsors’ own words, “[require] fuel providers that refine, blend, make or import fuel used in New Mexico to gradually reduce the carbon intensity of the transportation fuel itself, we can reduce emissions by 4.7 million metric tons in carbon dioxide equivalent by 2040. That’s like taking 44,000 cars off the road every year for 15 years.” 

This bill would harm critical industries in New Mexico with expensive and punitive new regulations on the transportation of the fuels New Mexicans rely on to keep them driving and doing business. This bill has an appropriation of $1,210,000 for the 2022 fiscal year alone, with it gradually increasing annually. 

House of Representatives

HOUSE COMMERCE AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE
ANTONIO “MOE” MAESTAS, CHAIR Convenes Monday, February 22, 2021 – 1:30 p.m. – Zoom

H.B. 110 – PHASED MINIMUM WAGE INCREASE by Rep. Patricia Roybal Caballero (D-Bernalillo) – She is running for Congress in CD-1.  – BAD

“Starting January 1, 2022, the minimum wage would rise to $12.00 per hour Starting January 1, 2024, the minimum wage would rise to $15.00 per hour,” according to the fiscal impact report.

This bill hurts small businesses and causes fewer people employed because of the mandates from this anti-business, anti-worker bill. 

You are invited to a Zoom webinar. Feb 22, 2021, 01:30 PM When: Feb 22, 2021, 01:30 PM Mountain Time (US and Canada) Topic: HOUSE COMMERCE & ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE Please click the link below to join the webinar: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/83846715600

HOUSE STATE GOVERNMENT, ELECTIONS AND INDIAN AFFAIRS COMMITTEE
GEORGENE LOUIS, CHAIR, Convenes Monday, February 22, 2021 – 8:00 a.m. – Zoom

H.B. 9 CLIMATE SOLUTIONS ACT by Reps. Melanie A. Stansbury (D-Bernalillo), Brian Egolf (D-Santa Fe), Angelica Rubio (D-Doña Ana, Nathan P. Small (D-Doña Ana), and Sen. Mimi Stewart (D-Bernalillo).  – BAD (This is one of Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham’s legislative priorities).

H.B. 9 is a costly and corrosive piece of legislation that not only would cost millions to the state annually, but it would also create even harsher standards than those that were passed in the “Energy Transition Act” to completely and totally annihilate the oil and gas industry. 

According to the fiscal impact report (FIR) on the bill, it “establishes a climate leadership council, deadlines for the state to achieve specific reductions in greenhouse gas emissions (GHGE), requirements for state agencies to achieve GHGE reductions, and a number of definitions related to climate, economic development, and socioeconomic equity.” 

The FIR also states that the bill “[r]equires New Mexico to reduce statewide GHGE by least 50 percent below 2005 levels by 2030 and achieve net-zero emissions by 2050” and “[m]andates a 60 percent reduction, relative to 2005 levels, in emissions of methane, carbon dioxide, and volatile organic compounds from the oil and gas sector by 2030.”  Note, the “net-zero” emission standard mirrors U.S. Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez’s “Green New Deal,” the most radical and costly proposal in U.S. history to decimate the energy industry.

The FIR further states how the bill is likely to significantly impact “New Mexico’s oil and gas sector and, consequently, state revenues.” Extremist anti-energy dark money groups including “OLÉ,” “Power4NM,” and “NM Voices” have been lobbying on behalf of this destructive legislation, and your voices are needed to cancel out their radical cries for socialism and supposed “environmental justice.”

Please click the link below to join the webinar:
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/89283197941
Or iPhone one-tap :
US: +16699009128,,89283197941# or +12532158782,,89283197941#
Or Telephone:
Dial(for higher quality, dial a number based on your current location):
US: +1 669 900 9128 or +1 253 215 8782 or +1 346 248 7799 or +1 646 558 8656 or
+1 301 715 8592 or +1 312 626 6799
Webinar ID: 892 8319 7941

HOUSE CONSUMER AND PUBLIC AFFAIRS COMMITTEE
ELIZABETH “LIZ” THOMSON, CHAIR, Convenes Tuesday, February 23, 2021 – 1:30 p.m. – Zoom

H.B. 254 – USE OF DEADLY FORCE REPORTING by Sen. Antoinette Sedillo-Lopez (D-Bernalillo) and Rep. Patricia Roybal Caballero (D-Bernalillo) – BAD

Note: both of these women are running for Congress in CD-1. This is the House version of the Senate’s S.B. 274. 

According to the bill, “Within twenty-four hours of a person suffering great bodily harm or death as a result of a peace officer’s actions, the sheriff or the chief of police of the jurisdiction in which the great bodily harm or death occurred shall report the great bodily harm or death in writing to the district attorney of the judicial district in which the great bodily harm or death occurred. The sheriff or chief of police shall report all instances of suspected great bodily harm to the appropriate district attorney, even if a more thorough assessment of great bodily harm will be undertaken at a later date,” 

The bill would put undue suspicion of wrongdoing on the part of the law enforcement officer, overburdening local sheriffs and district attorneys, while not trusting police officers to carry forth their duties. 

