Politics

Legislative Update: Anti-gun proposal, tax bills have Tuesday hearings

3 Comments / New Mexico, News, Politics / By

Monday was another busy day at the Legislature, with the House Health and Human Services Committee (HHHC) passing on a party-line vote H.B. 16, “GUN VIOLENCE VICTIM ADVOCATE FUNDING” by Rep. Miguel P. Garcia, which is a radical anti-gun bill that would give money and advocacy to those who are victims or to survivors of “gun violence.” 

HHHC member Rep. Stefani Lord (R-Sandia Park) said during the meeting that “there is no such thing as gun violence,” which leftists were quick to criticize despite Lord’s facts presented in the Committee. 

Here are bill hearings you need to know about for Tuesday:

H.B. 68 “CRIMINAL CODE CHANGES” by Rep. Meredith Dixon (D-Bernalillo)

This radical bill turns law-abiding gun owners into felons if they are carrying a gun within a school zone. According to state Rep. Stefani Lord (R-Sandia Park), “Exceptions are in the car if over age 19” and concealed carry. “However, open carry is LEGAL in NM, but you would now be arrested for a felony if you walked down the sidewalk within 1000 feet of a school zone. If you lived in a school zone, you are now a felon once you walk to your car on the street.”

Other issues with the bill include “school zone” being “defined to mean any public, private or parochial school or property used for school purposes and the area within 1,000 feet of the school property line, but it does not mean a post-secondary school. This bill is unnecessary, overbroad, confusing and sets up legal traps for law-abiding citizens. First, let’s acknowledge that criminals ignore gun-free zones. This bill will impact law-abiding gun owners,” Lord writes.

This bill will be considered on Tuesday in the House Consumer and Public Affairs Committee. To testify, the Zoom details are below: 

When: Jan 25, 2022 01:30 PM Mountain Time (US and Canada) Topic: House Consumer & Public Affairs Committee Please click the link below to join the webinar: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/82353539692 Or One tap mobile : US: +16699009128,,82353539692# or +12532158782,,82353539692# 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: 823 5353 9692

H.B. 49, “EXEMPT SOCIAL SECURITY INCOME FROM INCOME TAX” sponsored by Rep. Gail Armstrong (R-Magdalena). 

This bill would exempt social security from New Mexico’s unfair laws that double-tax these checks going to senior citizens. This is a positive bill and the Piñon Post encourages people to testify in support of it. 

This bill will be considered in the HOUSE COMMERCE & ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE on Tuesday at 1:30 p.m. Zoom details are below: 

Please click the link below to join the webinar: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/88683384400 Or One tap mobile : US: +16699009128,,88683384400# or +12532158782,,88683384400# 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: 886 8338 4400

H.B. 33, the “Cigarette and Tabacco Products Tax” by Rep. Joanne Ferrary (D-Doña Ana)

The extreme bill that would increase the tax rate on all tobacco products regardless of source, including an excise tax of 20 cents per cigarette sold was referred to the House Health and Human Services Committee to then be considered by the House Taxation and Revenue Committee.

The Committee will consider the bill on Wednesday at 8:30 a.m. The Zoom details are below:

Please click the link below to join the webinar: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/84182969724 Or One tap mobile : US: +12532158782,,84182969724# or +13462487799,,84182969724# Or Telephone: Dial(for higher quality, dial a number based on your current location): US: +1 253 215 8782 or +1 346 248 7799 or +1 669 900 9128 or +1 301 715 8592 or +1 312 626 6799 or +1 646 558 8656 Webinar ID: 841 8296 9724

S.B. 21, “CREATING THE ELECTRIC VEHICLE INCOME TAX CREDIT,” by Sen. Bill Tallman (D-Bernalillo)

The bill that create a tax credit for people to purchase unsustainable electric vehicles was referred to the Senate Tax, Business, and Transportation Committee to be heard in the Senate Finance Committee. 

