On Friday, the Washington Post published an article claiming New Mexico is “a model” for Democrats to win elections, pointing to the Hispanic Democrats elected statewide and in the composition of the state Legislature.
First-term Sen. Ben Ray Luján, who was elected on the coattails of his father, former state representative and Speaker of the New Mexico House Ben Luján, claimed Democrats “showed up in places that Republicans usually don’t have to worry about showing up.” He claimed, “It’s how I was raised. It’s how dad did it. It was part of our strategy when we were successful before — you need to go talk to folks.”
The senator, who was previously the assistant House speaker, never showed up in New Mexico during most of his congressional tenure. Instead, in election years such as 2018, he wasn’t even spotted on Election Day in the state, opting to be in Washington, D.C., with Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA).
In the article, Democrats tried to paint New Mexico as the model for other states to elect Democrats, with state Rep. Javier Martínez (D-Bernalillo) claiming the recent tenure of Republican Gov. Susana Martinez from 2011 to 2019 was a fluke. He said Martinez was able to “break through the ranks and able to appeal to a wider range of voters.” He said now that Republicans’ “nominees have been candidates that do not relate to large enough numbers of voters.”
Luján hinted in the article at his own ambitions to run for Senate leadership, taking after former Sen. Dennis Chavez.
The Washington Post article noted, “The first Hispanic senator, Octaviano Ambrosio Larrazolo, a Republican, was elected in 1928. The second was Dennis Chavez, a Democrat, who Luján said he tries to emulate, a sign that his goal is moving into Democratic leadership. Chavez was the fourth ranking Democrat when he died in office in 1962.”
Others claim Republicans running in New Mexico are “extremists,” and that is how they have not been able to win in recent years, despite recent nominees, such as Mark Ronchetti for governor, being moderate.
On Friday, the U.S. House of Representatives approved a leftist stop-gap bill filled with $1.7 billion in mostly pork along with the final stamp of approval by Congress for New Mexico to further rob the state’s Land Grant Permanent Fund of billions of dollars to delve out socialist “free” (taxpayer-funded) daycare programs. The bill now heads to Joe Biden’s desk, where he is certain to approve it.
All members of New Mexico’s congressional delegation voted for the measure except for U.S. Rep. Yvette Herrell of the Second District.
The portion was hidden in the sweeping 4,126-page bill that included things such as $45 billion in further aid to Ukraine, the partisan “Electoral Count Act” said to “prevent another January 6,” more security for lame duck House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, among millions of dollars in enviro-Marxist policy measures.
Previously, the second to final hurdle was met by New Mexico to fund the socialist program after around 70 percent of voters in the 2022 General Election voted for the program.
“Voting in favor of this bill is a dereliction of our duty on all counts,” 31 current and incoming House Republican lawmakers said in an open letter published Wednesday to their Senate colleagues before the chamber had 18 Republicans join Democrats to ram through the costly bill.
Now, the state of New Mexico can rob the Permanent Fund of another 1.25%, which adds up to hundreds of millions annually.
The new spending approved by Congress will further exacerbate the United States’ $31.5 trillion in debt.
“With a heavy heart,” the City of Farmington has decided to abandon its plans to salvage hundreds of jobs connected to the San Juan Generating Station (SJGS) by retrofitting the plant with carbon capture technology.
The Albuquerque Journal reported, “The city announced its decision late Tuesday to end all efforts to acquire the plant from Public Service Company of New Mexico and other co-owners after an arbitration panel for transfer negotiations refused to block PNM and the other utilities from moving forward on decommissioning and demolition preparations. The city said the arbitration panel’s position struck a ‘catastrophic blow’ to the plant conversion effort, which Farmington has pursued for more than four years with private development partner Enchant Energy Corp.”
“Given PNM’s and the other co-owners’ actions to quickly dismantle SJGS, and the (arbitration) panel’s recent decision to allow them to do so, we have arrived at a point where those actions directly undermine the viability of successful implementation of the carbon capture project,” Farmington Mayor Nate Duckett wrote in a statement.
Farmington owns a five percent stake in SJGS, which closed on September 30, 2022.
According to PNM, the Generating Station will begin to be demolished in the spring of 2023, expected to last two to three years.
With the closure of the San Juan Generating Station, it has purged countless jobs, with only around 80 employees able to retire. “For the rest of the employees, though, they’re going to have to go find some other form of employment,” said plant manager Omni Warner.
The AP reports, “El Paso Electric, a utility that serves customers in southern New Mexico, also is expecting a capacity gap next summer. Like PNM, El Paso Electric will have to buy power from other producers to ensure adequate capacity when customers crank up their air conditioners during the hottest of days.”