Please click the link below to join the webinar: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/89243737297 Or iPhone one-tap : US: +16699009128,,89243737297# or +12532158782,,89243737297# Or Telephone: Dial(for higher quality, dial a number based on your current location): US: +1 669 900 9128 or +1 253 215 8782 or +1 346 248 7799 or +1 646 558 8656 or +1 301 715 8592 or +1 312 626 6799 Webinar ID: 892 4373 7297

ACTION ALERT: Your testimony requested in NM Legislative committees Monday, Tuesday Read More »

Gov. Lujan Grisham once again brings national shame upon New Mexico

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It has happened again. Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham has once again put another black stain on New Mexico with the recent revelations of her irresponsible spending of taxpayer dollars used for $200-per-pound wagyu beef steaks, ahi tuna, and expensive wines and liquors, all totaling up around $13,500. This all happened while New Mexicans were forced to stand in long breadlines at grocery stores due to Gov. Lujan Grisham’s restrictive public health orders. 

Now national news outlets are picking up the story, such as Fox News, where the governor’s shameful spending is their #3 story as of 6:38 a.m. on Sunday. 

The outlet writes:

Grisham said she did not personally make the purchases. Instead, they were made by a “woman who works here [who] is a rock star,” the New Mexican reported.

On Thursday, Stelnicki [her communications director] explained the $200 booze purchase. He said it was for a planned holiday party that was ultimately canceled. He claimed the purchased bottles of alcohol remained unopened.

The spending came despite a state law enacted in 2019 that set new limits on use of the governor’s discretionary funds. That law was signed by Grisham’s predecessor, former Gov. Susana Martinez, a Republican who also took criticism for how her office spent cash, the New Mexican reported.

The Governor’s spending got criticism inside New Mexico with Democrats and Republicans alike, including Patricia Lundstrom (D-McKinley and San Juan), Republican Whip Rod Montoya (R-San Juan), and Republican Leader Jim Townsend (R-Chaves, Eddy, and Otero). 

Here are some other responses from across the state about the Governor’s big spending while New Mexicans starved and stood in breadlines:

Previously, the Governor brought New Mexico national attention for her trip to buy expensive jewelry from a shuttered jewelry store, violating her own COVID-19 mandates. She also brought New Mexico national attention for making New Mexicans stand out in the cold over the holidays to buy basic goods, such as food and toilet paper. The breadline story originally appeared in the Piñon Post.

What are your thoughts on Gov. Lujan Grisham’s spending of the so-called “discretionary fund”? 

Gov. Lujan Grisham once again brings national shame upon New Mexico Read More »

Legislative Briefing: Anti-life bills clear House, anti-gun bill passes committee, Saturday bill hearings

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

Friday was an incredibly busy day in the New Mexico Legislature, with a slew of extreme bills advancing toward the governor’s desk and out of committee. Here are some key bills that advanced yesterday: 

S.B.10, the Democrats’ abortion up-to-birth and infanticide bill criminalizing medical professionals with conscience objections to abortion and stripping all protections for women passed the House on a vote of 40-30 with ex-GOP Rep. Phelps Anderson voting with Democrats on the bill. Six Democrats rejected the extreme bill. The bill now goes to Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham’s desk to be signed into law.

Sign the petition demanding Rep. Phelps Anderson resign in disgrace.

H.B. 47, a bill to legalize assisted suicide in New Mexico, cleared its final hurdle in the House of Representatives after many heartfelt stories and testimony from the members. The anti-life bill passed on a vote of 39-27 with six Democrats voting with pro-life Republicans and extremely moderate Rep. Kelly Fajardo (R-Valencia) voting with the Democrats to pass the bill. 

Fajardo constantly votes with the Democrats on extreme bills, including anti-business tax hikes, minimum wage hikes, the Governor’s “mini” Green New Deal, among a slew of other bills that are a slap in the face to Republicans. It is unclear if she will run for re-election given her abysmal record and her eligibility for the state’s pension given to legislators. 

S.B. 224, an anti-gun bill that makes strict demands regarding gun storage sponsored by Sen. Antoinette Sedillo-Lopez cleared its first hurdle in the Senate Health and Public Affairs Committee passing with a vote of 4-2 with two members excused. There were no proposed amendments adopted in the committee. The bill’s next step is Senate Judiciary Committee chaired by Sen. Joseph Cervantes (D-Doña Ana). 

