Politics

Rebuking families and teachers, Lujan Grisham’s PED OKs harsh mandates

25 Comments / New Mexico, News, Politics / By

Far-left Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham’s New Mexico Public Education Department (NMPED) has announced a new rule to enforce a mandatory 180-day school calendar, stirring fury among educators, administrators, and lawmakers. While the rule aims to standardize instructional time across the state, exemptions have been included for certain schools, acknowledging the major pushback from the educational community.

Public Education Secretary Arsenio Romero articulated the Department’s stance, “In order to equalize instructional time across the state, we have chosen to adopt the 180-day calendar rule. We must improve student outcomes across the state, our students deserve better, and that begins with quality instructional time in the classroom.”

This adjustment is slated to be implemented in the 2024-25 academic year. Notably, the Santa Fe Public Schools had preemptively planned for such a change, indicating an adaptation of the school year calendar to fit the new requirements by modifying holiday breaks and other scheduled closures.

Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham has been a vocal advocate for this expansion of the school year, reiterating her commitment to a 180-day school year in her State of the State address and displaying her stance by vetoing language in the budget that would have precluded her from enacting the 180-day rule.

However, this proposal has been met with substantial resistance from the educational sector, including the state’s teacher’s unions, who came out in full force against the mandate. A large number of teachers and school administrators voiced their dissent at a public hearing, labeling the move as an overextension of the Public Education Department’s authority. This sentiment was echoed in the thousands of written comments submitted in opposition to the rule change.

Mary Parr-Sánchez, president of the New Mexico branch of the National Education Association teacher’s union, underscored the opposition, stating, “We believe that [the calendar] is a local decision. There was public outcry, and educators were included in that outcry.”

Legislators also criticized the rule, suggesting it contradicts the Legislature’s intention and the principle of local autonomy in decision-making. The 2023 bill passed by both legislative chambers advocated for increased school time measured in hours rather than days.

Concerns have also been raised about the potential erosion of public trust in state decision-making. House Education Committee Chairman Andrés Romero voiced his apprehensions: “I really fear for that, that they’re not going to trust what the state is doing,” alluding to the close timing between the legislative extension of the school year and the new rule’s introduction, per the Santa Fe New Mexican.

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See what Gov. Lujan Grisham vetoed from her massive $10.2 billion budget

12 Comments / New Mexico, News, Politics / By

Democrat New Mexico Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham enacted numerous line-item vetoes in the massive $10.2 billion House Bill 2 budget. Wednesday was the last day to sign or veto legislation otherwise it is by default pocket vetoed.

The governor’s vetoes, reflecting a strategic adjustment of the executive branch’s budgetary powers, axed several legislated spending specifics, reducing the Legislature’s prescribed utilization of funds.

She wrote in her veto message, “…I have vetoed parts of the Act that impermissibly intrude into the executive managerial function. I object to provisions in the Act that unduly restrict appropriations to specified types of expenditures. These restrictions on agency functions exceed the Legislature’s proper, constitutionally defined role, unduly constraining the Executive’s ability to effectively administer programs to meet the State’s needs.”

Governor Grisham also reduced various reporting obligations of executive agencies, continuing her trend of continuing her quest for less oversight from the Legislature.

In a turn that veered from her administration’s usual narrative, Governor Grisham removed numerous mentions of “evidence-based” services, an approach her office often champions for its program expansions.

Notably, the governor refrained from vetoing the $6 million allocated for legislative district staffing.

While only a single junior appropriation item was entirely eliminated, Governor Grisham revised numerous others, subtly redirecting the flow and application of funds.

The governor’s vetoes affected a wide array of appropriations and mandates, ranging from education, health, infrastructure, to cultural initiatives. This included the removal of restrictions on the Department of Education regarding the number of instructional days and school week configurations, as well as blocking expansions in Medicaid eligibility without legislative consent.

A significant $50 million destined for the unestablished Indian Education Trust Fund was struck down, alongside a $24 million earmark for a Paid Family and Medical Leave Act bill, which did not pass in the legislative session.