With the critical energy plant shuddered, utilities are being forced to raise their rates, such as PNM, which is requesting to raise rates due to the enviro-Marxist “Energy Transition Act,” the state’s version of the Green New Deal signed by Democrat Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham in 2019.
After the news of the San Juan Generating Station’s imminent demolition, radical environmentalists rejoiced.
Mike Eisenfeld, the “energy and climate program manager” with the eco-left San Juan Citizens Alliance, said, “The city needs to reevaluate its perspective on energy development and focus on renewable energy to create jobs and improve the environment.”
For the second straight day in a row, an ambulance was spotted at the Albuquerque late-term abortion mill Southwestern Women’s Options (SWO).
On Tuesday, another ambulance was spotted at the abortion facility picking up a patient from another potentially botched abortion.
Regarding the Wednesday ambulance dispatch, pro-life legal group Abortion On Trial wrote, “For the second day in a row witnesses saw an ambulance leaving Curtis Boyd’s Southwestern Women’s Options late-term abortion facility. This is beyond a point of abortion position. This facility is a danger to the public.”
BREAKING: ITS HAPPENED AGAIN! For the second day in a row witnesses saw an ambulance leaving Curtis Boyd’s Southwestern Women’s Options late term abortion facility.
This is beyond a point of abortion position. This facility is a danger to the public. pic.twitter.com/SlEzSiJ5BC
The abortion facility proudly advertises abortion up to and after 32 weeks gestation — full-term abortions.
Abortion up-to-birth is currently legal in New Mexico, with no protections for women, babies, or medical professionals.
SWO is operated by abortionist Curtis Boyd, who is responsible for tens of thousands of children’s death via abortion. He and his associates are also large donors to pro-abortion Democrat politicians such as Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham, who signed the 2021 abortion up-to-birth bill into law.
On Tuesday, an ambulance was spotted transporting a patient from the late-term abortion mill Southwestern Women’s Options (SWO) in Albuquerque.
The pro-life legal group Abortion On Trial shared the photos taken by pro-life sidewalk counselor Christina Garza with the caption, “Yet another person was sent away from Southwestern Women’s Options in an ambulance today.”
The group commented, “When will the state of New Mexico start caring about the fact that this facility is a danger to women?”
The abortion facility proudly advertises abortion up to and after 32 weeks gestation — full-term abortions.
Abortion up-to-birth is currently legal in New Mexico, with no protections for women, babies, or medical professionals.
SWO is operated by abortionist Curtis Boyd, who is responsible for tens of thousands of children’s death via abortion. He and his associates are also large donors to pro-abortion Democrat politicians such as Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham, who signed the 2021 abortion up-to-birth bill into law.
During the last day of the partisan Nancy Pelosi-sanctioned January 6 committee hearing, the committee’s members referred 45th President Donald J. Trump, among others, including his former lawyer John Eastman, for prosecution. Eastman lives in Santa Fe and has been constantly harassed by far-left protesters outside of his residence for months.
“We believe that the evidence described by my colleagues today … warrants a criminal referral of former President Donald J. Trump, John Eastman, and others,” said Rep. Jamie Raskin (D-Maryland).
The sham committee referred Trump for prosecution on the following counts:
Obstruction of an official proceeding;
Conspiracy to defraud the United States;
Conspiracy to make a false statement; and
Conspiracy to defraud the U.S. by assisting, aiding or comforting those involved in an insurrection
Eastman faces the same referral on alleged “Obstruction of an official proceeding.” Legally, on January 6th, no such “insurrection” took place. There was no such conspiracy to defraud the country nor false statements made before the partisan committee.
Eastman’s legal representatives at Burnham & Gorokhov, PLLC wrote following the news, “A criminal ‘referral’ from a congressional committee is not binding on the Department of Justice and carries no more legal weight than a ‘referral’ from any American citizen,” adding, “In fact, a ‘referral’ from the January 6th committee should carry a great deal less weight due to the absurdly partisan nature of the process that produced it.”
“At its inception, the January 6th committee had the resources and mandate to make important contributions in the area of Capitol Security, Electoral Count Act Reform and other areas of potential legislation. Sadly, this opportunity has been squandered in favor of concocting a pretend ‘criminal case’ from pretend prosecutors designed to create political advantage for the Democratic Party and stigmatize disfavored political groups. The American people have been ill-served by the January 6th committee and its members,” the firm continued.
According to the Albuquerque Journal, “A 154-page executive summary to the committee’s full investigation was released Monday. The summary mentions Eastman 166 times.”
Criminal charges are not mandatory of the Department of Justice and are at the discretion of special counsel Jack Smith.
Editor’s Note: Mr. Eastman is a donor to Piñon Post editor and founder Rep.-elect John Block’s campaign for state House District 51.