HAPPENING TODAY: 

H.B. 205, an extreme taxation bill sponsored by Rep. Joanne Ferrary (D-Doña Ana) and Rep. Liz Thomson (D-Bernalillo) will be heard at 9:00 a.m. in the House Health and Human Services Committee relating to banning flavored tobacco in New Mexico. The bill infringes on individual liberty. If you wish to testify, please follow this link at 9:00 a.m. : https://us02web.zoom.us/j/89853256841 

S.B. 168, a bill taxing gasoline $.05 per gallon sponsored by Sen. Bobby Gonzales (D-Los Alamos, Rio Arriba, Santa Fe and Taos) is being heard at 9:00 a.m. in the Senate Tax, Business, and Transportation Committee. The bill will hurt the poor by adding an extraa tax on gasoline. You can watch the hearing under “Senate Tax, Business and Transportation” here. Members in this committee can be found here.  

S.B. 197, a bill from Sen. Linda Lipez (D-Bernalillo) increasing taxes on cigarettes 320% is also set to be heard in the Senate Tax, Business, and Transportation Committee, possibly Saturday. The bill would be excessively punitive to smokers, hiking the price of cigarettes to extreme highs. You can watch the hearing under “Senate Tax, Business and Transportation” here. Members in this committee can be found here.  

Many bills will be heard on Monday, which the Piñon Post will alert you about with a ful schedule.

Legislative Briefing: Anti-life bills clear House, anti-gun bill passes committee, Saturday bill hearings Read More »

NM House passes unsafe abortion up-to-birth bill criminalizing health workers objecting to abortion

2 Comments / New Mexico, News, Politics / By

On Friday, the New Mexico House of Representatives convened to consider the final passage of S.B. 10, an abortion up-to-birth bill that would strip all protections for medical professionals, women, and babies. 

During debate, Rep. T. Ryan Lane (R-San Juan) asked the bill sponsor, Rep. Micaela Lara Cadena (D-Doña Ana), if health care professionals who have conscience objections to abortions would be forced to refer for abortions. Cadena replied, “That depends.” She reaffirmed her answer, “that depends,” when pressed again.

Rep. Angelica Rubio (D-Doña Ana) stated that decisions to kill children in the womb “are made with a lot of honor and a lot of sacredness.” 

Rep. Mo Maestas (D-Bernalillo), who is married to an anti-gun lobbyist, tried to make the “Don’t tread on me” argument regarding supporting abortion.

Later in the debate, Rep. Cathrynn Brown (R-Carlsbad) tried to offer an amendment to keep state law 30-5-2 to protect medical professionals’ conscience rights, but Rep. Daymon Ely (D-Bernalillo), the House parliamentarian, claimed the amendment went against House rules. 

Speaker of the House Brian Egolf (D-Santa Fe) ruled that he accepted Ely’s objection, which was refuted by Republican Whip Rod Montoya (R-San Juan), who tried to interject. Egolf screamed across the chamber, “Will you not interrupt me, sir?” Montoya clapped back, “The inconsistency on this is astounding.” Montoya requested an appeal of parliamentarian Rep. Ely’s ruling that it went against rules. Egolf rejected it. 

After the amendment was defeated, Rep. Micaela Cadena told Rep. Brown that she worries that “misinformation” was given to medical professionals about being forced to refer for abortions. She added, “We had a chance to include that unnecessary but reassuring language (30-5-2), but the Senate did not pass that bill” in 2019. So, she did without it this session, regardless of what medical professionals thought. 

Rep. Rebecca Dow (R-Truth or Consequences) asked Cadena, “Did the New Mexico ACLU assist you with expert testimony in committees throughout this process?” Cadena replied, “The ACLU of New Mexico was part of that cohort.” Dow read a passage showing that the ACLU does, indeed, want health care providers to refer for and perform abortion regardless of conscientious objections.”  

“For whatever reason, instead of answering [Rep. Brown’s] questions, you referred to a past law,” the “Uniform Health Care Decisions Act” and the “Medical Practice Act,” however, they would not protect against medical professionals who have conscience objections against abortions. 

When Rep. Dow asked about abortions late in pregnancy, Cadena repeatedly said, “I’m here to debate S.B. 10 and this repeal in front of us,” despite her question about the bill’s topic (abortion). “I’m not here to debate specific medical procedures,” said Cadena, despite abortion being a medical procedure.

Cadena referred to the American College of Obstetrics and Gynecology and the American Medical Association’s standards regarding standards of care. However, Dow pointed to the bill not mandating standards of care, including the late-term abortion being performed in a hospital with 24-hour monitoring. Cadena could not answer on the topic. “I still believe that holding onto that particular section 20-5-2 is not necessary,” said Cadena. 

“It is already hard to recruit doctors, especially in rural parts of the state,” said Whip Montoya, adding, “Without… projections,” they “would be forced” to perform or refer for abortions. Dow proposed an amendment to protect medical professionals, which was later voted down on a vote of 44-25 after Majority Leader Sheryl Stapleton (D-Bernalillo) called for it to be tabled. 

“The women and girls in New Mexico deserve to be protected,” said Whip Montoya. 

