Politics

Lujan Grisham brags about wasting $10M on taxpayer-funded abortion mill

71 Comments / New Mexico, News, Politics / By

Far-left pro-abortion up-to-birth Democrat Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham recently bragged in a Democrat Party of New Mexico (DPNM) fundraising email about wasting $10 million in taxpayer funds on a new abortion mill set to service Texas women who cross the border into Las Cruces. 

“Throughout my tenure as Governor, I’ve worked with Democratic legislators to ensure New Mexico remains a safe place for patients and providers of abortion care and reproductive health care,” the anti-life governor wrote. 

She touted her 2021 bill that stripped all protections for women, mothers, and medical professionals and effectively legalized abortion up-to-birth with a door open to infanticide — something already occurring in New Mexico.

She listed “[o]verturning New Mexico’s … abortion ban in 2021, preemptively protecting abortion rights in our state even before the Supreme Court’s Dobbs decision” as an accomplishment. 

“Crafting and enacting into law House Bill 7, the Reproductive and Gender-Affirming Care Act, to prohibit municipalities and local governments from restricting access to reproductive or gender-affirming care,” she listed, along with “[p]assing Senate Bill 13, Reproductive Health Provider Protections, which I signed into law this year. This codifies my 2022 executive order to protect confidential information of patients and providers of reproductive and gender-affirming care, including abortions, from other states’ criminal liability and discrimination.

S.B. 13 harbors criminal abortionists in the state. It bans the extradition of criminal abortionists and the sharing of information regarding such criminals with other states.

“The work doesn’t stop there. As Governor, I dedicated $10 million from my capital outlay funding for a full-spectrum reproductive health clinic in southern New Mexico,” she bragged.

State Rep. John Block (R-Alamogordo) led the charge to strip the $10 million from the appropriation bill.

Bipartisan legislators later opposed her extremist allocation, but the bill was passed with the governor’s millions for a new abortion mill to kill more babies in the state.

She added that “we can only continue protecting abortion at the state level here in New Mexico if we continue electing Democrats to our State House and Senate, both of which are on the ballot in the next general election.”

Republicans can harness this extreme pro-abortion up-to-birth stand and help stop the far-left fringe ideas of no-limit abortion by similarly funding and promoting pro-life candidates at the ballot boxes in the upcoming 2023 municipal elections and in 2024. 

Harris praises Lujan Grisham for signing bill harboring criminal abortionists

Lujan Grisham brags about wasting $10M on taxpayer-funded abortion mill Read More »

Top Dems attempt to boot Dem mayor from gerrymandering lawsuit

5 Comments / New Mexico, News, Politics / By

Leading Democrat lawmakers involved in the challenge to the state’s gerrymandered congressional districts are seeking to have Democrat Roswell Mayor Timothy “Tim” Jennings and two other individuals removed as plaintiffs from the case, prompting a debate over legal standing and representation.

The motion, filed by attorneys representing New Mexico Speaker of the House Javier Martinez and Senate Pro Tem Mimi Stewart, contends that Jennings, along with fellow plaintiffs Dinah Vargas and Pearl Garcia, have failed to establish sufficient legal standing in the lawsuit. Legal standing, which enables an individual plaintiff to bring a specific claim to court, has become a central point of contention in the ongoing dispute over the redrawing of New Mexico’s congressional districts through S.B. 1.

Jennings speaking at a City Council meeting in 2022.

In a detailed 23-page motion, the Democrat legislators’ legal team argues that the plaintiffs have not adequately demonstrated that they have personally suffered harm due to the passage of SB 1. The motion asserts, “None of these three plaintiffs — allege— nor could they demonstrate— that their votes have been diluted under SB-1 or that relief the plaintiffs seek would redress any alleged harm. Accordingly, they should be dismissed from this action.”

While the plaintiffs counter that their grievance stems from the alleged cracking of conservative communities, particularly Roswell, among the three newly delineated districts, the lawmakers’ motion claims there needs more proof for plaintiffs to substantiate how their votes have been diluted and how the relief sought will address this issue. 

In an interview with the Roswell Daily Record, Mayor Jennings expressed strong disagreement with the motion, stating, “That’s bull. There is no reason I shouldn’t have standing.” Jennings, a Democrat who joined the Republican-backed challenge to the congressional map, contends that his community’s interests have been negatively impacted by the redistricting.

The heart of the dispute lies in Jennings’ claim that his community of Roswell was adversely affected by the redistricting. His argument emphasizes that the redistricting process has split his like-minded community among multiple districts, thereby diluting their collective voting power. The plaintiffs argue that this division prevents them from uniting to elect a candidate of their choice, directly opposing the central principle of equal representation.