While speaking on Real America’s Voice’s “Just the News – Not Noise” with John Solomon and Amanda Head, GOP Congresswoman Yvette Herrell of New Mexico’s Second Congressional District gave another hint that she is running for the seat in 2024.
Herrell, who currently holds the position, was narrowly defeated by Democrat Gabe Vasquez, a far-leftist, in the November 8 election after Democrats gerrymandered the district to benefit Democrats. The current congressional maps are in litigation and could be overturned if they are ruled to be drawn for partisan political gain.
“Congressman, you are beloved by the people of New Mexico. You have consistently been a very sage voice in Congress, and I know that the people of New Mexico, in particular, would like to know what’s on the horizon for you,” Head said to Herrell.
Herrell responded, “You know what, I have been asked by so many people to stay in the fight, and I will because it is just too important for our country, our state, and just to know that we have an opportunity to change the course of America by getting ourselves back on track. Putting American sovereignty [and] American security first. So, all options are certainly on the table, but I will definitely be staying in the fight, and next year, we will definitely be making some announcements for sure.”
The latest development comes after Herrell filed with the Federal Election Commission (FEC) for a 2024 matchup against Vasquez.
She previously wrote in a November 17 email, “We know our work in Washington was not completed, and hundreds of people from all over the District and colleagues in Washington have asked me to stay in the fight…all options will be on the table – so stay tuned.”
U.S. Interior Department Sec. Deb Haaland is once again in hot water — this time not because of what she directly did. Rather, Haaland’s daughter, Somah Haaland, is causing headaches for the Democrat, 62, after she was caught lobbying members of Congress to support a moratorium on oil and gas leasing near Chaco Canyon.
Fox Newsreported, “Somah Haaland – who is a media organizer for the Pueblo Action Alliance, a cultural and environmental group in New Mexico – traveled to Capitol Hill alongside a group of fellow climate activists, according to the environmental group WildEarth Guardians. The activists argued that drilling near the Chaco Culture National Historical Park in northwestern New Mexico would cause irreparable damage to local communities and the environment.”
As well as lobbying federal officials to adopt enviro-Marxist policies, Somah Haaland screened a film for lawmakers narrated by her that “showcases the threats posed by oil and gas leasing in the region,” according to a release from WildEarth Guardians. Those in attendance to watch the film included Sen. Martin Heinrich (D-NM) and Rep. Teresa Leger Fernandez (D-NM), as well as “agency officials.”
The Fox News report noted, “Meanwhile, the Bureau of Land Management (BLM), a subagency within Secretary Deb Haaland’s Department of Interior (DOI) that is tasked with managing nearly 250 million acres of federal lands, is expected to soon finalize a rule acceding to activists’ demands. Earlier this month, the agency closed a comment period for its proposal to withdraw 351,500 acres of public lands within 10 miles of the Chaco site for 20 years.”
Kathleen Sgamma, the president of the Western Energy Alliance, told Fox News, “In our comments on the withdrawal, we pointed out the conflict of interest Secretary Haaland already has as a member of a Puebloan nation that is advocating for the 10-mile buffer,” adding, “Her daughter actively lobbying for the buffer highlights the conflict of interest and lack of discretion.”
Both the Western Energy Alliance and the Navajo Nation Council are vehemently against the moratorium proposal.
Sgamma continued, “The department is completely ignoring a compromise solution advanced by the Navajo Nation, whose lands are directly affected by the decision, whereas the Puebloan people are hundreds of miles away,” saying, “It appears that Secretary Haaland’s interests and kinship ties are clouding her ability to make a reasoned, balanced decision.”
The ethical conundrum with Haaland’s daughter is by far not the only situation the Interior secretary is battling. She currently is the subject of a Hatch Act complaint after she endorsed Democrat candidates in partisan races, has been sued by watchdog groups over unreleased travel logs and is the subject of investigations regarding her shady financial disclosures.
A desperate smear campaign by a disgraced convicted felon and leftist Alamogordo-based blogger Chris Edwards ended in defeat after a frivilous ethics complaint filed by his partner, Rene Sepulveda, was dismissed by the full State Ethics Commission. The complaint targeted Republican officials in Alamogordo, including Otero County GOP Chairman Josh Beasley, Republican State Representative-elect John Block, and Alamogordo City Commissioner Karl Melton.
Edwards, a convicted felon and twice-failed candidate for Napa City Council in California, runs the blog “2nd Life Media,” which is now attempting to brand itself as conservative with the label of “Alamogordo Conserative Daily,” spewing similar leftist talking points and attacks on conservatives. During his failed political career, he was accused of “dirty politics” for misleading elderly voters during candidate forums. The frivolous complaint appears to be yet another Napa Valley-style political smear.