“This body has an opportunity to vote no and our vote will be marked in history,” said Rep. Rebecca Dow. 

“I don’t care what you say that ‘it’s a blob,’” said Rep. Stefani Lord (D-Bernalillo, Sandoval, and Santa Fe), referring to a baby in the womb. It’s me.” “I do count. My vote counts. My constituents count. The people of New Mexico count.” “What about me?” “You keep saying that you want strong women. They have to be born first,” “I am here showing you exactly what you are killing.” 

After more Democrat testimony, the bill passed on a vote of 40-30, with ex-GOP Rep. Phelps Anderson (I-Roswell) betraying his constituents and voting for it. The bill goes to Gov. Lujan Grisham, who has said she will sign the bill. She later posted the following:

NM House passes unsafe abortion up-to-birth bill criminalizing health workers objecting to abortion Read More »

Legislative Update: Bills you need to know about for Feb. 19-20

3 Comments / Action Alert, New Mexico / By

This is a busy time at the New Mexico Legislature, and here are short rundowns of some bills being considered today, tomorrow, and over the weekend. Those marked with “BAD” are what Piñon Post sees as bills detrimental to the state.

Today, the New Mexico House of Representatives is expected to vote on the final passage of S.B. 10, an abortion up-to-birth and infanticide bill. New Mexico Alliance for Life is urging people to contact representatives who may be willing to change their vote, which can be found here:

Rep. Phelps Anderson: Roswell, 986 4426, phelps.anderson@nmlegis.gov | Rep. Melanie Stansbury: ABQ NE Heights, 986 4432, melanie.stansbury@nmlegis.gov | Rep. Marian Matthews: ABQ Tanoan 986 4242, marian.matthews@nmlegis.gov | Rep. Karen Bash: ABQ Westside 986 4236, karen.bash@nmlegis.gov | Rep. Joy Garratt: ABQ NE Heights 986 4249, joy.garratt@nmlegis.gov | Rep Meredith Dixon: ABQ NE Heights 986 4210, meredith.dixon@nmlegis.gov | Rep. Christine Chandler: Los Alamos, Rio Arriba, Sandoval & Santa Fe, 986 4242 christine.chancler@nmlegis.gov | Rep. Ambrose Castellano San Miguel, Torrance, 986 4236 ambrose.castellano@nmlegis.gov | Rep. Brittney Barreras: ABQ Westgate 986 4248, brittneyfornewmexico@gmail.com | Rep. Roger Montoya: Velarde, NM, 986 4464, roger.montoya@nmlegis.gov | Rep. Eliseo Alcon: Grants, NM 986 4416, eliseo.alcon@nmlegis.gov | Rep. Dayan H-Vigil: ABQ North Valley, 986 4432 dayan.hochman-vigil@nmlegis.gov | Rep. Liz Thompson: ABQ NE Heights 986 4415 liz.thomson@nmlegis.gov | Rep. Susan Herrera: Embudo, NM 505 986 4249 susan.herrera@nmlegis.gov

SENATE COMMITTEES

HEALTH AND PUBLIC AFFAIRS COMMITTEE – Senator Gerald Ortiz y Pino, Chair, convenes at 1:30 p.m.* 

*Times are subject to change depending on the Senate floor schedule. 

For spoken public comment, please follow the below Zoom link to access the meeting to testify:

Join Zoom Meeting
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/89738905182

Meeting ID: 897 3890 5182
One tap mobile
+12532158782,,89738905182# US (Tacoma)
+13462487799,,89738905182# US (Houston)

S.B. 224 – CRIME OF FAILURE TO SECURE FIREARM by Sen. Antoinette Sedillo-Lopez (D-Bernalillo) – BAD

As reported on earlier, this bill will criminalize parents who teach their children how to shoot and mandate specific gun safes and locks for firearms. This is the bill’s first committee appearance.

This bill is staunchly anti-Second Amendment and counter-productive, as it would leave children without proper firearms training to use guns properly. 

S.B. 232  – EXEMPTION FROM IMMUNIZATION by Sen. Gregg Schmedes (R-Bernalillo, Sandoval, Santa Fe, and Torrance) – GOOD

According to the fiscal impact report, “Senate Bill 232 would amend Section 24-5-3 NMSA 1978 to add a fourth reason why a child should be granted an exemption from state-required immunizations for school or dare. The fourth type of exemption, “for reasons of conscience,” would be added to the three existing reasons: medical exemptions; group religious objections to vaccine(s) and individual religious objections to vaccine(s).” This bill is friendly to New Mexicans who have conscience objections to vaccinations. 

S.B. 238 – ELIMINATE SEC. OF HEALTH POWERS by Sen. Gregg Schmedes (R-Bernalillo, Sandoval, Santa Fe, and Torrance) – GOOD

According to the fiscal impact report, “Senate Bill 238 eliminates the authority of the secretary of the Department of Health under the Public Health Emergency Response Act (PHERA) to isolate or quarantine a person who is unwilling or unable to undergo vaccination for reasons of health, religion or conscience. This bill contains an emergency clause and would become effective immediately upon signature by the governor.” This bill is friendly to those who have objections to being forcibly vaccinated by the Department of Health. 