The gerrymandered districts, which chopped up multiple communities and resulted in snake-like shapes, shifted the lone Republican district from leaning Republican by 14 points to now favoring Democrats by four points — an 18-point swing. This is a classic sign of partisan gerrymandering, along with the sprawling districts, as evidenced by the new Third Congressional District, which stretches from Jal in the extreme southeast corner of the state to Four Corners in the extreme northwest corner of the state. It would take nine hours and eleven minutes driving nonstop to reach both communities, which are all jumbled in the same district.

Legal experts weigh in on the debate, emphasizing that standing, while crucial in federal courts, is rooted in state constitutions for state court cases. Although the legislators’ strategy to challenge plaintiffs’ standing might not result in the case’s dismissal, the focus on the plaintiffs’ representation highlights the complexity of the legal and political battle surrounding the redistricting dispute.

As the case progresses, the ongoing debate over legal standing and its role in determining representation in state court cases continues to unfold.

Democrat mayor applauds NM Supreme Court’s gerrymandering move

Top Dems attempt to boot Dem mayor from gerrymandering lawsuit Read More »

NM Planned Parenthood admits it is nothing more than an abortion mill

13 Comments / New Mexico, News, Politics / By

Amidst an ongoing influx of patients from Texas, where pro-life policies protect children from abortion, Planned Parenthood centers in New Mexico have finally admitted their true purpose: performing abortions — not true health care. 

The overwhelming demand has led to modifications in services and referrals, according to a report from MedPage Today titled “Planned Parenthood of New Mexico Limits Non-Abortion Care Due to Surge From Texas.” This situation, however, raises concerns regarding the allocation of resources and priorities in reproductive healthcare.

“Planned Parenthood clinics in New Mexico are prioritizing abortion” services due to an increasing number of patients arriving from Texas. The state’s life-affirming laws have prompted individuals to seek services in New Mexico, where abortion up to birth is legal. 

In response to the surge in demand, Planned Parenthood has been redirecting non-abortion patients to neighboring clinics for family planning, wellness exams, and other maternal health needs. This strategic move aims to “keep wait times down for abortion care. Currently, the wait time is 14 days for an abortion appointment at one of their clinics,” as reported by the outlet.

Adrienne Mansanares, President and CEO of Planned Parenthood of the Rocky Mountains, highlighted what she perceived to be staffing shortages. 

One of the most contentious aspects of the situation lies in the clinics’ approach to abortions. While one location in Albuquerque provides procedural abortion care, three locations attend to medication abortion in person and through telehealth appointments. The timing of appointments for medication abortion is limited to four weeks.

Planned Parenthood of the Rocky Mountains has reported similar challenges in Colorado and Nevada, which are also part of the organization’s network. The surge in out-of-state patient volume from Texas following the Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization U.S. Supreme Court decision, which put the abortion issue back to the individual states, has increased New Mexico’s abortion patients due to the anti-life laws employed in the Land of Enchantment. “56% of New Mexico’s Planned Parenthood abortion patients are from Texas, according to data from Planned Parenthood,” the report notes.

During the 2023 legislative session, far-left Democrats rammed through $10 million in state funds to open a new abortion mill in Las Cruces to service Texas as its back-alley abortion mill. It had bipartisan opposition but still passed due to anti-life Democrats holding a comfortable majority in both chambers of the New Mexico Legislature.

In conclusion, the surge in demand for abortion care in New Mexico highlights the complexities of reproductive healthcare access and allocation of resources. The prioritization of abortion services due to out-of-state patients underscores the need for comprehensive reproductive health planning to ensure timely and equitable care for all patients.

NM Planned Parenthood admits it is nothing more than an abortion mill Read More »

Santa Fe Archbishop Wester takes powerful stand in support of life

30 Comments / New Mexico, News, Politics / By

In a powerful pastoral letter issued on the feast of the Assumption, as reported by New Mexico Alliance for Life, Santa Fe Archbishop John C. Wester has passionately called for the protection of human life and an end to the growing concerns surrounding abortion in New Mexico. The Archbishop’s letter, read at every Catholic mass in the archdiocese on August 15th and 20th, addresses the urgent need to defend the rights of both mothers and their unborn children.

The timing of this proclamation is particularly striking, coinciding with a recent revelation by the New Mexico Alliance for Life regarding the promotion of “ritual abortions” by the Satanic Temple Health through Democrat Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham’s abortion hotline.