Other notable vetoes targeted special appropriations for health facilities in Taos County and Tucumcari, Quay County, with the word “construction” being specifically removed.

The Veterans Services Department faced a cut regarding a mobile unit meant to expand outreach services. At the same time, earmarks for the Navajo Nation and Zuni Pueblo, as well as for the University of New Mexico’s School of Public Health, were also scrapped.

Changes to junior appropriations spanned a spectrum from public-private partnerships to cultural events, highlighting the governor’s nuanced approach to budget management.

To read the governor’s full executive veto message, it is available linked here. The final version of H.B. 2 is linked here under “Final Version.”

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Jury delivers guilty verdict for armorer in deadly Alec Baldwin ‘Rust’ case

9 Comments / New Mexico, News, Politics / By

Hannah Gutierrez-Reed has been found guilty of involuntary manslaughter following the fatal shooting of cinematographer Halyna Hutchins on the set of the film “Rust” in October 2021. Despite facing allegations of evidence tampering related to a supposed cocaine exchange, the jury acquitted her of this charge. 

The verdict came swiftly from a Santa Fe County jury after less than three hours of deliberation, leading to Gutierrez-Reed’s immediate custody pending sentencing, where she could face up to 18 months in prison.

As the film’s armorer, Gutierrez-Reed was responsible for the firearms used on set. The prosecution argued that her negligence in allowing live ammunition to mix with prop rounds directly led to the tragic incident, where a live bullet discharged from a revolver held by Alec Baldwin resulted in Hutchins’ untimely death. 

Baldwin, who faces similar charges, has pled not guilty, with his trial set for July.

The First Judicial District Attorney’s Office has expressed its dedication to seeking justice for Hutchins’ family, highlighting the thorough investigation that underpinned the prosecution’s case. The trial featured extensive testimonies and evidence, educating jurors on firearms handling in film productions. 

The defense likened Gutierrez-Reed’s mistake to a medical error, asserting her innocence due to the lack of willful disregard for safety. However, the prosecution countered by presenting evidence suggesting Gutierrez-Reed was the source of the live ammunition found on set, criticizing her professionalism and safety protocols. 

The jury also had the option to consider a lesser charge related to negligent firearm use, but ultimately convicted Gutierrez-Reed of involuntary manslaughter.

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Extremist anti-gun group endorses Gabe Vasquez

14 Comments / New Mexico, News, Politics / By

On Tuesday, socialist Rep. Gabe Vasquez took to X, formerly Twitter, to announce he has been endorsed by the fringe anti-gun group, Giffords, run by Democrat ex-Congresswoman Gabby Giffords of Arizona.

Vasquez wrote, “Thank you [Giffords] for the endorsement!”

Ex-Rep. Giffords wrote, “With so much on the line, I’m proud to endorse Representative Gabe Vasquez, who’s committed to passing commonsense gun safety legislation.”

The far-left New Mexico Democrat added on his X post, “In Congress, I will continue to champion gun safety and provide the perspective of a hunter and gun owner. We can, and we must do more to keep our families safe.”

Vasquez backs extreme gun bans that infringe on New Mexicans’ Second Amendment rights. He obviously doesn’t understand that the Constitution’s provisions granting the right to bear arms were not written for the intention of “hunting” but rather upon the discretion of the nation’s citizens, which is why it writes, “… shall not be infringed.”

When asked in a forum about guns the first time he ran for Congress, Vasquez said, as reported by the Las Cruces Sun-News, “I think that I personally have to learn a lot more about different styles of firearms that can be used both for self-defense and for hunting purposes,” admitting he does not know enough about guns even to warrant having an opinion on the matter.

He added at the time, “I know for sure that an AR-15 is not a weapon that you should use for hunting, for example. But I want to be somebody that comes to the table and talks about these in a way that reflects both the values, the culture of New Mexicans, and at the same time keeps our kids safe.”