SB 230 – INSTITUTIONAL RACISM IN STATE AGENCIES by Sen. Linda Lopez (D-Bernalillo) – BAD

“SB230 directs each state agency or entity that receives state funding to annually develop and submit a plan to address institutional racism as part of its annual final budget submission. SB230 would require copies of the annual plans to be provided to the Legislature, the Legislative Finance Committee, and the Courts, Corrections, & Justice Committee,” according to the Fiscal Impact Report. 

This bill would foster racism within state agencies based upon arbitrary attributes that employees cannot control. This would further bureaucratize New Mexico state agencies and waste hard-earned taxpayer money on programs that do not directly benefit the state in any way, shape, or form. 

S.B. 274 – USE OF DEADLY FORCE REPORTINGby Sen. Antoinette Sedillo-Lopez (D-Bernalillo) and Rep. Patricia Roybal Caballero (D-Bernalillo) – BAD

Note: both of these women are running for Congress in CD-1.

According to the bill, “Within twenty-four hours of a person suffering great bodily harm or death as a result of a peace officer’s actions, the sheriff or the chief of police of the jurisdiction in which the great bodily harm or death occurred shall report the great bodily harm or death in writing to the district attorney of the judicial district in which the great bodily harm or death occurred. The sheriff or chief of police shall report all instances of suspected great bodily harm to the appropriate district attorney, even if a more thorough assessment of great bodily harm will be undertaken at a later date,” 

The bill would put undue suspicion of wrongdoing on the part of the law enforcement officer, overburdening local sheriffs and district attorneys, while not trusting police officers to carry forth their duties. 

NOTE: This same bill, but in the House form as H.B. 254 will be heard in the HOUSE CONSUMER AND PUBLIC AFFAIRS COMMITTEE on Thursday, February 18, 2021 – 10 Minutes After the Floor Session – Zoom: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/89243737297

S.B. 227 –  INSPECTION OF POLICE MISCONDUCT INVESTIGATION – Sen. Linda Lopez (D-Bernalillo) – BAD

This bill is opposed by the Bernalillo County Deputy Sheriffs Association. It adds crippling restrictions on law enforcement and adds strict reporting criteria which does nothing by penalize law enforcers for simply carrying out their duties. Included in the bill are restrictions, such as the following:

“A law enforcement officer shall not use a chokehold. J. A law enforcement officer shall not discharge tear gas or other chemical weapons. K. A law enforcement officer shall not discharge rubber pellets from a propulsion device. L. A law enforcement officer shall not direct a dog to bite a person.” This is an anti-law enforcement bill, which takes critical tools away from officers. 

SATURDAY SENATE HEARINGS

TAX, BUSINESS AND TRANSPORTATION COMMITTEE – Senator Benny Shendo Jr., Chair | Saturday, February 20, 2021 – 9:00 a.m. – Virtual Zoom Meeting

S.B. 197 – INCREASE CIGARETTE TAX sponsored by Sen. Linda Lopez (D-Bernalillo) – BAD

According to the fiscal impact report, the bill “increases the tobacco products tax for products distributed for consumption from 25 percent to 83 percent, for e-liquids from 12.5 percent to 83 percent, and for closed system cartridges from 50 cents to $3.32 per closed system cartridge” 

This would put a crippling burden on this commodity by hiking its tax by over 332%.  

For public participation send an email to SCORC@nmlegis.gov with your Name, Entity Represented, Bill #, For or Against and indicate if you wish to speak. The deadline to respond is Friday, February 19 at 5:00 p.m. You will be contacted by our Zoom Operator with the virtual meeting instructions.

See the full Senate schedule here.

HOUSE COMMITTEES

HOUSE COMMERCE AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE

ANTONIO “MOE” MAESTAS, CHAIR – 1:30 p.m. – Zoom

H.B. 110 – PHASED MINIMUM WAGE INCREASE by Rep. Patricia Roybal Caballero (D-Bernalillo) – She is running for Congress in CD-1.  – BAD

“Starting January 1, 2022, the minimum wage would rise to $12.00 per hour Starting January 1, 2024, the minimum wage would rise to $15.00 per hour,” according to the fiscal impact report.

This bill hurts small businesses and causes fewer people employed because of the mandates from this anti-business, anti-worker bill. 