Archbishop Wester’s letter underscores the necessity of supporting pregnant mothers and offering healing to those who have experienced past abortions. The Archbishop further emphasizes the importance of addressing the underlying reasons that lead women to choose abortion. He asserts, “We must do all that we can to support the mother and to help her sustain the right to life of her child.”

Central to the Archbishop’s message is the urgent call for Catholics in New Mexico to actively defend innocent life at all stages, from conception to natural death. He proposes a meaningful act of consecration to the Sacred Heart of Jesus and the Immaculate Heart of Mary as a powerful means to inspire change and foster a culture that values human life.

The significance of this public consecration extends beyond the Archdiocese of Santa Fe, as Bishop James S. Wall of the Diocese of Gallup and Bishop Peter Baldacchino of the Diocese of Las Cruces join in solidarity, collectively covering the entire state of New Mexico.

Archbishop Wester has directed priests throughout the Archdiocese of Santa Fe, encompassing Albuquerque and Santa Fe, to incorporate the Act of Consecration in every mass. An excerpt from the consecration prayer reads, “O Sacred Heart of Jesus, we consecrate ourselves to you this day, seeking the grace to be effective advocates for the sanctity of human life from conception to natural death.”

The Archbishop’s pastoral letter resonates with a plea to eradicate the driving forces behind abortion, including economic, social, and psychological factors. Poverty is highlighted as a common cause, and the Catholic community is called upon to actively combat these underlying conditions.

The Archbishop’s heartfelt words stress the necessity of changing hearts as a crucial step in the pro-life movement. While education is essential, genuine transformation can only be achieved by touching the depths of human hearts. This transformation, according to Archbishop Wester, can be rooted in prayer to the Sacred Heart of Jesus and the Immaculate Heart of Mary.

Archbishop Wester concludes his letter by inviting fellow believers to consecrate themselves and the archdiocese to the Sacred Heart of Jesus and the Immaculate Heart of Mary. He expresses his confidence that such a collective effort will prompt a shift in the state’s approach to protecting human life from conception onward.

In a call to action, individuals are encouraged to express their gratitude to Archbishop Wester for his impassioned leadership. This can be done by sending a “thank you” email to vg@archdiosf.org.

The proclamation by Archbishop John C. Wester serves as a resounding call to defend the sanctity of human life, addressing the pressing concerns surrounding abortion in New Mexico. With its potent blend of compassion, faith, and a call to collective action, the pastoral letter resonates deeply within the hearts of Catholics and beyond, inspiring hope for a more compassionate and life-affirming society.

Santa Fe Archbishop Wester takes powerful stand in support of life Read More »

Lujan Grisham takes third summer vacation — this time to Colorado

12 Comments / New Mexico, News, Politics / By

Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham embarked on her third summer vacation, traveling to Colorado on Thursday for some personal time.

This marks another leisure trip after her recent vacations in Arizona earlier this month and the Virgin Islands in June, where she celebrated her honeymoon and first wedding anniversary with her husband, Manny Cordova.

Governor Lujan Grisham reportedly spent a week in Arizona. This was followed by a two-week getaway to the Virgin Islands, commemorating her marriage milestone. She was married last year to Cordova in Washington, D.C., with Kamala Harris officiating the nuptials.

While the governor is away, Lt. Gov. Howie Morales will temporarily take the reins in her absence.

Lujan Grisham is known for her lavish excursions outside of the state and country, including climate change conferences in Scotland and Egypt, as well as island getaways to Spain early in her first term as governor, and a plethora of trips to Washington, D.C.

Lt. Gov. Howie Morales in charge as Lujan Grisham once again leaves state

Lujan Grisham takes third summer vacation — this time to Colorado Read More »

Dem donor launches ‘smear campaign’ against Dem state senator

5 Comments / New Mexico, News, Politics / By

Allegations of sexual misconduct and other inappropriate behavior have escalated for State Senator Daniel Ivey-Soto, leading to an additional ethics complaint filed against him. A veteran Albuquerque Democrat with a ten-year tenure in the Legislature, Ivey-Soto is now confronted with accusations of violating the Financial Disclosure Act, the Lobbyist Regulation Act, and the Governmental Conduct Act.

The ethics complaint, submitted by Santa Fe-based attorney Daniel Yohalem, alleges that Ivey-Soto capitalized on his position as a source of county clerks’ services, constituting payments for technical aid, legal advice, and lobbying services, thereby contravening state law. 

Yohalem has spent over $3,500 in the last few election cycles electing Democrats to the state House and Senate. He appears to be related to Jane B. Yohalem, who was narrowly elected to the New Mexico Court of Appeals in 2020 and retained in 2022. Daniel Yohalem gave Jane Yohalem $5,000 in her 2020 race. 