This bill will be heard on Tuesday “30 minutes after floor session” in the Senate Tax, Business, and Transportation Committee. The Zoom details are below: 

For public participation click on the following link https://us02web.zoom.us/j/84895112616 to join the Webinar or via telephone 1-669-900-9128 Webinar ID: 848 9511 2616

Legislative Update: Anti-gun proposal, tax bills have Tuesday hearings Read More »

Dem rep’s home raided amid DOJ probe into sketchy group that funded MLG trip

6 Comments / New Mexico, News, Politics / By

On Wednesday, federal agents were spotted at the home and the Laredo, Texas office of Congressman Henry Cuellar (D-TX), as the Department of Justice’s Public Integrity Unit, which investigates bribery and government integrity, is investigating him.

According to a recent report, “Documents obtained by Fox News show that in 2013, Cuellar and his wife took a $25,000 trip to Turkey and Azerbaijan which included a stay at a luxury hotel and was sponsored by the Turquoise Council of Americans and Eurasians.”

In 2013, then-U.S. Rep. Michelle Lujan Grisham went on a swanky trip along with nine other members of Congress to Baku on the Caspian Sea sponsored by the Azerbaijani government masked as the nonprofit corporations Turquoise Council of Americans and Eurasians (TCAE) and the Assembly of the Friends of Azerbaijan (AFAZ).

Reports indicate that the lawmakers and their staff, including Lujan Grisham, received hundreds of thousands of dollars worth of travel expenses, luxury goods, such as scarves, crystal tea sets, gold-plated plates, turquoise earrings, and rugs, among other valuable items. Lujan Grisham did not disclose these gifts to the Ethics Committee, despite these luxury goods being above the threshold for disclosed gifts.

The rugs alone were valued at $2,500 to $10,000 — far above the $350 threshold set by the Ethics Committee. At the time, she claimed she did not disclose these luxurious gifts because she “did not think they were particularly valuable” and she reportedly said they were “unattractive.”

She took her fiancé, Manuel “Manny” Cordova, on the trip but paid $4,980 for his flights. 

Lujan Grisham met with the Azerbaijan America Alliance on May 31, 2013 “regarding Azerbaijan-U.S. relations,” according to U.S. House lobbying reports. 

Lujan Grisham has continued her luxurious lifestyle, if not paid by the Azerbaijani government, the New Mexico taxpayers have shelled out tens of thousands for her expensive habits, including expensive tequila and $200/lb Wagyu steaks. Throughout the pandemic, Lujan Grisham has broken her lockdown orders to buy lavish jewelry while New Mexicans were forced to stand in bread lines during the holidays due to her strict 75-person capacity limit in grocery stores.

Recently, upon arrival back from her “climate change” excursion to Scotland, Lujan Grisham made the taxpayers foot the bill for a lavish dinner party which included “[s]ous vide and butter-basted beef tenderloin with roasted vegetable Napoleon and rosemary red wine demiglace.” Dessert included a “chocolate pear tartlet with hazelnut crisp,” with the meal totaling $150 per guest. 

As federal investigators probe Rep. Henry Cuellar, it is unclear if more will come out about more alleged corruption by Lujan Grisham, who directly received tens of thousands in luxury gifts from the Turquoise Council of Americans and Eurasians — a front for the government of Azerbaijan. 

Gov. Lujan Grisham’s office was contacted for comment but the Piñon Post has yet to receive a response.

Dem rep’s home raided amid DOJ probe into sketchy group that funded MLG trip Read More »

Legislative update: Radical anti-gun bill to be heard Tuesday

1 Comment / New Mexico, News, Politics / By

It is another week of the 2022 Legislative Session and Democrats ager going full-speed ahead trying to ram through extreme bills left and right.