You are invited to a Zoom webinar. Feb 22, 2021 01:30 PM When: Feb 22, 2021 01:30 PM Mountain Time (US and Canada) Topic: HOUSE COMMERCE & ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE Please click the link below to join the webinar: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/83846715600

SATURDAY HOUSE HEARINGS

HOUSE HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES COMMITTEE – DEBORAH ARMSTRONG, CHAIR

Saturday, February 20, 2021 – 9:00 a.m. – Zoom

Please click the link below to join the webinar: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/89853256841 Or iPhone one-tap : US: +13462487799,,89853256841# or +16699009128,,89853256841#

Or Telephone: Dial(for higher quality, dial a number based on your current location):

US: +1 346 248 7799 or +1 669 900 9128 or +1 253 215 8782 or +1 312 626 6799 or +1 646 558 8656 or +1 301 715 8592 Webinar ID: 898 5325 6841

H.B. 205 – PROHIBIT SALE OF FLAVORED TOBACCO PRODUCTS sponsored by Rep. Joanne Ferrary (D-Doña Ana) and Rep. Liz Thomson (D-Bernalillo) – BAD 

This bill would make it a crime “to knowingly sell, offer to sell, barter or give a flavored tobacco product to a person,” and or “purchase, possess or attempt to purchase or possess any flavored tobacco product,” which infringes on personal liberty. 

See the full House schedule here.

Hearings after Saturday:
TAX, BUSINESS AND TRANSPORTATION COMMITTEE – Monday, February 22, 2021 – 1:30 p.m. – Virtual Zoom Meeting

For public participation send an email to SCORC@nmlegis.gov with your Name, Entity Represented, Bill #, For or Against and indicate if you wish to speak. The deadline to respond is Thursday, February 18 at 10:00 a.m. You will be contacted by our Zoom Operator with the virtual meeting instructions.

SB 168 – INCREASE GAS TAX by Sen. “Bobby” J. Gonzales (D-Los Alamos, Rio Arriba, Santa Fe and Taos) – BAD — rolled over

Senate Bill 168 increases the gasoline excise tax and the special fuel excise tax by five cents per gallon (from 17 cents to 22 cents and from 21 cents to 26 cents, respectively) over a five-year period, with a one-cent increase each fiscal year beginning in FY22.

In an economic crisis, the state already faces, this bill will raise taxes on gas, hurting the state and hurting people in New Mexico already suffering enough through burdensome taxation. 

This is just an overview of some of the most consequential bills going through the pipeline, but please visit NMLegis.gov to follow more bills.

Legislative Update: Bills you need to know about for Feb. 19-20 Read More »

NM Dem bill wants to let 16-year-olds vote in state and local elections

4 Comments / New Mexico, News, Politics / By

A recently filed bill in the New Mexico Senate, S.B. 336, sponsored by freshman Sen. Carrie Hamblen (D-Doña Ana), who took out former President Pro Tem Mary Kay Papen in the primary election, seeks to let 16-year-old children, who are not even legally adults, vote in local and state elections. 

This is just the latest of a slew of radical proposals from Democrats this legislative session, looking to do as much possible damage to the state in this 60-day legislative session as humanly possible.

They are currently on-track to ramming through extreme anti-gun laws, abortion up-to-birth and infanticide bills, tax hikes on the lower and middle classes, penalties for businesses, anti-law enforcement bills, and the list goes on. 

Now, amid all the problems New Mexico faces, Sen. Hamblen wants kids who have not even met the age to graduate high school yet make consequential decisions on New Mexico’s election outcomes, which would not only be costly to the state in terms of implementation, but it would open many new opportunities for voter fraud. 

Already, extremist groups, such as “Olé” have lauded the bill, claiming it would “address the age disparities in voter participation by building participation and a lifelong habit of civic engagement earlier in life.” 

Another bill, S.B. 14 from Sen. Linda Lopez (D-Bernalillo), seeks to register people to vote without their knowledge any time they make a change to their Motor Vehicle Division records and then make them go through the burden of filling out a card saying they would not want to vote and sending it back to their local county clerk. This would allow these 16-year-olds, many of whom are eligible for licenses, to be automatically added to the voter rolls, adding more opportunity for voter fraud with each voter who is unaware they have automatically been registered to vote.

Olé is also supporting S.B. 14 by sending New Mexicans texts that read the following, “Hi [Name]! This is Frances with OLE. SB 14 is headed to its first Committee, Senate rules do you have any questions about the bill ?” Coincidence? 

S.B. 336 has been referred to the Senate Rules Committee and the Senate Judiciary Committee, with no set committee schedules as of yet. S.B. 14 has also been referred to the same committees with no scheduled committees. 

Yesterday, New Mexico hit the halfway point for the 60-day session, with plenty of time for there for Democrats to slip through these measures, if the public does not reach out to show their opposition.

You can find the names of members of the Senate Rules Committee by clicking here. What are your thoughts on letting 16-year-olds vote? Make your voice heard in the comments.

NM Dem bill wants to let 16-year-olds vote in state and local elections Read More »

Legislative Update: Bills you need to know about for Feb. 18-19

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

This is a busy time at the New Mexico Legislature, and here are short rundowns of some bills being considered today, tomorrow, and over the weekend. Those marked with “BAD” are what Piñon Post sees as bills detrimental to the state.