Vasquez faces a tough race in November against Republican former Congresswoman Yvette Herrell, who is leading in the polls in the Second Congressional District.

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Gas prices set to skyrocket after MLG signs 50+ cent per gallon gas tax bill

46 Comments / New Mexico, News, Politics / By

On Tuesday, the far-left, anti-energy Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham signed H.B. 41 into law. The bill sponsored by Sen. Mimi Stewart (D-Albuquerque) is dubbed the “clean fuel standard.”

The bill will increase gas prices by at least 50 cents per gallon, and you can expect similar increases in groceries and supplies and pretty much everything else. This bill will make life more expensive in New Mexico for average consumers — harming the poorest New Mexicans, who will take the biggest hit with the new law. 

The bill finally passed the Legislature by a thin margin of 36-33 in the House of Representatives.

California, Oregon, and Washington have similar laws in place, and the gas prices in these states have risen significantly due to the radical proposal. 

According to the California Energy Commission, “Filling up the tank in California also costs more since gasoline prices are higher on average than the rest of the United States for a few reasons. These reasons include the isolated nature of the state’s transportation fuels market, a special gasoline recipe that reduces air pollution, environmental program costs, and taxes.” 

Washington State’s Department of Ecology’s May 12, 2022 report admitted the price increase due to the Clean Fuel Standard in the state, while an Oregon Department of Environmental Quality report acknowledged significant cost increases due to its version of the law.

Now, as New Mexicans battle the crippling burdens of inflation among ramifications from other legislation passed, consumers will be saddled with the brunt of the extreme legislation to hike gas prices to high levels the state has never seen before. 

Despite the ramifications to New Mexicans, Democrats celebrated the extremist bill being signed into law:

State Rep. John Block (R-Alamogordo), also the Piñon Post’s editor, wrote about the bill taking effect, “Remember the gas prices now here in NM — and this is after over three years of Joe Biden’s hellscape. The governor and her allies in the Legislature are hiking our gas prices by over 50 CENTS PER GALLON with the horrific HB41. Hold THEM accountable by electing the strongest conservative fighters in the June primary and then the November general election to take them out and finally take out the trash!” 

“It’s clear that Governor Lujan Grisham took a look at California’s highest gas prices in the nation and decided that’s what she wants for New Mexico’s families,” said Larry Behrens, Communications Director for Power The Future, following the bill’s signing. “As a national leader in oil production, New Mexico’s leaders should do all they can to support our energy industry. Instead, Santa Fe politicians want to copy failed policies that punish families by driving up prices.”

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MLG holds photo op at ABQ school to sign two anti-gun bills

21 Comments / New Mexico, News, Politics / By

On Monday, far-left anti-gun Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham had a photo op at Albuquerque’s West Mesa High School, where she signed two anti-gun bills and two crime-related bills.

“These four bills are an incredible effort to do more,” she said at the presser, per the Santa Fe New Mexican.

At the press conference, she was flanked by discredited anti-gun group “co-president” Miranda Viscoli of “New Mexicans to Prevent Gun Violence” and the sponsor of the extreme H.B. 129 anti-gun bill State Rep. Andrea Romero (D-Santa Fe)

“All four bills become effective immediately, the governor said as she prepared to sign them,” the outlet reported, although the governor’s remark is inaccurate because these bills did not pass with an “emergency clause.” They will go into effect 90 days following the Legislature’s adjournment, which is in mid-May. 

Among the bills set to become law is House Bill 129, which forces through a mandatory seven-day waiting period for all gun purchases, with minor exceptions of law enforcement agencies and those who hold concealed carry permits. This is the most stringent anti-gun law passed this session, although it was significantly weakened from its original form.

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She will also sign Senate Bill 5 to make carrying a firearm within 100 feet of a polling station during active voting a misdemeanor. This rule comes with exceptions for law enforcement personnel on duty, legitimate business activities, individuals in their vehicles, and those possessing a concealed firearm, rendering the bill essentially meaningless.