Here are the bills you need to know about and how you can help stop them:

H.B. 68 “CRIMINAL CODE CHANGES” by Rep. Meredith Dixon (D-Bernalillo)

This radical bill turns law-abiding gun owners into felons if they are carrying a gun within a school zone. According to state Rep. Stefani Lord (R-Sandia Park), “Exceptions are in the car if over age 19” and concealed carry. “However, open carry is LEGAL in NM, but you would now be arrested for a felony if you walked down the sidewalk within 1000 feet of a school zone. If you lived in a school zone, you are now a felon once you walk to your car on the street.”

Other issues with the bill include “school zone” being “defined to mean any public, private or parochial school or property used for school purposes and the area within 1,000 feet of the school property line, but it does not mean a post-secondary school. This bill is unnecessary, overbroad, confusing and sets up legal traps for law-abiding citizens. First, let’s acknowledge that criminals ignore gun-free zones. This bill will impact law-abiding gun owners,” Lord writes.

These bills will be considered on Tuesday in the House Consumer and Public Affairs Committee. To testify, the Zoom details are below: 

When: Jan 25, 2022 01:30 PM Mountain Time (US and Canada) Topic: House Consumer & Public Affairs Committee Please click the link below to join the webinar: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/82353539692 Or One tap mobile : US: +16699009128,,82353539692# or +12532158782,,82353539692# 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: 823 5353 9692

S.B. 15 “KN95 MASKS AND EDUCATION” by Sen. Jeff Steinborn (D-Doña Ana)

This radical bill will waste more taxpayer money by shelling out $10 million state dollars to buy “KN95” masks to disseminate across all New Mexico schools, as well as a fund “a robust statewide public education campaign about the importance and proper usage of masks.” 

The wasteful bill will appear in the Senate Health and Public Affairs Committee on Monday, January 24, 2022, at 1:30 or a half-hour after the floor session that day. The hearing will be held in Room 311.

The meeting details are below: 

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/87967039414 or via telephone 1 669 900 9128.  The Webinar ID for SHPAC is 879 6703 9414.

Contact the committee members to advocate against this bill by clicking here. 

S.B. 3 ENHANCING DEATH BENEFITS FOR LAW ENFORCEMENT by Sen. George Muñoz (D-Cibola, McKinley, and San Juan)

This commonsense bill would enhance the death benefits for peace officers, mounted patrol officers, and reserve police officers in New Mexico.

After an officer has been determined to be killed in the line of duty, “[i]n addition to any other death benefits provided by law, the surviving spouse, children or parents shall be paid… one million dollars ($1,000,000) as supplemental death benefits.” 

It appears Muñoz’s bill will also create a new fund called the “peace officers’, New Mexico mounted patrol members’ and reserve police officers’ survivors fund” that will reserve ten percent of “all money received for fees, licenses and penalties from life, general casualty and title insurance business pursuant to the New Mexico Insurance Code” to be paid monthly to the state treasurer and credited to the fund. It is to never have less than $1 million in the fund at all times. 

It will also be heard in the Senate Health and Public Affairs on Monday at 1:30 p.m. or following the floor session that day.

S.J.R. 8 “SALARIES FOR PUBLIC OFFICIALS” by Sen. Daniel Ivey-Soto (D-Bernalillo)

This bill would attempt to change the New Mexico Constitution to give authority to the Democrat-controlled State Ethics Commission to “review and establish the salaries of all elected state officers every two years.”

This legislation could open the door to sweeping increases in raises for elected officials in New Mexico, as well as bestow even more authority to the Democrat-controlled Supreme Court: 

“When necessary, the chief justice of the supreme court may designate any justice of the supreme court, or any district judge of the state, to act as a judge of the court of appeals, and the chief justice may designate any judge of the court of appeals to hold court in any district, or to act as a justice of the supreme court.”

According to the fiscal impact report on the bill, it conflicts with H.J.R. 10 being proposed by socialist Rep. Angelica Rubio (D-Doña Ana) and Rep. Javier Martinez (D-Bernalillo), which would attempt to change the Constitution to give a salary to legislators — despite legislators making per diem and a pension. New Mexico’s legislature is supposed to be a “citizen legislature” not made up by career politicians.