TODAY (NM SENATE): 

Senate Conservation Committee – 8:30 a.m. 2/18/2021 – Watch live here.

S.B. 296 sponsored by Sen. Brenda McKenna (D-Bernalillo & Sandoval) and Jeff Steinborn (D-Doña Ana) – BAD 

This is an anti-energy bill that would increase penalties for environmental violations from $10,000 to $20,000 in some cases and from $15,000 to $30,000 in others, which is excessively punitive to businesses. 

According to the fiscal impact report on the bill, it “increases the maximum civil penalty under the New Mexico Mining Act, implemented by the Energy, Minerals and Natural Resources Department (EMNRD), from $10 thousand to $20 thousand per day for each violation, including violations of a rule of the Mining.” 

The bill also “increases the Environment Department’s (NMED) penalty authority for violations of the Air Quality Control Act, the federal Clean Air Act, air quality permits, emission limits, and regulations from $15 thousand per day per violation to $30 thousand per day per violation.” 

TOMORROW (still time to RSVP to testify) 

HEALTH AND PUBLIC AFFAIRS COMMITTEE – Senator Gerald Ortiz y Pino, Chair, convenes at 1:30 p.m.* 

*Times are subject to change depending on the Senate floor schedule. 

For spoken public comment register at https://ggle.io/3pe5. If there is a high volume of requests for public comment, not everyone may be able to speak. For written comment send an email to SPAC@nmlegis.gov with your Name, Entity Represented, Bill #, and For or Against. Written comments are limited to 300 words or less. The deadline to respond is Thursday, February 18 at 5:00 p.m. You will be contacted by our Zoom Operator with the virtual meeting instructions. If you do not receive a response, check your junk email.

S.B. 224 – CRIME OF FAILURE TO SECURE FIREARM by Sen. Antoinette Sedillo-Lopez (D-Bernalillo) – BAD

As reported on earlier, this bill will criminalize parents who teach their children how to shoot and mandate specific gun safes and locks for firearms. This is the bill’s first committee appearance.

This bill is staunchly anti-Second Amendment and counter-productive, as it would leave children without proper firearms training to use guns properly. 

S.B. 232  – EXEMPTION FROM IMMUNIZATION by Sen. Gregg Schmedes (R-Bernalillo, Sandoval, Santa Fe, and Torrance) – GOOD

According to the fiscal impact report, “Senate Bill 232 would amend Section 24-5-3 NMSA 1978 to add a fourth reason why a child should be granted an exemption from state-required immunizations for school or dare. The fourth type of exemption, “for reasons of conscience,” would be added to the three existing reasons: medical exemptions; group religious objections to vaccine(s) and individual religious objections to vaccine(s).” This bill is friendly to New Mexicans who have conscience objections to vaccinations. 

S.B. 238 – ELIMINATE SEC. OF HEALTH POWERS by Sen. Gregg Schmedes (R-Bernalillo, Sandoval, Santa Fe, and Torrance) – GOOD

According to the fiscal impact report, “Senate Bill 238 eliminates the authority of the secretary of the Department of Health under the Public Health Emergency Response Act (PHERA) to isolate or quarantine a person who is unwilling or unable to undergo vaccination for reasons of health, religion or conscience. This bill contains an emergency clause and would become effective immediately upon signature by the governor.” This bill is friendly to those who have objections to being forcibly vaccinated by the Department of Health. 

SB 230 – INSTITUTIONAL RACISM IN STATE AGENCIES by Sen. Linda Lopez (D-Bernalillo) – BAD

“SB230 directs each state agency or entity that receives state funding to annually develop and submit a plan to address institutional racism as part of its annual final budget submission. SB230 would require copies of the annual plans to be provided to the Legislature, the Legislative Finance Committee, and the Courts, Corrections, & Justice Committee,” according to the Fiscal Impact Report. 

This bill would foster racism within state agencies based upon arbitrary attributes that employees cannot control. This would further bureaucratize New Mexico state agencies and waste hard-earned taxpayer money on programs that do not directly benefit the state in any way, shape, or form. 

S.B. 274 – USE OF DEADLY FORCE REPORTING by Sen. Antoinette Sedillo-Lopez (D-Bernalillo) and Rep. Patricia Roybal Caballero (D-Bernalillo) – BAD

Note: both of these women are running for Congress in CD-1.

According to the bill, “Within twenty-four hours of a person suffering great bodily harm or death as a result of a peace officer’s actions, the sheriff or the chief of police of the jurisdiction in which the great bodily harm or death occurred shall report the great bodily harm or death in writing to the district attorney of the judicial district in which the great bodily harm or death occurred. The sheriff or chief of police shall report all instances of suspected great bodily harm to the appropriate district attorney, even if a more thorough assessment of great bodily harm will be undertaken at a later date,” 

The bill would put undue suspicion of wrongdoing on the part of the law enforcement officer, overburdening local sheriffs and district attorneys, while not trusting police officers to carry forth their duties. 