Another bill she is set to sign is Senate Bill 96, which will toughen penalties related to violent crimes, escalating the punishment for attempted murder from a maximum of three years to nine years in prison. The bill also proposes to increase the sentence for second-degree murder from 15 to 18 years.

Finally, Senate Bill 271 introduces a new measure for repeat felony offenders, establishing an automatic no-bail hold for those who breach their release conditions by committing another felony, a minor fix to the state’s catastrophic 2016 ballot measure, which resulted in violent offenders to be released without bail pending trial. 

The governor wrote on X, formerly Twitter, following the event, “It’s time that we treat crime like the serious problem it is in New Mexico. That’s why today I signed four bills that will help make our state safer. Thank you to West Mesa High’s wonderful students for the warm welcome today!”

It is not uncommon for the governor to use children for political gain, especially to promote her extreme anti-gun agenda. 

Of the over a dozen extreme anti-gun bills proposed during the 2024 Legislative Session, these two measures were the only ones that passed — a huge defeat for the anti-gun governor who attempted to ban most firearms in the state after signing an illegal, unconstitutional executive order last year to snatch guns.

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NM AG Torrez joins SOS Toulouse Oliver in meddling with grocery store merger

13 Comments / New Mexico, News, Politics / By

New Mexico’s far-left Democrat Attorney General Raúl Torrez is joining the state’s far-left Democrat Secretary of State Maggie Toulouse Oliver in trying to mess up the proposed $24.6 billion merger between Kroger and Albertsons, joining a multi-state lawsuit spearheaded by the Federal Trade Commission (FTC). 

The legal challenge aims to halt the merger on claims that it would stifle competition, potentially leading to higher consumer prices, diminished quality, and adverse effects on employees. The FTC, expressing concerns over the implications for both consumers and workers, filed both a lawsuit and an administrative complaint to contest the merger.

Kroger, known for its diverse portfolio of nearly 1,300 stores across various brands in the U.S., including Smith’s and Price-Rite in New Mexico, seeks to acquire Albertsons, which also operates under multiple regional brands such as Albertsons Markets and Safeway within the state. 

Attorney General Torrez said, “My office proudly announces its collaborative stance alongside multiple states and the Federal Trade Commission in a collective effort to challenge and prevent this anti-competitive merger that threatens fair market dynamics.” 

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The lawsuit has garnered support from a coalition of attorneys general from Arizona, California, the District of Columbia, Illinois, Maryland, Nevada, Oregon, and Wyoming, all opposing the merger on the FTC’s platform.

Last August, Toulouse Oliver added her signature to a letter co-signed by six other secretaries of state, rejecting the $24.6 billion merger — a direct attack on the free market.

The letter highlights potential repercussions: “If the merger goes through, the lack of competition gives Kroger-Albertsons substantial power to dictate prices that harm growers and shippers who will be forced to cut wages for their own workers.”

However, Kroger’s perspective on the matter contradicts the officials’ bloviated concerns. A spokesperson for Kroger conveyed that the opposite is likely to occur if the merger progresses. They contend that prices would decrease, consumer choice would expand, and wages would increase as a result of the merger. The spokesperson also criticized the opposition, suggesting that the real beneficiaries of preventing the merger’s completion would be large, non-unionized competitors like Walmart and Amazon. Kroger assured that the merger would not lead to layoffs or closures of stores, distribution centers, or manufacturing facilities.

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Matisyahu’s incredible response to anti-Israel Meow Wolf staff canceling concert

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In an interview with Billboard, Matisyahu delved into the unforeseen challenges he encountered during his scheduled performances in Santa Fe and Tucson, Arizona, earlier this month. Anti-Isael Meow Wolf employees stymied the artist from being able to perform in Santa Fe. The reggae musician, who is Jewish and supportive of Israel, faced abrupt cancellations at Meow Wolf in Santa Fe and Rialto Theatre in Tucson, attributing the disruptions to security concerns spurred by protesters. Undeterred, Matisyahu swiftly organized a complimentary concert at The Rock in Tucson to the delight of his fans.