This bill will be heard on Monday at 9:00 a.m. in the Senate Rules Committee, conveniently chaired by Sen. Ivey-Soto. The Zoom details are below: For public participation click on the following link https://us02web.zoom.us/j/86412647187 to join the Webinar or via telephone 1-253-215-8782 Webinar ID: 864 126 47187

Other legislation to keep an eye out for in the coming days is S.B. 14, which would result in at least a 20-35 cent-per-gallon tax on fuel — hurting the poorest New Mexicans. This bill was previously proposed in the 2021 Legislative Session, but thanks to the Piñon Post’s advocacy to engage New Mexicans to testify against the bill, it died before reaching final passage. 

Legislative update: Radical anti-gun bill to be heard Tuesday Read More »

ABQ small businesswoman Michaela Chavez running for BernCo Commission

1 Comment / New Mexico, News, Politics / By

Albuquerque small businesswoman Michaela Chavez, a Republican, announced her candidacy for the Bernalillo County Commission’s District 1 seat, which encompasses most of the city’s west side south of Paseo Del Norte, west of Carlisle Boulevard, and north of Central. Along with the North Valley, Downtown, and the Westside, the District also encompasses To’Hajiilee and part of Laguna Pueblo.

The District is currently represented by far-left Democrat activist Debbie O’Malley, who was one of the people who tried to create Albuquerque’s “International District.”

According to a release from the Chavez campaign, Mrs. Chaves “is a lifelong resident of Albuquerque, and her familiarity and experience with her fellow citizens in Bernalillo County brings a voice to the county commission that offers common-sense solutions to old problems.” She has been involved with the local Bernalillo County Republican Party and previously sought the GOP nomination for Congress in 2021’s special election to fill a vacancy left by Deb Haaland in the First Congressional District.

“Before anything else, Michaela Chavez is a proud mother of two children. Chavez assists her husband of 18 years in the operation of his small financial firm. Chavez has a lengthy track record of community service and grassroots organization. Michaela Chavez plans to focus on crime, educational programs, and economic recovery initiatives to repair the damages caused by harmful policies during the” pandemic lockdowns.

“Michaela was taught all of the values that make New Mexico a great place to live: faith, family, hard work, and culture. She has also seen first-hand the same hardships that all citizens of Bernalillo County have faced: high crime, poverty, poor education, and leaders who have kept us dead last. She is running to address these issues and leave her kids with a better Albuquerque that affords them with the opportunities that we all know we can achieve with the right leadership.”

Michaela Chavez writes on her website, “I want to focus on the issues that impact New Mexicans, and we need to stop electing politicians who play political games with people’s lives. I want to work for you. We need to create more jobs, protect small business, improve our schools, and make public safety a top priority. The old ideas aren’t getting the job done—Bernalillo County needs a fresh perspective.”

Education, crime, small business, and homelessness are among the issues Chavez is running on. Read more about her by visiting her website here. 

ABQ small businesswoman Michaela Chavez running for BernCo Commission Read More »

RPNM files lawsuit against Dem gerrymandered U.S. House maps

3 Comments / New Mexico, News, Politics / By

On Friday, the Republican Party of New Mexico (RPNM) announced a lawsuit filed in New Mexico’s Fifth Judicial District Court against the Democrat gerrymandered congressional maps rammed through by far-left Democrats in last year’s second special session.

“The newly approved redistricting maps dilute Republican voting strength,” RPNM contends.

The current maps dilute the Second Congressional District from an R+14 to a D+5 by plunging Democrat-heavy areas, such as Albuquerque’s South Valley, into the Second District. Congresswoman Yvette Herrell (R-NM-02) currently represents the District, which includes most of southern New Mexico.

In the Democrats’ passed plan, Hobbs is split in two, Roswell is split in three, and there is a possibility that an Albuquerque-area resident could represent every single congressional district, which robs representation from the rest of the state. 

“Immediately after the 2020 election, Speaker Egolf announced his intention to implement a partisan redistricting of our state to reverse Republican gains. Last month, he followed through on that threat. The Democrat’s cynical attempt to consolidate their power by abusing the redistricting process in New Mexico is illegal and wrong. We are bringing this suit to protect the voices of all New Mexicans regardless of their political beliefs,” said RPNM Chairman Steve Pearce.

“New Mexico statute provides for a non-partisan commission to listen to the people across the state and then submit redistricting plans to the legislature. The commission held public meetings, many people participated, and maps were submitted from that body to the state legislature. And yet after months of hard work and hundreds of thousands in taxpayer dollars spent by the Citizens Redistricting Committee, the Democrats tossed all of that away and jammed through an illegal gerrymander that ripped apart communities of interest, disenfranchised voters across the state, and set up maps where the intent is to let Albuquerque have all 3 congressional representatives. Through this suit we will stand for fairness, the rule of law, and the core principles of our democracy.”

According to the release, “The lawsuit is being filed by Brownstein, Hyatt, Farber & Schreck of Albuquerque, which is also handling the redistricting suits in Colorado.”

RPNM files lawsuit against Dem gerrymandered U.S. House maps Read More »

Watchdog group files ethics complaint against far-left legislator over Spaceport conflicts

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According to a complaint filed with the New Mexico Legislature by the Rio Grande Foundation’s Paul Guessing, it alleges “various conflicts of interest at Spaceport America” involving far-left state Rep. Dayan Hochman-Vigil (D-Bernalillo).

According to the complaint, “Records of the Secretary of State shows that a campaign committee (New Day For NM, Charles Vigil, Treasurer) made expenditures, not reasonably related to [serving] constituents, without limitations on use, to a consultant: who fails to disclose contracts with Virgin Galactic, a foreign for-profit corporation that 6 influenced legislation; introduced by the candidate with effect on Facilities Lease with Spaceport America.”

The complaint further reads that “The New Mexico Spaceport Authority executed the Facilities Lease with Virgin Galactic on or about December 31, 2008. The Facilities Lease is alleged to be amended on or about December 31, 2018. The Legislature of the State of New Mexico (HB68 sponsor: Hochman- Vigil, 2021Regular) limits the liability for the operation of the Spaceport; and, the Spaceport Authority and Virgin Galactic will renegotiate the limits of liability contained in the Facilities Lease (15.6. 13 Change in Limits.) for comprehensive aviation liability policies of insurance, including Aircraft liability, passenger liability, Airport/Spaceport premises liability, contractual liability and products/completed operations, from no less than Two Hundred Million and No/100s Dollars ($200,000,000.00) to one million dollars ($1,000,000) annually.”

In Section II of the complaint, it alleges that the “[c]ampaign committee made expenditures not reasonably related to serve constituents, without limitations on use, to a consultant: An individual who is responsible for the distribution of funds, and president of Women in Aviation (WAI) Land of Enchantment Chapter (85-0960381), an organization with delinquent New Mexico Attorney General Office non-profit registration submission, that receives contributions from Virgin Galactic, a foreign business entity; whose members include the Government Affairs Director for Virgin Galactic, not registered as a lobbyist with Secretary of State – NM; and, the candidate is the person authorized to receive service of process for WAI Land of Enchantment Chapter.” 

According to the Santa Fe New Mexican, which attempted to reach Hochman-Vigil for comment, was unsuccessful. 

Hochman-Vigil is a far-left legislator who is supported by scandal-plagued Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham who is under fire currently for allegations of fraud to the tune of $200 million at Spaceport America after a whistleblower produced a lengthy court filing. 

State Rep. Dayan Hochman Vigil has endorsed far-left candidates such as socialist Albuquerque Mayor Tim Keller and proposed legislation that would further erode the rights of New Mexicans.

Read the full complaint here.

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Legislative Update: Key bills to be considered in committee Monday

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Although many of the hot-button Democrat bills have not yet been assigned a date in committee, one radical leftist bill will make its first appearance in committee on Monday, January 24. One positive bill regarding law enforcers will have its first hearing on Monday also.

Here are the bills you need to know about and how you can join these Monday committees:

S.B. 15 KN95 MASKS AND EDUCATION by Sen. Jeff Steinborn (D-Doña Ana)

This radical bill will waste more taxpayer money by shelling out $10 million state dollars to buy “KN95” masks to disseminate across all New Mexico schools, as well as a fund “a robust statewide public education campaign about the importance and proper usage of masks.” 

The wasteful bill will appear in the Senate Health and Public Affairs Committee on Monday, January 24, 2022, at 1:30 or a half-hour after the floor session that day. The hearing will be held in Room 311.

The meeting details are below: 

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/87967039414 or via telephone 1 669 900 9128.  The Webinar ID for SHPAC is 879 6703 9414.

Contact the committee members to advocate against this bill by clicking here. 

S.B. 3 ENHANCING DEATH BENEFITS FOR LAW ENFORCEMENT by Sen. George Muñoz (D-Cibola, McKinley, and San Juan)

This commonsense bill would enhance the death benefits for peace officers, mounted patrol officers, and reserve police officers in New Mexico.

After an officer has been determined to be killed in the line of duty, “[i]n addition to any other death benefits provided by law, the surviving spouse, children or parents shall be paid… one million dollars ($1,000,000) as supplemental death benefits.” 

It appears Muñoz’s bill will also create a new fund called the “peace officers’, New Mexico mounted patrol members’ and reserve police officers’ survivors fund” that will reserve ten percent of “all money received for fees, licenses and penalties from life, general casualty and title insurance business pursuant to the New Mexico Insurance Code” to be paid monthly to the state treasurer and credited to the fund. It is to never have less than $1 million in the fund at all times. 

It will also be heard in the Senate Health and Public Affairs on Monday at 1:30 p.m. or following the floor session that day.

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/87967039414 or via telephone 1 669 900 9128.  The Webinar ID for SHPAC is 879 6703 9414. 

NOTE: These committee schedules are subject to change. To find the most up-to-date committee schedules, visit the NMLegis.gov Calendars page.

Legislative Update: Key bills to be considered in committee Monday Read More »

Legislative Update: Extreme Dem bills assigned to committees

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On Wednesday, hundreds of mostly Democrat-sponsored bills were read in on the House and Senate floors, moving far-left legislation to committees to be considered. 

H.B. 6, the “Clean Future Act” by Rep. Nathan Small (D-Doña Ana)

This radical bill that would further cripple energy producers in New Mexico by mandating the Environmental Improvement Board adopt rules that would force the reduction of “greenhouse gas emissions” by 2030 and completely by 2050 was referred to the House House Energy, Environment and Natural Resources Committee, to be then considered in the Government, Elections and Indian Affairs Committee. It has not yet gotten a date on the committee calendar.

H.B. 33, the “Cigarette and Tabacco Products Tax” by Rep. Joanne Ferrary (D-Doña Ana)

The extreme bill that would increase the tax rate on all tobacco products regardless of source, including an excise tax of 20 cents per cigarette sold was referred to the House Health and Human Services Committee to then be considered by the House Taxation and Revenue Committee. It has not yet been assigned a hearing date.

S.B. 21, “CREATING THE ELECTRIC VEHICLE INCOME TAX CREDIT,” by Sen. Bill Tallman (D-Bernalillo)

The bill that create a tax credit for people to purchase unsustainable electric vehicles was referred to the Senate Tax, Business, and Transportation Committee to be heard in the Senate Finance Committee. It has not yet been assigned a hearing date.

S.B. 43,“PROHIBITING LIFE WITHOUT PAROLE FOR A CHILD,” by Sen. Antoinette Sedillo-Lopez (D-Bernalillo)

This bill would allow youths who are sentenced for violent crimes, including murder, to be released in 15 years despite being given life sentences. The bill was referred to the Senate Health and Public Affairs Committee and then the Senate Judiciary Committee.