The complaint from Mr. Yohalem claims Ivey-Soto leveraged his political influence for personal and financial gain, causing a conflict of interest by simultaneously serving the county clerks and executing his duties as a state senator, thereby impeding the well-being of his clients and New Mexico residents at large.

Ivey-Soto refrained from directly addressing the claims outlined in the complaint. Instead, he asserted his intention to respond through the channels the New Mexico Ethics Commission provided, stating to the Santa Fe New Mexican, “I’m not going to try it in the media.” He characterized the complaint as a smear campaign aimed at his expulsion from the Legislature, suggesting that its exposure in various news outlets was indicative of its political nature.

The complaint, spanning 20 pages and accompanied by more than 100 pages of corroborative documentation, further alleges that Ivey-Soto consistently failed to fully disclose his financial interests, going so far as to promote legislation that obscured the sources of his compensation while augmenting his personal revenue. It claims that he transformed his for-profit consulting enterprise into a tax-exempt nonprofit organization in contravention of IRS regulations, consequently misleading the IRS.

The complaint also delves into allegations beyond financial improprieties. It contends that Ivey-Soto exploited his legislative position to further personal interests, pointing to previous investigations into his alleged sexual harassment and mistreatment of women within the context of the New Mexico legislature. Allegations include claims of retaliation against women who rejected his advances by obstructing their legislative priorities.

Ivey-Soto has faced a tumultuous period within his own party since a lobbyist accused him of groping her in 2015. Subsequent accusations of harassment and bullying from other women prompted calls for his resignation and reform in handling harassment allegations. While Ivey-Soto denied any wrongdoing, the state Democratic Party distanced itself from him, and he relinquished his chairmanship of the Senate Rules Committee and the New Mexico Finance Authority Oversight Committee.

NM Dems have ‘severed ties’ with Democrat lawmaker

Dem donor launches ‘smear campaign’ against Dem state senator Read More »

Former state Sen. Ramos seeks to reclaim seat from progressive

8 Comments / New Mexico, News, Politics / By

Former state Sen. Gabriel Ramos (Catron, Grant & Socorro), a Democrat-turned-Republican, is running for another term in the New Mexico Senate after losing the June primary against progressive now-Sen. Siah Correa Hemphill.

In a press release, the former state lawmaker and veteran’s campaign wrote, “Ramos first engaged in public service when he was elected to Grant County Clerk at age 25. He was later elected to serve on the Cobre School Board, Hurley Town Council and then the Grant County Commission for eight years before being appointed to the New Mexico Senate in 2019.”

“A Hispanic Catholic, Ramos was pushed out of his seat by radical Santa Fe politicians after he not only refused to back down from his values of life, freedom, and opportunity, but also rejected their agenda of power and control.”

Ramos said, “My values have not changed. What has changed is the divisive agenda of progressive politicians in Santa Fe. They chose politics over helping New Mexicans. They left common sense behind, and they left us behind. Now I’m running to represent Southwest New Mexico again, and I’m just as strong and ready to fight for you as I have ever been.”

“I will not let the values and traditions of Southwest New Mexico be dictated by Santa Fe politicians and lobbyists who don’t care about or listen to us. I will be a true voice for Grant, Luna and Hidalgo County,” Ramos added.

In addition to his public service, Ramos has a background of service to our country and the state of New Mexico. He joined the New Mexico National Guard at 17, then went to work at the Hurley Mines before opening his own car wash business and working in the insurance business.

More information about Gabe Ramos can be found on his website ramosfornm.com.

Report: Every NM legislator bankrolled by the abortion lobby in 2020

Former state Sen. Ramos seeks to reclaim seat from progressive Read More »

Three New Mexico community colleges ranked top 20 in the nation

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According to a new WalletHub ranking survey, three New Mexico community colleges have been ranked in the top 20 among all others across the nation.

Santa Fe Community College ranked 12th, Central New Mexico Community College in Albuquerque ranked 13th, and San Juan College in Farmington ranked 16th.

Although not in the top 20, Eastern New Mexico University-Roswell Campus ranked 26th among all other community colleges.

The number one community college nationwide was State Technical College of Missouri in Linn, MO.

“In order to determine the best and worst community-college systems in the U.S., we drew upon our analysis of 2023’s Best & Worst Community Colleges, which was conducted at the individual-school level across a sample of 668 institutions and 19 key metrics,” wrote WalletHub.

New Mexico ranked number one overall for the state with the best community college system, according to WalletHub’s nationwide system survey. 

New Mexico was followed by Connecticut, Maryland, Oregon, and Minnesota.

