Opinion

Far-left Dem McQueen to leave NM House, vie for higher office

10 Comments / Editorial, New Mexico, News, Politics / By

One of the most prickly, petulant, and downright disagreeable members of the New Mexico Legislature is finally throwing in the towel — at least in the House. Six-term Democrat Matthew McQueen announced he will not seek reelection to the Legislature, instead launching a bid for New Mexico Commissioner of Public Lands in 2026. For New Mexicans fed up with McQueen’s arrogance, condescension, and far-left extremism, the news is both a relief and a warning.

In a press release riddled with political posturing, McQueen declared, “I have the proven record of standing up to bullies and corruption.” But for many New Mexicans, McQueen has been the bully. His track record is one of vindictiveness, elitism, and hostility toward working-class values and rural communities.

Case in point: Edgewood, 2023. When the small town’s commissioners voted to uphold federal law through a pro-life ordinance consistent with the Comstock Act, McQueen threatened to retaliate. “I’m just going to have to reconsider how I allocate my capital outlay,” he sneered, implying he’d withhold funding from his own constituents. When a commissioner called out the threat, McQueen smugly doubled down: “Well, if you want to take it that way.”

He then insulted the town outright, saying, “Edgewood is insignificant.” That’s not standing up to bullies — that is being a bully.

Then there’s his radical land agenda. In 2023, McQueen pushed a sweeping “30 by 30”-style land grab bill — HB 45 — designed to gobble up New Mexico land in the name of “conservation,” which would have devastated working farmers, ranchers, and hunters. His bill was so extreme that even Democrats on the committee joined Republicans to kill it. Rural New Mexico sent a clear message: hands off our land.

McQueen’s abrasiveness isn’t confined to policy. His social media tirades have also drawn ire. In October 2022, he lashed out when confronted with facts about the horrific reality of late-term abortions and infanticide at UNM Hospital, angrily calling it “dangerous” and “disgusting.” But the receipts were undeniable, including testimony from abortionist Eve Espey herself, admitting babies were born alive and left to die. McQueen never apologized for smearing those who told the truth.

McQueen was also a major proponent of extreme gerrymandering of the state’s congressional map to benefit Democrats, resulting in all three of the state’s districts being pushed to the far left and hundreds of thousands of voters left disenfranchised, all while McQueen’s district got bluer. His rhetoric and inclination toward disagreement with all sides is likely not to land him many endorsements from the Legislature.

Now, this far-left trial lawyer wants to control 22 million acres of New Mexico’s trust land and minerals as State Land Commissioner — an office that generates over $2 billion annually for our schools and public institutions. He promises to “build on the successes” of radical incumbent Stephanie Garcia Richard and eco-activists like Jim Baca.

That should concern every New Mexican who values oil and gas jobs, property rights, and responsible land use.

While McQueen cloaks his ambition in lofty rhetoric about education and conservation, his record is clear: punish small towns, lie about abortion, push radical environmental schemes, and fight for far-left causes. He may call it “leadership.” Most New Mexicans call it being a condescending, gaslighting windbag.

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NM is dead last in child well-being—But MLG claims we’re leading

27 Comments / Editorial, New Mexico, News, Politics / By

In a desperate attempt to paper over New Mexico’s dead-last ranking in child well-being, far-left Democrat Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham took to social media this weekend to share a gaslighting op-ed from two of her newfound allies—State Sen. Bill Sharer and child care center operator Barbara Luna Tedrow—claiming that New Mexico is “not last” in child welfare. The claim flies in the face of the Annie E. Casey Foundation’s most recent Kids Count report, which once again places the Land of Enchantment dead last for child well-being.

“Studies and rankings may not reflect this progress immediately because transformative change takes time,” Lujan Grisham posted on X. “But make no mistake, New Mexico is making progress on behalf of its children.” The post reads like classic political spin from an administration under fire.