NOTE: This same bill, but in the House form as H.B. 254 will be heard in the HOUSE CONSUMER AND PUBLIC AFFAIRS COMMITTEE on Thursday, February 18, 2021 – 10 Minutes After the Floor Session – Zoom:

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/89243737297

S.B. 227 –  INSPECTION OF POLICE MISCONDUCT INVESTIGATION – Sen. Linda Lopez (D-Bernalillo) – BAD

This bill is opposed by the Bernalillo County Deputy Sheriffs Association. It adds crippling restrictions on law enforcement and adds strict reporting criteria which does nothing by penalize law enforcers for simply carrying out their duties. Included in the bill are restrictions, such as the following:

“A law enforcement officer shall not use a chokehold. J. A law enforcement officer shall not discharge tear gas or other chemical weapons. K. A law enforcement officer shall not discharge rubber pellets from a propulsion device. L. A law enforcement officer shall not direct a dog to bite a person.” This is an anti-law enforcement bill, which takes critical tools away from officers. 

This is still being updated.

TAX, BUSINESS AND TRANSPORTATION COMMITTEE – Thursday, February 18, 2021 – 1:30 p.m. – Virtual Zoom Meeting

For public participation send an email to SCORC@nmlegis.gov with your Name, Entity Represented, Bill #, For or Against and indicate if you wish to speak. The deadline to respond is Thursday, February 18 at 10:00 a.m. You will be contacted by our Zoom Operator with the virtual meeting instructions.

SB 168 – INCREASE GAS TAX by Sen. “Bobby” J. Gonzales (D-Los Alamos, Rio Arriba, Santa Fe and Taos) – BAD 

Senate Bill 168 increases the gasoline excise tax and the special fuel excise tax by five cents per gallon (from 17 cents to 22 cents and from 21 cents to 26 cents, respectively) over a five-year period, with a one-cent increase each fiscal year beginning in FY22.

In an economic crisis, the state already faces, this bill will raise taxes on gas, hurting the state and hurting people in New Mexico already suffering enough through burdensome taxation. 

HOUSE LABOR, VETERANS’ AND MILITARY AFFAIRS COMMITTEE – ELISEO LEE ALCON, CHAIR Thursday, February 18, 2021 – 2:00 p.m. – Zoom
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/84249828480 

H.B. 268 – CORONAVIRUS & WORKERS’ COMP by Reps. Dayan Hochman-Vigil (D-Bernalillo) and Christine Chandler (D-Los Alamos, Rio Arriba, Sandoval, and Santa Fe). 

According to the New Mexico Business Coalition, “the employee would not be required to prove that they were actually exposed to Covid-19 at work.” 

The business would be forced to go to court to dispute the claim that the essential employee contracted COVID-19 during work. The bill reads, “The presumptions created in Subsection B of this section may be rebutted by a preponderance of evidence in a court of competent jurisdiction establishing that the employee engaged in conduct or activities outside of employment that substantially violated the then existent public health orders related to the coronavirus disease 2019.” 

The New Mexico Business Coalition urges members of the public to reach out to legislators on the committee and urge them to vote “NO” on the measure “because it is unfair and injurious to businesses that have been working to keep the economy going during forced shutdowns.”

Monday, February 22, 2021

HOUSE COMMERCE AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE

ANTONIO “MOE” MAESTAS, CHAIR – 1:30 p.m. – Zoom

H.B. 110 – PHASED MINIMUM WAGE INCREASE by Rep. Patricia Roybal Caballero (D-Bernalillo) – She is running for Congress in CD-1.  – BAD

“Starting January 1, 2022, the minimum wage would rise to $12.00 per hour Starting January 1, 2024, the minimum wage would rise to $15.00 per hour,” according to the fiscal impact report.

This bill hurts small businesses and causes fewer people employed because of the mandates from this anti-business, anti-worker bill. 
You are invited to a Zoom webinar. Feb 22, 2021 01:30 PM When: Feb 22, 2021 01:30 PM Mountain Time (US and Canada) Topic: HOUSE COMMERCE & ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE Please click the link below to join the webinar: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/83846715600

HOUSE ENERGY, ENVIRONMENT AND NATURAL RESOURCES COMMITTEE

MATTHEW MCQUEEN,
CHAIR
Thursday, February 18, 2021 – 8:30 a.m. – Zoom

H.J.M. 3 – WAIVE OIL & GAS PERMIT BAN ON FED LANDS by Rep. James G. Townsend (R-Artesia) and Rep. Rod Montoya (R-Farmington) – GOOD

This bill requests Joe Biden waive the suspension of new oil and gas leasing and drilling permits for federal lands in New Mexico.

Legislative Update: Bills you need to know about for Feb. 18-19 Read More »

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