The Governor’s extreme election reform bill that would make New Mexico elections less secure has not dropped yet, but once it will, Republican legislators must focus on killing it as soon as possible. Also, anti-gun bills are rumored to drop, and the Piñon Post will keep readers informed of all these updates.

Sign up for updates by subscribing to our mailing list at the bottom of this page to keep up-to-date on action alerts and all the latest.

Legislative Update: Extreme Dem bills assigned to committees Read More »

‘Thinking small is a curse’: MLG delivers cringeworthy ‘State of the State’ speech

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On Tuesday, scandal-ridden alleged serial groper Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham delivered the annual “State of the State” speech to open up the 2022 Legislative Session via virtual video conference.

During the speech, she claimed, “We’ve made so much progress,” despite New Mexico’s education at the bottom of the list, the state breaking violent crime records, 40% of small businesses being closed, and immense poverty and devastation ravaging through the Land of Enchantment.

“In the last three years, this Legislature and this administration have gotten a lot done,” the Governor said, citing the passage of extreme social programs like free pre-k and an increase to minimum wage, which is harming already hurting small businesses.

“Unlike in the aftermath of the Great Recession, we’re not gonna let the pandemic stall us and take away years of growth; we will not have another lost decade – in fact, despite the challenges of the last two years, we’ve hardly lost a step. The fact is: Unemployment has gone down every month for 10 straight months,” she continued, despite ignoring the fact that New Mexico’s unemployment rate remains at the top nationally. Currently, it is the fifth-worst unemployment rate in the nation, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.

In true Lujan Grisham fashion, she touted other extreme anti-energy and anti-jobs initiatives, claiming not completely wrecking the economy would be “thinking small.”

She said, “Dating back decades, a timid mindset has afflicted people in this capitol building, a pessimism that can be self-fulfilling. Thinking small is a curse. Big and meaningful changes are possible, but the biggest change may be our attitude, our perspective. At a moment in time when we have the money to do it all, let’s not limit ourselves; let’s not be unnecessarily incremental. Can’t New Mexico be a state – can’t we be the state – where everything is possible?”

But spending big on recurring costs of her social programs, such as free daycare and free-for-all recreational pot, when times get tough in New Mexico after the oil and gas industry is completely annihilated (which is the whole reason for a surplus in revenue), there will, indeed, be a “limit” on how she can spend money.

While she gives out breadcrumbs via a 0.25% gross receipts tax decrease, New Mexicans will have to carry the burden of these failed policies she has already passed or is proposing for years to come. 

The Republican Party of New Mexico’s Chairman Steve Pearce opined, “I really don’t know which state this Governor thinks she’s in. She speaks of successes but fails to admit that New Mexico’s economy has been driven into the ground, our education system remains at the bottom, thousands have lost jobs and crime is out of control,” a sentiment many New Mexicans have agreed with.

This comes after Lujan Grisham’s very first State of the State speech in 2019, which we reported on. Then, the made similar statements, claiming she would spend money like it’s going out of style. Not much has changed, except as her agenda has been rammed through the Legislature, New Mexicans’ freedom has eroded and devastation has come to the Land of Enchantment.

‘Thinking small is a curse’: MLG delivers cringeworthy ‘State of the State’ speech Read More »

GOP legislators must be laser-focused on killing these Dem bills

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Radical Democrats in the New Mexico Legislature are preparing to do whatever it takes to ram through scandal-ridden alleged serial groper Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham’s extreme agenda during the 30-day 2022 Legislative Session, which begins today in Santa Fe.

Here are some pieces of legislation that Republicans must focus on killing this session. Note: It is election season and many of these “Republican” members have primary challengers to the right, meaning they might actually fight this session to save their hide.

H.B. 6, the “Clean Future Act” by Rep. Nathan Small (D-Doña Ana)

This radical bill would further cripple energy producers in New Mexico by mandating the Environmental Improvement Board adopt rules that would force the reduction of “greenhouse gas emissions.” 