What the governor conveniently ignores is that the Kids Count report is not some fly-by-night survey. It is a respected, comprehensive review of state-by-state indicators like child poverty, education, health, and family stability—areas where New Mexico has repeatedly failed. But rather than confront the data, the Lujan Grisham regime has chosen to manufacture its own version of “success,” propped up by loyalists and political allies.

One of those allies is State Sen. Bill Sharer, who previously attempted to hike alcohol taxes—a move that disproportionately hurts working families—and stood in vehement opposition to calls for Lujan Grisham’s impeachment after she unconstitutionally suspended Second Amendment rights in 2023. Now, Sharer is moonlighting as a spin doctor, teaming up with Tedrow, the owner of A Gold Star Academy & Child Development Center, to claim New Mexico is a “national success story.”

Their op-ed praises taxpayer-funded socialist “free” daycare expansions at Gold Star’s Farmington locations and state subsidies that allow for employee benefits. But what it fails to mention is that these programs—however well-intentioned—have done nothing to reverse the state’s abysmal child outcomes on a macro level. No amount of anecdotal feel-good stories from one provider will change the fact that New Mexico still leads the nation in childhood poverty and lags far behind in educational attainment.

What’s more, the op-ed reeks of self-interest. Tedrow’s child care center has benefited handsomely from government dollars, with expansion to five facilities and lavish wage and benefit increases. Of course she’s going to claim New Mexico is “leading”—her business depends on it.

Meanwhile, families across the state continue to suffer the consequences of failed leadership. Crime is rampant. Educational outcomes remain among the worst in the nation. And child poverty is still shockingly high. Yet Lujan Grisham and her allies want the public to ignore all of that because a handful of daycare centers added a few hundred spots.

It’s a shameful attempt to gaslight the public into accepting mediocrity—or worse, celebrating it. New Mexicans don’t need propaganda. They need accountability, real reform, and a governor who takes responsibility for the state’s failures instead of spinning them as victories.

No amount of glossy op-eds will change the truth: under Lujan Grisham’s leadership, New Mexico is not leading—it’s losing.

NM is dead last in child well-being—But MLG claims we’re leading Read More »

One Big, Beautiful Bill: Anything but Devastating

9 Comments / Opinion / By

Democrats are the best in the world at making terrible things sound great and positive things sound… devastating. Unfortunately for them, we as New Mexicans think for ourselves and use our own judgment to determine what’s best for our families. Despite what they tell us, New Mexicans know how damaging the decades of unchecked Democrat rule have been to our state. We also witness daily the negative impacts of the radical progressive agenda that has run our state into the ground with the worst education outcomes, worst public safety, and highest rates of reliance on government assistance programs in our country. 

Once again, prominent Democrat leaders are misleading New Mexicans and insulting our intelligence. 

This time, they are deceptively targeting House Resolution 1 (H.R. 1) a.k.a ‘One Big Beautiful Bill’ as being “devastating.” Even more unhinged rhetoric about H.R. 1 came from Governor Lujan Grisham when she claimed the passage of this legislation would lead to people and children dying. This ridiculous political messaging begs the question: “What’s so devastating or potentially lethal in this bill?” 

Apparently, Rep. Stansbury, Governor Lujan Grisham, and the rest of the progressives think the following reforms included in H.R. 1 are catastrophic:

  • No tax on tips received by service industry workers (ie. servers, hairdressers, drivers)
  • No tax on overtime pay earned by hard-working employees
  • Tax breaks for Senior Citizens
  • $1,000 savings accounts for ALL children born between 2024-2028
  • Making Child Tax Credits permanent 
  • Elimination of proven waste, fraud, and abuse of taxpayer dollars
  • Increased funding for Border Security
  • Increased funding for National Security 

I don’t know about you, but this doesn’t sound ‘devastating,’ and it certainly doesn’t sound lethal to people and/or children. It sounds like real economic reform that empowers hard-working American families… something progressive Democrats promise to us during election campaigns but never deliver. To our Democrat leaders: Be responsible and report the facts. Fear-mongering New Mexicans insults our intelligence and causes division.

State Sen. Jim Townsend of Artesia represents District 34, previously serving in the New Mexico House of Representatives, including as the House Republican Leader.