“For our state-by-state analysis, we calculated a weighted average of the scores earned by the community colleges in each state and the number of students enrolled in each school. The state with the highest average corresponds with a rank of No. 1, or the best community-college system. We also took into account only the states that had at least two community colleges present in our sample of the Best & Worst Community Colleges in order to ensure comparability of results,” the outlet noted. 

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New Mexicans continue to suffer through high electric bills

16 Comments / New Mexico, News, Politics / By

High electric bills are taking a toll on New Mexicans amid hot July weather, driving up air conditioning usage. Customers of electric companies like PNM and Xcel Energy are witnessing unusually high bills, with air conditioners accounting for up to 50% of summer bills. PNM customer Peggy Abby expressed her shock at the substantial increase in her bill, telling KOAT 7 News, “I have never seen one this high! $453, it’s never even been $100.”

The high temperatures have led to increased electricity consumption, resulting in elevated bills for many households. Wes Reeves, a spokesperson for Xcel Energy, acknowledged the challenges faced by customers, emphasizing that despite efforts to reduce prices to $0.11 per kilowatt hour, usage spikes can still lead to higher costs. 

Xcel Energy has introduced flexible payment options, such as “Flex Pay,” which allows large bills to be spread out over six months.

PNM and Xcel Energy have both established resources to support customers struggling to manage their bills. Options like “Average Billing” enable even distribution of costs throughout the year, and PNM’s newly introduced “PNM Summer Heat Bill Fund” offers assistance to customers, regardless of whether they are currently behind on payments. Eric Chavez, a PNM spokesperson, emphasized the company’s proactive approach to providing aid to customers, with the goal of helping as many people as possible.

To further assist customers, PNM has launched the “Gift of Power,” allowing individuals to pay the bills of others in need. Additionally, PNM has created a fund named the “PNM Summer Heat Bill Fund,” designed to offer aid to customers even if they are not currently behind on their payments. Income restrictions do apply for those planning to apply for PNM’s funds.

In light of the financial burden caused by the high bills, both electric companies encourage customers to seek assistance rather than attempting to manage the situation on their own. PNM directs customers to their website, pnm.com/assistance, and Xcel Energy emphasizes the importance of communication, urging customers to reach out if they face difficulties.

In the coming winter months, New Mexicans can also expect high costs, with anti-energy leftist policies passed at the Roundhouse and dictated by the Joe Biden administration, forcing the cost of gas to skyrocket. As we previously reported, the New Mexico Gas Company requested another rate hike from the state Public Regulation Commission not even one year after the last one.

After less than a year, NM Gas Co. will ask for another rate hike

New Mexicans continue to suffer through high electric bills Read More »

New study shows how NM ranks against all other states

12 Comments / New Mexico, News, Politics / By

WalletHub’s recent study has assessed the quality of life across various U.S. states, delving into metrics encompassing affordability, economy, education and health, quality of life, and safety. 

Analyzing 51 different factors such as housing affordability, unemployment rate, and high school graduation rate, the study aimed to unveil the best states to live in. Regrettably, New Mexico found itself at the bottom of the ranking, occupying the 51st spot with an average score of 39.86. 

Although the state’s economy secured a 25th place standing, and its quality of life achieved 31st place, the education and health sector and safety lagged behind, holding the 47th and 50th positions, respectively.

The study also scrutinized the percentage of poverty in each state, highlighting New Mexico’s unfortunate position at 48th place, preceded only by Louisiana (49th) and Mississippi (50th). 

An in-depth look at crime rates revealed that Louisiana had a slightly worse ranking than New Mexico, ranking 50th, while New Mexico was positioned at 49th. Moreover, New Mexico trailed behind at 46th place when considering the percentage of the population aged 25 and older with a high school diploma.

Conversely, according to the study’s findings, Montana and Vermont emerged as leaders in this category, with Massachusetts securing the top spot as the best state to reside in. 

Despite its 44th rank in affordability, Massachusetts excelled in other areas, boasting an 11th-place standing in the economy category and clinching the top ranks for education and health, quality of life, and safety.

The study’s comprehensive assessment underscores the diverse landscape of the U.S., revealing variations in key aspects of residents’ lives across states. While New Mexico faces challenges in education, health, safety, and poverty rates, the findings emphasize the need for strategic measures to uplift the state’s standing. 

Meanwhile, Massachusetts’ overall top-ranking status showcases the importance of a holistic approach to governance and policy-making to enhance its citizens’ well-being across multiple dimensions.

NM taxpayers’ return on investment revealed in new report

New study shows how NM ranks against all other states Read More »

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