“by 2030, statewide direct emissions of greenhouse gases shall not exceed fifty percent of 2005 levels; and by 2050, total statewide greenhouse gas emissions shall achieve at least net-zero emissions; provided that total statewide direct emissions of greenhouse gases shall not exceed ten percent of 2005 levels in 2050 or any subsequent year,” the bill reads.

H.B. 33, the “Cigarette and Tabacco Products Tax” by Rep. Joanne Ferrary (D-Doña Ana)

The extreme bill would increase the tax rate on all tobacco products, regardless of source. This includes an excise tax of 20 cents per cigarette sold. The bill further reads, “four and fifty-five hundredths percent of the net receipts, exclusive of… penalties and interest, attributable to the cigarette tax shall be made to the New Mexico finance authority for deposit in the credit enhancement account created in the authority.”

H.J.R. 2, the “Environmental Rights” amendment by Reps. Joanne Ferrary (D-Doña Ana) and Tara Lujan (D-Santa Fe)

This radical bill would enshrine “environmental rights” in the New Mexico Constitution, which would, in effect, put the final nail in the energy industry’s coffin — the fund which provides for most state funds for hospitals and schools, not to mention jobs. This bill was proposed last legislative session and the Piñon Post helped it die before it could reach final passage. 

S.B. 55, “CREATING THE ELECTRIC VEHICLE INCOME TAX CREDIT,” by Sen. Bill Tallman (D-Bernalillo)

Tallman aims to create a tax credit for people to purchase unsustainable electric vehicles. The bill reads, “The electric vehicle income tax credit shall be in an amount equal to two thousand five hundred dollars ($2,500), except that a taxpayer who meets the following requirements shall be allowed a credit in an amount equal to five thousand dollars.” It continues, “a taxpayer who files as a single individual with an adjusted gross income of fifty thousand dollars ($50,000) or less for the taxable year prior to the calendar year in which the electric vehicle was purchased or the lease was entered into,” among other provisions.

Election Reforms

Although Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham and Secretary of State Maggie Toulouse Oliver have not formally had their bill introduced to force through fraud in the New Mexico election system, the bill is set to be a top priority for Democrats, including the following provisions, per the Governor:

  • Increasing voter access by extending the early voting period through the Sunday before Election Day, designating Election Day as a state holiday, and allowing 16 year-olds to participate in local elections;
  • Creating a permanent absentee voter list that allows individuals to voluntarily receive mail ballots for each election without needing to make individual requests;
  • Expanding online voter registration opportunities by allowing individuals without MVD-issued ID to register online using their full social security number;
  • Extending the timeline for mailing ballots to voters to 35 days before an election and extending the deadline for accepting voted ballots to 7 p.m. the Friday after an election to accommodate for mail delivery time;
  • Supporting Native voting access by expanding the timeline for indigenous nations, tribes, and pueblos to request alternate voting sites;
  • Improving automatic voter registration by adopting a system that provides a mechanism for eligible individuals to become automatically registered to vote upon completing a transaction at the Motor Vehicle Department;
  • Enabling nominating petition signatures to be securely submitted electronically;
  • Automatically restoring the voting rights of those convicted of a felony who are not currently incarcerated; and
  • Creating an option to vote a straight party ballot.

Bills masked as “crime” legislation aiming to take away citizens’ rights

Although the Governor has claimed to want to focus on crime in the 2022 Legislative Session, this could be an opportunity for radical Democrats to force through anti-gun and anti-police bills masked as crime legislation. Such proposals will be monitored and reported on by the Piñon Post. 

The public is still banned from the Capitol unless thrice-jabbed and masked or showing a valid medical or religious exemption. No firearms are allowed in the Capitol and all visitors will be forced to go through a security screening. All committees in the House of Representatives are accessible via Zoom, not in-person to all — a tactic to further limit participation in the process.

GOP legislators must be laser-focused on killing these Dem bills Read More »

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