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SOS stumbles through podcast—trashes voter ID while hinting at political future

23 Comments / Editorial, New Mexico, News, Politics / By

In yet another display of arrogance and dishonesty, New Mexico Secretary of State Maggie Toulouse Oliver took to the Santa Fe New Mexican’s Around the Roundhouse podcast with reporter Daniel Chacón this week to once again incoherently peddle her far-left talking points—doubling down on her tired claim that New Mexico’s elections are “secure” and launching another baseless attack on commonsense voter ID laws, while struggling to formulate coherent answers, filling in inarticulate responses with “um,” “you know,” and so many other filler words to string together what barely passed as adequate replies.

Toulouse Oliver, who’s held office since 2016 thanks to a cushy political machine, wasted no time patting herself on the back for what she called New Mexico’s “number one” election integrity ranking, a laughable assertion given the state’s lax election security and refusal to adopt meaningful safeguards. While conservative states across the country have enacted voter ID laws to prevent fraud and bolster public trust, Toulouse Oliver continued to insist, despite mounting evidence to the contrary, that voter ID requirements are unnecessary.

“If you show me a problem, I will help advocate for the solution,” she declared, dismissing the very real concerns of voters who have repeatedly pointed to gaps in election security. Toulouse Oliver had the audacity to claim that voter impersonation is “extremely rare” and that enforcing ID laws is a “huge barrier” that risks disenfranchising voters. Her favorite excuse? That people might “forget” their ID, or that a poor record-keeping clerk might make a typo—arguments so flimsy they wouldn’t pass muster in a freshman debate class.

Her hostility toward voter ID and other election integrity measures is nothing new. During the podcast, she boasted about New Mexico joining lawsuits against the Trump administration for pushing election security reforms, calling the president’s efforts an “overreach” and whining about supposed “unfunded mandates.” Never mind that these are basic protections to ensure only eligible voters cast ballots—something any reasonable American would support.

Not surprisingly, Toulouse Oliver painted herself as a long-suffering public servant battling “misinformation” and “conspiracy theories,” conveniently ignoring that mistrust in elections has skyrocketed under her watch. Her solution? More tech upgrades and expanding vote-by-mail, despite glaring vulnerabilities exposed nationwide.

The Secretary also couldn’t resist hinting at her political ambitions. While playing coy about her next move, she floated finishing her PhD or potentially running for another office after her current term ends, the mark of her continued penchant to cling to power. She told Chacón, “Um, but you know, I’m still waiting to see, kind of, what the universe has … to offer up, and and um, I’ll just say never say never to running for future office. But, you know, I’m at the point where, you know, it will be 20 years in public service. And that — that’s a long career in public service.” She previously unsuccessfully ran for U.S. Senate against then-U.S. Rep. Ben Ray Luján, who ended up being elected U.S. senator. 

Even more concerning is Toulouse Oliver’s push for automatic voter registration—another way to inflate the rolls and weaken safeguards. Starting this summer, every New Mexican visiting the Motor Vehicle Division will be automatically registered to vote unless they actively opt out, further eroding the integrity of the process. She also advocated for voters who refuse to select a party affiliation, meddling in Republican, Democrat, and Libertarian Party primaries. 

As New Mexico stares down crucial upcoming elections, Toulouse Oliver’s podcast appearance was a reminder of what happens when radical Democrats are allowed to run elections unchecked: endless excuses, no accountability, and policies that put partisan gain above secure, fair elections. Voters should be more vigilant than ever.

With Toulouse Oliver’s track record of opposing voter ID, expanding ballot access without adequate safeguards, and cozying up to left-wing activist groups, New Mexicans have every reason to be alarmed—and to demand better.

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Sketchy Gabe Vasquez declares war on Trump in Trump country

29 Comments / Opinion / By

In New Mexico’s 2nd Congressional District — a district President Donald Trump decisively carried in 2024 — far-left Democrat Gabe Vasquez continues to alienate his constituents by doubling down on radical opposition to the president’s commonsense agenda.