Sepulveda’s panicky eleventh-hour October 31, 2022 complaint, spanning 13 rambling pages, alleged there was a “consorted attack” by the three Republicans against pro-abortion radicals who attempted unsuccessfully to overturn Alamogordo’s sanctuary for the unborn ordinance passed in August.
The conspiracy theorist’s complainant claimed the supposed attack, which never happened, was “orchestrated” by Melton and Block “via social media posts, a whisper campaign, and facilitated directly by the two individuals, and with their prodding of their supporters and the chairman of the Otero County Republican party, Joshua Beasley, rallied to their cause.”
Hilariously, even in Sepulveda’s complaint, it acknowledged that Block, the founder and editor of the state’s largest online news publication, the Piñon Post, had factually reported on the petition. Still, he claimed Rep.-elect Block instituted the use of “malinformation.” No evidence was given.
The complaint then repeats a debunked conspiracy theory alleging Rep.-elect Block sent an unsigned piece of mail to those associated with Edwards sharing his federal indictment while claiming mail fraud. This false claim came despite Edwards being convicted of mail fraud previously and serving in federal prison for his crimes after defrauding 1-800 Flowers of nearly $1 million in an embezzlement and tax evasion scheme.
“Mr. Block directly mailed it or a member of the conspiracy did it on his behalf the fact remains an addition [sic] act of mail fraud was conducted having the return address of Mr. Edwards business on it,” claimed Sepuveda’s dismissed complaint, which provided no evidence.
Then, the letter adds defamatory accusations, erroneously claiming Rep.-elect Block and Commissioner Melton “conspired, instigated, and engaged in activities and actions of ‘voter intimidation and harassment,’” and “disqualify” the convicted felon from voting. It also claimed supposed “attempted economic intimidation” by printing news about Edwards’ illicit activities, of which he has repeatedly been convicted.
Previously, Edwards has doxxed Rep.-elect Block by publishing in his blog the conservative’s home address, email address, and phone number. He has done this on previous occasions against citizens who requested the pro-life sanctuary city resolution.
In conclusion, the failed smear tactic demanded the State Ethics Commission, which has no jurisdiction in the matter, grant a “cease and desist” against Rep.-elect Block from printing the truth about Edwards as well as a “retraction of the stories and an admission to intimidation tactics.” It also demanded a “cease and desist in attempts at voter intimidation and voter suppression and an admission of tactics not becoming of party leadership or those of elected office,” all of which have been unproven or destroyed.
The State Ethics Commission saw through the unhinged ramblings of Sepulveda and Edwards, with members of the Commission writing in response, “The claims that Complainant (Rene Sepulveda), filed against Respondents (John Block, Karl Melton, and Joshua Beasley), in administrative complaint No. 2022-041 are dismissed for lack of jurisdiction. See 1.8.3.l0(F) NMAC; Jurisdictional determination (Nov. 9, 2022). This administrative proceeding is closed, and the Commission will not disclose records relating to this proceeding.”
Yet again, Edwards’ cowardly attacks on Alamogordo conservatives have failed, leaving the far-left California transplant with egg on his face following not only a failed petition drive to strip the City of its pro-life resolution but now a blow from the State Ethics Commission.
Read more about far-left Edwards’ failed smears against Otero County conservatives here:
On Tuesday, far-left Democrat Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham used Advent to promote her pro-abortion policies.
During her “12 Days of Delivering for New Mexicans” social media campaign, Lujan Grisham wrote, “Standing up for women’s rights has never been more important.” She continued, “I am proud that under my leadership, New Mexico was one of the few states to advance access to reproductive health care and abortion in 2021.”
The Democrat’s post included a graphic reading, “Stood up for women’s rights: Repealed the 1969 criminal abortion statute that punished women and their doctors.”
“I will never stop protecting the right of women and their families to make their own decision about when to have children,” she added in a subsequent tweet.
Day 2 of 🌟12 Days of Delivering for New Mexicans 🌟
Standing up for women's rights has never been more important. I am proud that under my leadership, New Mexico was one of the few states to advance access to reproductive health care and abortion in 2021. pic.twitter.com/CD9KGJPuUp
However, the 2021 “repeal” she refers to stripped all protections for women, babies, and medical professionals. The repeal took away these life-saving protections while opening up doctors, nurses, and others in health care to violations of their conscience rights. It also legalized abortion up to birth and infanticide.
Despite claiming to support women’s rights, Lujan Grisham’s policies are not only hurting women, but they are leading to the killing of many other children in the womb — half of them being female.
In the upcoming 2023 Legislative Session that commences on January 17, 2023, Lujan Grisham is hoping to ram through $10 million in state funds to open a new Las Cruces abortion facility that would kill more Texas mothers’ children from across the border since Texas has enacted policies to protect life in the state.
New Mexicans offered their takes on the Democrat’s gruesome Advent message:
