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Bill enacting independent redistricting commission advances to House floor after tense debate

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

On Friday, the House Judiciary Committee advanced two redistricting proposals, one bipartisan bill, H.B. 211, brought forth by Rep. Rebecca Dow (R-Truth or Consequences) and Natalie Figueroa (D-Bernalillo), and the other, S.B. 15, brought forth by Sen. Daniel Ivey-Soto (D-Bernalillo) and Speaker of the House Brian Egolf (D-Santa Fe).

Critics of S.B. 15 noted how it uses partisan data and incumbency as tools for redrawing maps, whereas H.B. 211 does not exclusively use that data. H.B. 211 takes into account the needs of local communities, including tribal communities, and encourages public input in the fair process of redrawing legislative maps. It also would discourage litigation, as has been done in all but one census year over the past fifty, according to Rep. Figueroa.

At the beginning of the meeting, a poll of attendees showed that 89% of them supported H.B. 211 compared to the meager 11% who opposed it.

During the committee hearing, Speaker Egolf continually whined about Republicans “casting aspersions” that he did not want a fair redistricting process, demanding an apology from Republicans, including GOP Leader Jim Townsend (R-Chaves, Eddy, and Otero). He did not end up getting one, as Egolf has continually worked to favor Democrats in the redistricting process and only recently joined Sen. Ivey-Soto’s last-ditch redistricting bill to install a more political way of redrawing district maps. After the meeting, Rep. Stefani Lord (R-Bernalillo, Sandoval & Santa Fe) wrote, “We will NEVER apologize for standing up for the people of New Mexico!”

Previously on a Zoom call with a left-wing group, Retake Our Democracy, Egolf blasted the idea of an independent redistricting commission, saying, “I think that it puts at unacceptable peril a woman’s right to choose, environmental protection, fairness in taxation.” He added, “It puts at tremendous peril all of the progressive causes that we care about.”

Regarding districts, such as Sen Liz Stefanics’ (D-Bernalillo, Lincoln, San Miguel, Santa Fe, Torrance, and Valencia), which covers six counties, Egolf claimed it was not gerrymandered, despite its strange shape going all the way from Santa Fe to Lincoln counties.

“They look strange, and they are long—that was not a gerrymander, That was—the litigation around that district, in particular, was focused on trying to preserve and maintain a rural seat…. That’s why we have that district…. That was the purpose for that, and I think that was a good purpose,” said Egolf.

“The boundaries we have right now in the Legislature were not drawn by legislators…. I don’t believe we have legislatively created maps since 1990 so we are operating basically coming up on thirty years of maps that were drawn by members of the Legislature. And the current maps were drawn by a judge in Santa Fe,” said Egolf.

Egolf also claimed the Republican Party was trying to push laws that were making “it harder to vote,” invoking Georgia strengthening their voting laws to discourage fraud. Egolf claimed laws such as Voter ID are “obvious” discrimination against minorities, even though members of his own party, including Sen. Antoinette Sedillo-Lopez (D-Bernalillo), have noted the value of an ID. During a March 7th hearing on H.B. 127, a bill regarding youth ID cards, she said, “Try going a week without an ID and see how difficult it is.”

Rep. Eliseo Alcon (D-Cibola & McKinley) complained about an independent commission taking away representatives’ “rights” to redraw their own districts, saying, “I don’t think it’s our duty to give up our rights.” He did not like the idea of a seven-member commission making the decisions, not him. “If these seven people really want to be part of the redistricting, then they should run for our spots,” he said, adding, “I will be a solid no matter how you look at it,” despite the majority of people in the committee hearing in support of giving more power to the people.

Rep. Matthew McQueen (D-Bernalillo, Santa Fe, Torrance and Valencia) made similar comments, discounting the people in support of the bill, saying, “I appreciate the public’s participation, but to say that we should be bound in this committee by the poll of a few dozen people is absurd.”

Other opponents of H.B. 211, including Rep. Gail Chasey (D-Bernalillo) and Rep. Micaela Cadena (D-Doña Ana), constantly invoked the January 6th incursion of the U.S. Capitol as the pivotal moment that they were not in favor of independent redistricting. Chasey said, “January 6th changed that a lot for me. 40-45% of the country doesn’t think we had an election that was valid.”

Both S.B. 15 and H.B. 211 cleared the committee with bipartisan support, with H.B. 211 getting a vote of 7-4. It now heads to the House floor.

TODAY: GOP-led independent redistricting commission bill to be heard in House committee

Leave a Comment / Action Alert, New Mexico, News / By John Block

On Friday at 11:30 a.m., the House Judiciary Committee will hear a Republican-led effort by Rep. Rebecca Dow (R-Truth or Consequences) for New Mexico to form an independent redistricting commission.

H.B. 211, which has previously earned unanimous support in House committees, would create a seven-member redistricting body comprised of two Democrats, two Republicans, and two members belonging to neither major party.

The commission would fairly redraw district maps without partisans from either side getting to redraw districts to their benefit. It prohibits the use of partisan data, voting history, party registration and prohibits favoring a particular party or incumbent.

H.B. 211 also discourages litigation over new district maps, requires compliance with the Voter Rights Act, and compels citizen input, which before has not happened.

A competing Democrat-backed bill by Sen. Daniel Ivey-Soto (D-Bernalillo) in the New Mexico Senate is cloaked as an independent commission, but would allow partisans to draw district lines, let lawmakers draw their own districts, and would welcome costly litigation.

Citizens are asked to testify in favor of the bill by Republican representatives. Please join in to testify at 11:30 a.m. in the House Judiciary Committee.

Here’s an easy sheet to compare the two proposals:

Meeting information can be found here:

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/89543370073
Or iPhone one-tap : US: +16699009128,,89543370073# or +12532158782,,89543370073# 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: 895 4337 0073

You can reach out to members of the House Judiciary Committee by calling thier offices or emailing their inboxes here:

Gail Chasey (Chair) | Capitol: (505) 986 – 4411 | Email: gail@gailchasey.com

Micaela Lara Cadena (Vice-Chair) | Capitol: (505) 986 – 4210 | Email: micaela.cadena@nmlegis.gov

Eliseo Lee Alcon | Capitol: ( 505) 986 – 4416 | Email: eliseo.alcon@nmlegis.gov

Deborah A. Armstrong | Capitol: (505) 986 – 4344 | Email: deborah.armstrong@nmlegis.gov

Zachary J. Cook | Capitol: (505) 986 – 4221 | Email: zachary .cook @ nmlegis.gov

Brian Egolf | Capitol: (505) 986 – 4782 | Email: brian.egolf@nmlegis.gov

Daymon Ely | Capitol: (505) 986 – 4243 | Email:daymon.ely@nmlegis.gov

Georgene Louis | Capitol: (505) 986 – 4329 | Email: georgene.louis@nmlegis.gov

Matthew McQueen | Capitol: (505) 986 – 4423 | Email: matthew.mcqueen@nmlegis.gov

Greg Nibert | Capitol: ( 505) 986 – 4211 | Email: greg.nibert@nmlegis.gov

William “Bill” R. Rehm | Capitol: (505) 986 – 4214 | Email: bill.rehm@nmlegis.gov

James G. Townsend | Capitol: (505) 986 – 4758 | Email: townsend@pvtn.net

Haaland confirmation almost certain as four GOP senators signal support

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

On Thursday, the U.S. Senate advanced the confirmation of Deb Haaland to become the next secretary of the Department of the Interior. Democrats were helped in their efforts to push through the anti-energy extremist by four moderate Republican senators, Dan Sullivan (R-AK), Lisa Murkowski (R-AK), Lindsey Graham (R-SC), and Susan Collins (R-ME).

Now, Haaland’s confirmation moves to its final vote in the Senate, where it looks like senators from energy-rich states such as Joe Manchin (D-WV) and Bob Casey (D-PA) will vote with their party despite Haaland’s complete assault on energy and natural resources while on the campaign trail and in power as a congresswoman.

BACKGROUND

Haaland has no qualifications to speak of. Not a single piece of legislation she has sponsored in her short two-year tenure in the House has become law, and she has a record of straight-up lying to the American people. Not to mention the fact that despite her multiple attempts at passing the bar to become a lawyer, she has failed.

During a candidate debate in October, Haaland misled on multiple issues. She claimed she worked in “a bipartisan way” while in Congress, despite voting with socialist Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez 95% of the time, she called a leftist Black Lives Matter/Antifa mob committing arson and vandalism in Lafayette Square near the White House “peaceful,” she claimed she did not support Antifa, despite calling them “peaceful protestors,” saying she has never “missed a vote,” despite missing several, and falsely claiming President Trump called COVID-19 a “Democrat hoax,” which liberal fact-checkers have even admitted is incorrect.

While running for Congress in 2018, she said, “Let’s be honest, there is a reason there has never been a Native American woman elected to Congress or to a Governorship in over 240 years. Our electoral system was not designed to elect women like me.” That should say it all about the level of pandering she is willing to go to be elected.

Also, during COVID-19, Haaland exploited the pandemic to raise campaign cash for her feeble re-election bid while New Mexicans were hurting.

But being of a minority group does not and should not be a test for any candidate up for any office of public trust—qualifications should, and Haaland doesn’t hold a single redeeming qualification other than being a partisan Democrat loyalist, who will say just about anything to hold onto power. Qualifications make someone qualified for a position, and Haaland has none.

Fifty of the farthest left Democrats in the House have sent a letter to Joe Biden begging him to pick her to run the Department of Interior along with a group of fringe organizations also lobbying him to tap Haaland for the post. Haaland’s backers say an awful lot about her extremism now and when she could arrive at the Department of the Interior. 34.72% of New Mexico is federally controlled land, meaning Deb would control over 1/3 of our state’s natural resources—meaning sudden death to our state.

During Haaland’s Senate committee hearings, she could not answer basic questions regarding the department she was vying for, stumbled on every single question she was asked and did not have a general knowledge of the energy industry, much less the public lands she claimed to be a champion of.

Sen. Jim Risch (R-ID) plainly asked Haaland, “Did you or do you now support the Biden action of shutting down the Keystone Pipeline his first day in office?” She refused to answer the question, responding, “I have to respect it, uh, Senator. He is the president of the United States and I realize that, um, these are some of the things that he talked about when he was running for office.” Not until Sen. Risch had to press three more times did he get a vaguely discernible answer from Haaland where she finally said, “I will tend to support President Biden’s positions. I assume you could take my answer as a yes.”

During one line of questioning by Sen. John Barrasso (R-WY), Haaland was asked why she made the statement that she would vote to legalize marijuana to account for lost jobs in the oil and gas industry due to extreme government regulation. She claimed her argument was merely one about “diversify[ing] our funding streams.”

Barrasso pressed her, “Is selling marijuana among what the Biden administration calls ‘better choices… to give jobs to displaced oil and gas workers?” Haaland said she didn’t know Biden’s position on the legalization of weed. Barrasso clapped back, “Well, we know what your stance is on replacing the revenue from the energy jobs… And your preference is to turn to drugs is what you’ve recommended to the voters.”

During another exchange, Haaland had difficulty answering basic questions about oil and gas pipelines on federal lands from Sen. James Lankford (R-OK), ultimately admitting she didn’t know the answer to the question.

The final Senate vote on Haaland is expected on Monday. With the defection of moderate Republicans and the betrayal of moderate Democrats, Haaland’s confirmation to lead the Department of the Interior is almost certain.

Every Democrat NM senator voted to raise gas taxes on the poor by 20+ cents per gallon

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

On Thursday, in a fast-track effort to ram through extreme legislation, the New Mexico Senate approved the 20+ cent gas tax on the poor, Sen. Mimi Stewart’s S.B. 11, on a party-line vote of 25-14 with every Democrat voting for it and one Democrat, Sen. Bill O’Neill (D-Bernalillo) absent for the vote. However, he has supported the measure in previous committees.

Despite public outcry from countless New Mexicans about this bill and the measure raising gas taxes on the poorest in our state by hiking taxes on transport fuels, the outrage fell on deaf ears as Mimi Stewart is the Senate Pro Tem, meaning she can force through just about anything she wants, such as the radical abortion up-to-birth and infanticide S.B. 10, which is now law.

S.B. 11 puts extreme clean fuel standards on businesses that produce or import transportation fuels and fuels used in motor vehicles. The restrictions on these companies would force them to invest in costly upgrades to their fuel standards, meaning these costs would transfer to the consumers. The bill also adds vague and sweeping “enviro-justice” provisions to state law.

In California and Oregon, where clean fuel standards are already in place, there are already increased costs of up to 24 cents per gallon on gas, which directly hurts poor consumers. Similar bills have been enacted in Oregon and California, states where the gas prices are 119% and 135% higher than the national average, respectively, according to AAA.

In Senate Tax, Business and Transportation Committee, Stewart got flustered with people calling her bill out for harming poor New Mexicans, where she insisted, “You know what gas costs in Europe? It costs $6-7 a gallon!” She said people drove smaller electric cars in the region and said she didn’t appreciate “the sky is falling” arguments regarding concerns attributed to her bill. Stewart also complained about the committee hearing nearing two hours long on her bill.

However, senators from rural areas did, indeed, have concerns about her bill since many people in more remote areas have to drive farther to go to work and to get basic needs from neighboring towns. This de-facto gas tax would harm the poorest New Mexicans.

But despite any logical argument otherwise, Stewart insists her bill will bring industry to New Mexico, while poor citizens foot the bill for her pipe dream. S.B. 11 now heads over to the House of Representatives, where it will be introduced, deferred to committees (likely only one), and then go for a full House of Representatives vote.

ACTION ALERT

Reach out to members of the House of Representatives and ask them to vote “NO” on S.B. 11–the gas tax on the poor. You can find your legislator here.

Brian Egolf’s anti-police bill bankrupting local governments advances to full Senate

1 Comment / New Mexico, News, Politics / By John Block

On Wednesday, the New Mexico Senate Judiciary Committee advanced H.B. 4, the “Civil Rights Act” sponsored by Speaker of the House Brian Egolf and Rep. Georgene Louis (D-Bernalillo), who are both attorneys.

The bill has the ability to bankrupt local communities with slews of frivolous civil rights lawsuits, end qualified immunity and put a target on law enforcers’ backs. Local governments from all across the state are vehemently opposed to the measure, as well as many local law enforcement officials from all over New Mexico.

“More money for insurance or claims means less money for essential services or higher taxes,” said Santa Fe County Attorney Greg Shaffer during testimony against the bill. “This shifting of risk impacts all citizens,” he said. “More money for insurance or claims means less money for essential services or higher taxes.”

In a previous hearing of the bill, Detective Shaun Willoughby of the Albuquerque Police Officers’ Association said, “This particular bill takes away our ability. This is basically a tax increase. We are taxing the public all over the state of New Mexico. Hurting budgets that can be used for training on the mental health, can be used for resources and social programs in the poorest state in the nation.”

Proponents of the police-attacking bill came sponsored by dark money groups like billionaire Mike Bloomberg’s “Moms Demand Action,” the Soros-funded “Sierra Club,” “ProgressNow New Mexico” and “Equality New Mexico.” These groups’ supporters claimed H.B. 4 was a necessary reform for civil rights while not addressing how it would cripple local municipalities’ budgets, open these localities to million-dollar frivolous lawsuits, and put targets on peace officers’ backs.

Egolf has been criticized for sponsoring the bill, as it would directly benefit his private law practice, which is 60% civil litigation and claims. His unethical sponsorship of the bill led a prominent retired judge to file an ethics complaint against Egolf. He had his lawyer file a motion to dismiss the ethics complaint, as reported on Friday. During House consideration of H.B. 4, Egolf voted against an amendment proposed by Rep. T. Ryan Lane (R-San Juan) to bar legislators from financially benefiting from the bill.

The measure barely squeaked by the Senate Judiciary Committee on a vote of 5-4, with Sen. Daniel Ivey-Soto (D-Bernalillo) voting with all Republicans against the radical measure. A similar measure was brought forth by Sen. Joseph Cervantes (D-Doña Ana) regarding tort claims and qualified immunity. However, it was swiftly rejected, with two Democrats voting to kill the bill. Cervantes also may have profited off of his legislation.

It is unclear how long it will take H.B. 4. to get to the full Senate, but the bill’s passage would be just one step away from becoming law.

Legislative Update: Conscience protection, race-baiting bills to be heard in Senate committees

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

Wednesday is another busy day at the Legislature, and many radical bills will be heard in committee. Please show up to testify against bad bills and for good bills. All the information you may need to testify is below:

HEALTH & PUBLIC AFFAIRS COMMITTEE

Senator Gerald Ortiz y Pino, Chair – Wednesday, March 10, 2021 – 1/2 hour after floor session

Note: the New Mexico Senate is set to convene at 11:00 a.m.

SB 323 HEALTH CARE WORKERS PROTECTION ACT by Sen. Gregg Schmedes (R-Bernalillo, Sandoval, Santa Fe & Torrance) and Rep. Rebecca Dow (R-Grant, Hidalgo & Sierra) – GOOD

According to the bill’s fiscal impact report, “Senate Bill 323 would establish that medical care providers, hospitals, and healthcare insurers have the right to refuse to provide or participate in a procedure (e.g., abortion). It provides for penalties against those who violate provisions in the act and whistleblower protection for those who report violations of the act.”

This bill will protect health care workers’ rights of conscience and would help keep health care workers in New Mexico. This bill is #6 on the agenda for the committee.

For public participation, complete the registration form by clicking the following link https://ggle.io/3pe5. You will be contacted by our Zoom Operator with virtual meeting instructions. The deadline to respond is Tues. March 9 at 5:00 p.m (although sign-up may be allowed up to one hour before the committee starts). If you do not receive a response, check your “junk” email.

JUDICIARY COMMITTEE

Senator Joseph Cervantes, Chair – Wednesday, March 10, 2021 – 1/2 hour after floor session

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.

H.B. 4 NM CIVIL RIGHTS ACT by Rep. Brian Egolf (D-Santa Fe) and Rep. Georgene Louis (D-Bernalillo) – BAD

The bill would open local governments into bankrupting civil rights claims in state court, remove “qualified immunity,” and put a target on law enforcers’ backs. The bill would also open local governments up to massive costs with frivolous civil litigation complaints.

Brain Egolf, the bill’s sponsor would directly benefit from the bill’s passage, as 60% of his private law practice are civil rights cases and civil litigation.

For public participation send an email to SJC@nmlegis.gov with your Name, Entity Represented, Bill #, For or Against, and indicate if you wish to speak. Written comments are limited to 300 words or less. The deadline to respond is Wednesday, March 10 at 10:00 a.m. You will be contacted by our Zoom Operator with the virtual meeting instructions.

20+ cent per gallon gas tax on the poor heads to Senate floor

1 Comment / New Mexico, News, Politics / By John Block

On Tuesday, the Senate Finance Committee advanced the gas tax on the poor, S.B. 11, which has been previously enacted in Oregon and California, states where the gas price is 119% and 135% higher than the national average, respectively, according to AAA. The bill is sponsored by Sen. Mimi Stewart (D-Bernalillo).

The bill puts extreme clean fuel standards on businesses that produce or import transportation fuels and fuels used in motor vehicles. The restrictions on these companies would force them to invest in costly upgrades to their fuel standards, meaning these costs would transfer to the consumers. The bill also adds vague and sweeping “enviro-justice” provisions to state law.

In California and Oregon, where clean fuel standards are already in place, there are already increased costs of up to 24 cents per gallon on gas, which directly hurts poor consumers.

In the bill’s previous committee, Senate Tax, Business, and Transportation, Sen. Craig Brandt (D-Sandoval) asked a question about the tax on the poor, to which Sen. Stewart got flustered. She said in a stern voice, “You know what gas costs in Europe? It costs $6-7 a gallon!” She said people drove smaller electric cars in the region and said she didn’t appreciate “the sky is falling” arguments regarding concerns attributed to her bill. Stewart also complained about the committee hearing nearing two hours long on her bill.

The New Mexico Oil and Gas Association (NMOGA), which took a neutral stance on Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham’s “mini” Green New Deal (The Energy Transition Act) is also taking a neutral stance on this bill. NMOGA dumped thousands into Democrat campaigns in 2018 and 2020.

The bill advanced the Senate Finance Committee on Tuesday by a vote of 6-4, with Sens. Bill Burt (R-Chaves, Lincoln & Otero), Crystal Diamond (R-Doña Ana, Hidalgo, Luna & Sierra), Bill Sharer (R-San Juan), and Pat Woods (R-Curry, Quay and Union) rejecting the measure. Sen. Woods dubbed the bill a “lawyers’ dream” and a “pie-in-the-sky proposal.”

The bill is listed as the 11th item on the Senate floor calendar for March 10, 2021. You can help stop this bill by reaching out to your New Mexico senator and asking them to vote “NO” on Senate Bill 11. You can find your senator here.

Gov. MLG’s PED finally announces date for in-person school reopening after yearlong lockdown

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

On Monday, Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham’s Public Education Department (PED) finally announced a reopening plan for New Mexico schools by April 5, 2021.

During a virtual news conference, Lujan Grisham’s PED secretary Ryan Stewart said, “All schools across the state do need to be open by April 5,” however, “that gives about a month for planning.”

“Your school or district administration will determine the timeline that works well for the community… we encourage our school leaders to work with their families, educators, school staff and community members,” PED said regarding when school districts will be reopening.

According to Stewart, remote learning will remain an option for students, while PED will allow “high-risk” staff exemptions until two weeks following full vaccination or inoculation becomes available to them. All teachers are eligible for the vaccine, says Stewart.

New Mexico’s largest school district, the Albuquerque Public Schools, “is updating its plan to get students back in the classroom, following the state Public Education Department’s announced expectation that all New Mexico public and charter schools return to in-person learning by early April,” writes the District.

Masks will be required to be worn by students and faculty and 6-feet “social distance” is highly encouraged wherever possible, but does not appear to be mandatory.

“It is time to ring the bell to welcome our kids back to class,” Stewart said.

“Our message to New Mexico public schools is that you can and should move as quickly as possible to get everyone who wants it back for in-person learning,” he added.

The announcement by PED comes nearly a full year after Gov. Lujan Grisham shuttered schools and thrust children and teachers into a 100% virtual format.

In July–right in the middle of the Governor’s lockdown–New Mexico had the highest rate of suicide, with the rate for children 5-14 increasing by 88%.

New Mexico Republican Party Chairman Steve Pearce wrote in a statement following the announcement, “This is a decision that’s been long overdue. While it’s good that public school students will be back in class where they have always belonged, they and their families have had to endure real hardships for a year.”

He added, “It’s been a devastating experience, and students have fallen behind academically and socially. It will be hard to tell whether the Governor’s actions will have a long-lasting impact in our state. Now it’s time to fully reopen New Mexico and get life back to normal.”

Anti-police bill dies in Senate committee as two Democrats vote against radical measure

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

In a rare Sunday meeting of the Senate Health and Public Affairs Committee, an anti-police proposal ending qualified immunity, S.B. 376, was rejected on a 3-3 vote. The bill, sponsored by Sen. Joseph Cervantes (D-Doña Ana), appears it would personally benefit his law practice. Cervantes practices civil litigation himself, which the passage of S.B. 376 would benefit.

During the committee hearing, Cervantes said the bill would “assure that the Tort Claims Act squares with the initiatives and the efforts being made in the Civil Rights Act. If we do not adjust the Tort Claims Act at the same time, we would be adopting the Civil Rights Act, we would have different laws and different standards that are in conflict.” The Civil Rights Act, H.B. 4, is being sponsored by Speaker of the Hosue Brian Egolf, and he would benefit from the passage of his bill.

“It makes it especially hard to settle small cases… Given the poverty in our state, given the incredible needs of our community, is this the best use of precious, I would say, taxpayer dollars?” asked attorney Grace Philips of the New Mexico Association of Counties.

Douglas Ford, Chief of Police at Clovis Police Department, said, “This legislation would bring more frivolous lawsuits into our police departments.” He continued, “We continue to bring district against our law enforcement and cause an unnecessary separation between our citizens and our police officers.”

“This kind of bill will again enhance the villainization of our law enforcement, which is not healthy for our communities or our police officers who serve and protect them. This is more legislation [that] is going to cause good police officers to leave our state and to leave their duties in this state or to leave this profession completely. And we are already seeing that now with all the legislation, the negative rhetoric, and what we’ve been seeing throughout the country and throughout what’s been going on with this state and bills that have been put forward that are affecting law enforcement.”

Another commenter and attorney, Martin Esquivel, said, “The statute of limitations presently for the Tort Claims Act is two years, and this ups it to three. So, if you look at premiums for some of the larger school districts like Santa Fe, Las Cruces, Rio Rancho, they average anywhere from four to six million dollars. What will it mean to their budgets? Potentially, anywhere from a 10-20 percent increase in risk premiums given the exposed liability. That could be anything from three hundred to five hundred thousand dollars that comes out of their operating budget to pay the additional exposure. That is a hit coming out of actual school budgets.”

The bill died with two Democrats, Sen. Liz Stefanics (D-Bernalillo, Lincoln, San Miguel, Santa Fe, Torrance, and Valencia) and Sen. Bill Tallman (D-Bernalillo) voting with Republican Sen. David Gallegos (R-Eddy & Lea) against the measure. Two Republicans were absent for the vote, so if the committee moves to vote again on the measure, it is still headed for certain death.

New Mexicans holding statewide protest on one-year anniversary of COVID-19 lockdown

8 Comments / New Mexico, News, Politics / By John Block

On Saturday, March 20, grassroots organizers are planning statewide rallies against New Mexico’s COVID-19 lockdowns. The event “will be a non-partisan, peaceable, statewide rally for freedom. Organizers from Santa Fe, Albuquerque, Rio Rancho, Edgewood, Las Cruces, Roswell, Portales, and other cities will stand with fellow New Mexicans at sites across the state to support ending lockdown,” says a press release from the various groups, many being part of the New Mexico Freedom Alliance, organizing the statewide event.

The rally occurs “on the same day that freedom rallies will take place in dozens of countries all over the world, including Canada, England, New Zealand, South Africa, Denmark, Australia, Lithuania, Ireland, Poland, Switzerland, Italy, Spain, the Netherlands, and Norway.”

Sarah Smith, of Free People of the Southwest, said, “The Governor’s Lockdown policies are killing our state. New Mexicans have suffered from higher COVID-19 death rates than states with far fewer restrictions, such as Texas, Idaho, Utah, and Florida.”

She added, “Hundreds of NM businesses have failed, leading to long-term loss of livelihood for thousands, increased food insecurity, high rates of unemployment, rampant depression, and other mental health issues, as well as increased suicide rates, especially among children. The lockdown has to stop. The immediate and long-term health of New Mexico’s citizens is at stake. There is ample evidence, from across the country and around the world, that restrictive lockdown policies are unnecessary and harmful. There is no reason to extend this tyrannical lockdown in New Mexico.”

A lawsuit to end the lockdown filed against Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham by New Mexico Stands Up! is now working its way through the Federal Court. Ana Garner, the lead lawyer on the case, said, “The lockdown and other mandates in New Mexico are causing vast harm, are ineffective, and are medically unnecessary. We have overwhelming evidence and testimony to prove it. It also violates the U.S. Constitution, the New Mexico Constitution, and all precedent of human rights and civil liberties. We call upon our elected representatives and justices to end this crime against New Mexico now.”

Jesse James, a Roswell resident, and organizer of Concerned Citizens for New Mexico added, “People can’t take this any longer – and they shouldn’t have to. The Governor’s illegal and immoral abuse of power in New Mexico cannot be tolerated. Whatever party you identify with, it’s time to raise our voices and say ‘No more!’”

The No Lockdown, Yes Freedom rally is the first statewide protest to show that New Mexicans from diverse communities and belief systems oppose lockdown in New Mexico, according to the press release.