Since Trump’s second inauguration in January 2025, Vasquez has taken every opportunity to obstruct policies overwhelmingly supported by working Americans. Earlier this year, Vasquez voted against the Laken Riley Act, a commonsense bill requiring the detention of illegal aliens accused of serious crimes. Despite bipartisan support for this basic public safety measure, Vasquez instead sided with open-borders extremists, choosing the interests of criminal aliens over the safety of American citizens.

Worse yet, Vasquez opposed President Trump’s efforts to strengthen election integrity, including legislation to ban non-citizens from voting in local, state, and federal elections. Even though the overwhelming majority of Americans — including many Democrats — support restricting voting rights exclusively to U.S. citizens, Vasquez showed where his loyalties lie: with the radical left, not the voters of southern New Mexico.

At a recent town hall event in Las Cruces, Vasquez launched into a bitter tirade against President Trump, blasting the administration’s “immigration crackdowns” and accusing Trump of promoting “fear and division” — rhetoric more at home in deep blue New York City or Washington, D.C. than in Trump country New Mexico.

His contempt for the president is especially clear in his unhinged fundraising emails.

In two recent blasts to his donor list, Vasquez ranted about Trump’s investigation into ActBlue, the Democrat fundraising giant facing mounting scrutiny for suspected widespread fraud. In one email, Vasquez seethed:

“Donald Trump just signed a memorandum targeting ActBlue — the grassroots fundraising platform that powers nearly every Democratic campaign in the country — in an attempt to shut it down… Trump knows that grassroots movements like ours are the only thing standing between him and total control.”

Rather than addressing the credible allegations of financial misconduct surrounding ActBlue — including concerns about illicit foreign donations and donor fraud — Vasquez played the victim, calling Trump’s efforts to safeguard campaign finance laws an “attack” and a “rigging of the system.”

In another desperate appeal, Vasquez went even further, lashing out at Trump’s economic policies and bizarrely blaming the president for New Mexico’s economic woes:

“Trump’s economic policies are a disaster for the country and the world… Instead, they’re falling in line and remaining silent. They are letting Trump drag our economy into chaos.”

Vasquez even bragged about teaming up with radical leftist Senator Cory Booker to introduce legislation targeting private companies like those owned by Elon Musk — a transparent publicity stunt that does nothing to help New Mexico’s struggling farmers and ranchers.

For a man representing a district that overwhelmingly voted for President Trump, Vasquez’s nonstop hostility toward the administration is nothing short of political malpractice. Instead of working with President Trump to secure the border, lower inflation, and restore law and order, Vasquez seems more concerned with playing resistance warrior for a Washington, D.C. donor class out of touch with New Mexican values.

With his reckless and sketchy voting record, repeated attacks on the president, and open disdain for his own constituents’ priorities, Gabe Vasquez is making it clear: he’s not interested in representing the people of southern New Mexico — he’s only interested in fighting Trump at every turn.

Voters will remember.

John Block represents New Mexico House District 51 — Alamogordo — in the state Legislature. He is the founder and editor of the Piñon Post — New Mexico’s #1 online conservative news source.

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Dems now victim-blaming NM Republicans after firebombing hate crime

25 Comments / Editorial, New Mexico, News, Politics / By

In a show of complete shamelessness, New Mexico Democrats are blaming the victims — the New Mexico Republican Party and GOP officials — for being the target of a violent arson attack that blew up the entranceway to the Albuquerque headquarters. Rather than condemning the political violence outright, Democrats are inflaming tensions and inciting further hostility by recklessly targeting GOP leaders like Reps. John Block (R-Alamogordo), Stefani Lord (R-Sandia Park), and Republican Party Chairwoman Amy Barela. Their dangerous and provably false rhetoric not only undermines the gravity of the violence but also puts these officials at direct risk.