Matisyahu recounted the sequence of events, noting, “There have been protesters at my shows, and two shows got canceled. One of them in New Mexico, where after we had driven hundreds of miles set up, had a sold out show, fans were starting to come, the staff claims that they were afraid to come into the show because of like, tenant protesters.” 

John Phelan, Wiki Commons.

He further explained the skepticism surrounding the staff’s claims, which led to the last-minute cancellation in Santa Fe. The following night in Tucson presented similar issues, prompting Matisyahu to take matters into his own hands. “I myself started making phone calls and found another venue, a legendary reggae venue down the street. […] They claimed there that it was a security issue at the Rialto, so we moved everything, found a completely new staff in two hours and had a beautiful concert with no security issues.”

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Matisyahu expressed his resilience and determination to continue his tour despite the obstacles, stating, “People can say what they want, but we know why these shows are being canceled. The bottom line is that we’re going to continue and we’re going to play every show on the tour and any venue that cancels, I have backup venues in every city in America. I’ve been doing 200 shows a year for 20 years in this country, and so we will play our shows regardless.”

Following the cancellations, Meow Wolf and Rialto Theatre both cited safety and staffing concerns as the primary reasons for their decisions, emphasizing their commitment to the safety of their employees and guests. Meow Wolf’s statement claimed its dedication to free expression, respectful discourse, and the unifying power of art, while firmly rejecting any form of hate or discrimination — although the hate-filled staffers who shut down the concert have not reportedly been fired or had reprimands from the art space.

Matisyahu at Republik Music Festival 4, Honolulu, Hawaii, June 9, 2014. Peter Chiapperino via Wiki Commons.

Amid these tour challenges, Matisyahu also shared his recent experiences in Israel, where he found a renewed sense of hope amidst Hamas terrorists violently attacking the country in an unprovoked war. “I was feeling really hopeless about what the future is going to look like for all of us and went to Israel and renewed like my faith in humanity and renewed my faith in God,” he shared. This journey profoundly impacted him, infusing his music and performances with a sense of light and strength drawn from the resilience of the people he encountered.

Matisyahu’s experience underscores the complexities Jewish artists face in today’s toxic political climate, filled with antisemitism, yet his story is also one of perseverance, hope, and the transformative power of music.

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NM Health Dept. fearmongering people over 65 to get new COVID-19 jab

28 Comments / New Mexico, News, Politics / By

Following the recent endorsement by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) of the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices’ (ACIP) recommendation, far-left Democrat Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham’s New Mexico Department of Health (NMDOH) is now fearmongering all residents aged 65 and over to get yet another dose of the updated 2023-2024 COVID-19 jab. 

NMDOH’s Chief Medical Officer, Dr. Miranda Durham, claimed, “Most COVID-19 deaths and hospitalizations last year were among people 65 years and older,” adding, “An additional vaccine dose can provide added protection that may have decreased over time for those at highest risk.”

The CDC had previously made provisions for immunocompromised individuals to receive extra doses of the COVID-19 vaccine. Now, with the advent of the updated vaccine, broader segments of the population, particularly older adults, are being encouraged to enhance their immunity against the virus.

The Department pushed the jab, saying that COVID-19 vaccines are being offered at no charge through private health insurance, Medicare, and Medicaid. Additionally, a provision has been made for uninsured individuals to receive the vaccine free of charge through a network of health centers and pharmacies participating in the CDC’s Bridge Access Program, ensuring that everyone has access to the vaccine.

“Data from the CDC indicates that adults aged 65 and older bear a disproportionate impact from COVID-19, with more than half of the hospitalizations occurring within this age group between October 2023 and December 2023. Recognizing the significance of vaccination, NMDOH encourages eligible individuals to stay up to date on their COVID-19 vaccines,” continued the press release. 

According to Bloomberg, the COVID-19 jab is “inked to small increases in neurological, blood, and heart-related conditions in the largest global vaccine safety study to date,” per scientific studies.

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