While the FBI and ATF investigate the fire as a suspected arson — with fire-starting materials recovered from the scene — Democrat leaders have chosen to escalate, not de-escalate. State Democrats issued a press release loaded with inflammatory claims, including the absurd accusation that Republican lawmakers had been part of a crowd “calling for murder.” Not only is this untrue, it’s libelous, as pointed out by Rep. Lord. 

Rep. John Block — who is the editor and founder of the Piñon Post —was not even present at the event in question, and despite repeated attempts by Democrats to link him to the January 6 Capitol incursion, he never set foot inside or near the building nor participated in any violence. His presence at a peaceful rally attended by 53,000+ other peaceful Trump supporters — miles from the Capitol steps — appears to be another tired and debunked attempt to tie him to violence.

Chairwoman Amy Barela made clear during a Monday press conference: “This was not just an attack on our building. This was an attack on our values, our free speech, and the right of every New Mexican that wants to participate in the democratic process without fear.” She also revealed to Fox News that the targeted attack was being investigated as a hate crime.

But instead of standing with those under threat, Democrats doubled down. Congresswoman Teresa Leger Fernandez, whose words to “legislate, litigate, agitate” were cited by Republicans as dangerously timed mere hours before the firebombing, dismissed concerns with shocking callousness. 

In comments to KOB 4, she accused Republicans of hypocrisy for condemning violence instead of apologizing for her call to “agitate,” claiming, “It’s ludicrous to have Republicans, who themselves have participated in violent protests, to accuse me of inciting violence.” She added, “We actually passed the sign of peace” at her town hall — an empty gesture in light of the inflammatory language she used just before the GOP headquarters went up in flames.

Leger Fernandez’s attempt to turn the blame onto Rep. Block — lying that he was involved in violent protests — further inflames the situation and spreads outright disinformation. These reckless allegations endanger GOP leaders by portraying them as instigators of violence when, in reality, they have consistently and unequivocally condemned it, including the January 6 unrest.

Instead of answering the call to stand above the violence they have inflamed, Democrats released a memorandum weaponizing the tragedy to smear GOP leaders with fabricated associations to extremism, referencing long-debunked connections and even citing the crimes of individuals wholly unrelated to the party’s current leadership. The memo accuses Chairwoman Barela of turning a blind eye to extremism simply because she has appeared in photos with GOP figures like Voice of America chief Kari Lake and Congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Greene — a clear attempt at guilt by association rather than substantive critique.

Rep. Stefani Lord called the Democratic Party’s allegations “libelous,” and Sen. Nicole Tobiassen said their claims are “desperate.”

In the face of a violent attack, New Mexico Republicans have called for unity, calm, and a return to civility. Democrats, however, have responded with personal attacks, misinformation, and what amounts to political gaslighting — accusing their opponents of the very behaviors they themselves are fueling.

Rather than take responsibility for inflaming tensions, Rep. Leger Fernandez and her allies are engaging in dangerous victim-blaming — further endangering those already under attack. If Democrats genuinely oppose political violence, they should begin by ceasing the kind of reckless rhetoric that invites it.

Dems now victim-blaming NM Republicans after firebombing hate crime Read More »

How DEI is lowering NM legal standards and putting justice at risk

15 Comments / Editorial, New Mexico, News, Politics / By

On Tuesday, the all-Democrat New Mexico Supreme Court issued a statement reaffirming its commitment to Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) within the judicial system. The Court framed its stance as a necessity for upholding justice, citing its duty to “eliminate barriers” and ensure “equal access” for all individuals, regardless of race, gender, or other demographic factors. While these ideals may sound noble, the actual implementation of DEI initiatives has proven to be deeply flawed, often undermining the very principles of equal justice and meritocracy that courts should uphold.

DEI: A Shift Away From Equal Justice

The core principle of the American legal system is that justice should be blind—meaning that every individual, regardless of their background, should be treated equally under the law. However, DEI inherently prioritizes group identity over individual merit. By emphasizing race, gender, and other identity markers in decision-making, DEI initiatives risk replacing the ideal of impartial justice with an ideological agenda.

For instance, the Supreme Court of New Mexico’s emphasis on inclusivity efforts directly conflicts with the core principle engraved above their own courtroom: “Equal Justice Under Law.” True equality before the law requires neutrality, not policies that introduce preferential treatment under the guise of “equity.”

Unintended Consequences: Lowering Standards and Promoting Division

One major flaw of DEI programs in the legal system is their impact on professional and educational standards. DEI-driven hiring and promotion policies in law schools, courts, and judicial appointments have been criticized for lowering qualifications in favor of demographic representation rather than competency. This diminishes public trust in the system and creates an environment where judges and legal professionals are perceived as political appointees rather than objective arbiters of the law.

Furthermore, DEI programs often foster resentment and division rather than unity. By continually emphasizing group identity over shared legal principles, such programs risk deepening societal fractures rather than healing them. Multiple studies have shown that workplaces and institutions with aggressive DEI policies often experience greater racial tension, as people are categorized based on identity rather than shared goals or common values.

Legal and Ethical Concerns: DEI vs. Federal Law

Additionally, some DEI mandates may directly conflict with federal anti-discrimination laws. The Civil Rights Act of 1964 explicitly prohibits discrimination based on race or gender in employment and education. Yet many DEI-driven policies—including hiring quotas, admissions preferences, and mandatory diversity training—operate in a way that explicitly prioritizes race and gender, often at the expense of others. This raises serious constitutional concerns and has led to increasing legal challenges against DEI programs nationwide.

Conclusion: A Dangerous Precedent in the Judiciary

While the New Mexico Supreme Court frames DEI as a tool for fairness, it is ultimately a departure from the foundational principles of American law. Instead of ensuring equal justice, DEI initiatives insert ideology into the judicial system, threatening fairness, public trust, and legal neutrality. If true equality is the goal, the judiciary should reject identity-based policies and uphold merit, fairness, and impartiality—values that are rapidly being eroded under the guise of “inclusion.”

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Week 3: Legislative update from Piñon Post editor and state Rep. John Block

3 Comments / New Mexico, News, Opinion, Politics / By

A legislative update from Piñon Post founder and editor and state Rep. John Block (R-Alamogordo). John gives a weekly update during the legislative session. If you don’t already get the update, you can get it here or by subscribing on the website JohnForNM.com.

This week has been another wild one at the Roundhouse. Here’s what happened:

To watch my summary of what happened this week, please click here or on the thumbnail below, and you can follow along in the video with the below information:

On Monday, in the House Government, Elections, and Indian Affairs Committee (HGEIAC), I voted against an extremist resolution (H.J.R. 3), also known as the “Gren Amendment. ” The bill would make cities and counties liable and open to lawsuits if anyone perceives air or water as not being “clean. ” According to the bill’s fiscal impact report, the state and localities could be exposed to up to $1.6 billion in frivolous litigation.

On Tuesday, in the House Consumer and Public Affairs Committee (HCPAC), the committee voted unanimously to pass H.B. 73, which removes statutes of limitations on child sexual abuse civil cases, and H.B. 83, which increases penalties for sex trafficking (and increases ages in the statutes from 16 to 18 to ensure kids up to 18 are protected). I voted against H.B. 89, which lets illegal immigrants get graduate-level scholarships at UNM. A bill sponsored by myself and Rep. Stefani Lord (R-Sandia Park) to institute Constitutional Carry was tabled on a 4-2 vote without discussion from the Democrats on the committee.

On Wednesday, Democrats passed through HGEIAC H.B. 98, which automatically expunges eviction records after five years (which will give landlords less information, especially if the eviction was due to violence, damage, or other grave circumstances), and H.B. 108, establishing “the Statewide Public Health and Climate Program within the Department of Health,” both of which I opposed.

On Thursday, Rep. Lord and I helped pass bills through HCPAC to give police officers equal rights as civilians (H.B. 103) and allow law enforcement to carry firearms at polling places (H.B. 101).

On Friday, in HGEIAC, H.B. 16, to implement “increased sentencing for individuals convicted of trafficking controlled substances under Section 30-31-20 NMSA 1978 when the offense involves fentanyl,” passed the committee despite three Democrats opposing the measure.

On Saturday, I bounced between my two committees (which were inconveniently meeting at the same time). Democrats killed bills in HCPAC to increase penalties for drug traffickers (H.B. 107), including resulting in death from trafficked drugs and adding “fentanyl to methamphetamine, where now knowing or intentional exposure to either of these two drugs [to children] would represent prima facie evidence of child abuse” (H.B. 136).

In HGEIAC on that day, Democrats passed H.J.R. 5, which changes the Children, Youth, and Families Department to a commission under the governor and legislative branches, but it does not equally distribute representation, so I voted against it. Another bill I voted against in that committee was H.B. 6, which forces a “prevailing wage” on projects done through industrial revenue bonds (IRBs), which would skyrocket the cost of these projects (which are funded by private dollars anyway).

The week ahead will be very eventful in my committees, with lots of bad bills scheduled for the upcoming week. And nightly floor sessions are also scheduled to begin hearing legislation on the floor, so please be on the alert for those as well.

Here are the legislative items that will come to the committees I am a member of:

To see all committee schedules for all committees and the House/Senate floors, click here.

Click here to see the latest committee calendar, which includes Zoom links to testify.

To access all of my proposed legislation and the status of each bill, please click here.

It is an honor to represent Alamogordo in the Legislature. I will fight to protect our constitutional rights with every fiber of my being. You can always count on me to support our shared conservative American values.

God bless you,
John

Rep. John Block
NM House District 51
Republican, Otero County

Week 3: Legislative update from Piñon Post editor and state Rep. John Block Read More »

Luján humiliates himself during RFK, Jr. confirmation hearing

26 Comments / Editorial, New Mexico, News, Politics / By

In a trainwreck of a question and answer session during the confirmation hearing for Robert F. Kennedy Jr., President Donald Trump’s pick for U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services, Sen. Ben Ray Luján (D-NM), found himself stumbling through a misguided line of questioning that once again showcased his lack of understanding of federal departments and legislative authority. The hearing, which took place before the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) Committee, saw Luján trying and failing to corner Kennedy on Medicaid policy, only to be corrected in real-time by the nominee himself.

Luján, a senator who has made a habit of attempting — and failing — to stump Trump officials on issues outside of their purview, asked Kennedy whether he would cut Medicaid if President Trump requested it. Keeping his composure, Kennedy responded by pointing out the obvious: “Oh, it’s not up to me to cut Medicaid. It would be up to Congress.” The blunt correction left Luján momentarily flustered before he attempted to brush past his embarrassing blunder with an awkward laugh and a hasty retreat: “Mr. Kennedy, you don’t want to answer? I’ll move on.” But the damage was done, and his credibility took yet another hit.

This isn’t the first time Luján has exposed his lack of knowledge of Medicaid and its oversight. In a previous hearing, he tried to corner Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent with a similar question about the federal healthcare program, only to be reminded that Medicaid falls under the jurisdiction of Congress—not the Treasury Department. Rather than learning from his mistake, Luján appears to have doubled down on his ignorance, now directing his confusion at the incoming HHS secretary, whose role in Medicaid funding decisions is also limited.

Kennedy’s confirmation hearing was already bound to be contentious, given his independent streak and willingness to challenge establishment narratives on public health policy. Democrats, desperate to discredit him, have tried everything from smearing his record to attempting to trip him up with irrelevant gotcha questions. However, Luján’s fumbling performance only served to highlight the unserious nature of Democrat opposition to Kennedy’s appointment. Rather than engaging in substantive debate about Kennedy’s policies, Luján resorted to ill-prepared theatrics that only embarrassed himself.

Sen. Luján’s political career has long been propped up by nepotism rather than merit. The son of former New Mexico House Speaker Ben Luján, he has ridden his father’s political coattails his entire career. Rather than earning his way through legislative accomplishment or deep policy knowledge, Luján has consistently relied on the family name to ascend through the ranks of New Mexico’s Democrat machine. His latest misstep before the entire Senate further proves that he is in way over his head.

As Kennedy’s nomination moves forward, it remains clear that the Biden/Harris-era Democrat Party has little substance to offer in their opposition. Instead, they continue to flail through hearings, desperately searching for a moment to damage Trump’s picks but only succeeding in humiliating themselves. Sen. Luján’s latest faceplant is just another example of the intellectual bankruptcy plaguing Washington Democrats as they desperately cling to power in the face of Trump’s decisive leadership.

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Dems’ 2025 legislative preview: Alcohol tax hike, woke policies, CYFD neglect

8 Comments / Editorial / By

As New Mexico’s legislative session nears, Democrat lawmakers are championing a slate of policies under the guise of public safety and behavioral health. However, these proposals threaten to harm the very communities they claim to help, deepen government dependency, and distract from pressing issues like the long-standing crisis within the Children, Youth, and Families Department (CYFD).

Alcohol Tax Hikes: A Step Toward Modern-Day Prohibition

Democratic lawmakers are once again pushing for higher taxes on alcohol despite evidence that such policies disproportionately harm the state’s poorest residents. The latest “hybrid” proposal seeks to combine increased wholesale taxes with a new 12% retail tax, which would drive up prices across the board, particularly for consumers in low-income brackets. Proponents, such as House Speaker Javier Martínez, D-Albuquerque, argue the move will reduce alcohol-related deaths, yet similar measures have historically failed to achieve meaningful results.

Raising alcohol prices effectively punishes responsible consumers and mirrors the prohibition-era mindset of legislating personal behavior. Instead of addressing root causes like addiction treatment and education, Democrats are targeting taxpayers to fund their schemes, diverting attention from solutions that could empower individuals rather than penalize them. This approach not only burdens working families but also risks fueling an underground market for alcohol, exacerbating the very public health crises lawmakers claim to solve.

Woke Behavioral Health Plans Masquerading as Public Safety

House Democrats have also unveiled plans to pour hundreds of millions of dollars into so-called behavioral health initiatives, framing them as public safety measures. These initiatives include providing state-funded housing, food, and other unmentionables for individuals battling addiction under the guise of “managed alcohol programs.” Such policies, popularized in Canada, enable addiction rather than confront it, creating a cycle of dependency where the government perpetuates, rather than alleviates, suffering.

Instead of enforcing accountability and implementing meaningful reforms to tackle crime and addiction, Democrats seem intent on expanding the welfare state. Public safety measures should focus on holding offenders accountable, protecting communities, and addressing the root causes of crime—not subsidizing destructive behaviors at taxpayers’ expense.

Democrat Inaction on CYFD: A History of Stalled Reform

While pushing these controversial policies, Democrats have failed year after year to address the critical failings of CYFD. This embattled department, responsible for safeguarding New Mexico’s most vulnerable children, has been plagued by allegations of mismanagement and systemic dysfunction. Efforts to establish an independent Office of the Child Advocate to oversee CYFD have repeatedly been blocked by Democratic lawmakers, who appear more concerned with protecting the status quo than ensuring transparency and accountability.

House Speaker Javier Martínez’s admission that CYFD is “broken” rings hollow when Democrats continue to stymie reform efforts. Their opposition to creating an independent ombudsman’s office, which would provide critical oversight, underscores a lack of political will to prioritize children’s safety. Instead of fixing CYFD, lawmakers are content to throw more money at the department without addressing its structural issues.

Misplaced Priorities and Empty Promises

Democratic lawmakers tout their agenda as a path to progress, but their policies reveal a disconnect from the real needs of New Mexicans. From punitive alcohol taxes to misguided behavioral health programs and a glaring failure to address CYFD, Democrats are doubling down on big-government solutions that hurt the most vulnerable and leave systemic problems unaddressed. It’s time for leadership that prioritizes practical, effective solutions over ideological posturing and political expediency.

Dems’ 2025 legislative preview: Alcohol tax hike, woke policies, CYFD neglect Read More »

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