Politics

Colorado gov. signs bill banning women’s choice to stop chemical abortion

A new law signed by Democrat Colorado Gov. Jared Polis, S.B. 23-190, bans women from accessing abortion pill reversal if the mother chooses to terminate a chemical abortion.

The medication progesterone, taken within 72 hours of the first abortion pill, mifepristone, is effective in reversing the abortion pill’s effects, allowing the mother to save her child’s life. Heartbeat International, which runs the Abortion Pill Reversal Network, says it has confirmed that over 4,000 babies have been born since 2013 2013 after women underwent the reversal process.

Now, the Democrat-controlled Colorado is ripping away this choice for women by banning access to progesterone to counteract the abortion pill.

A summary of the bill indicates, “A health-care provider engages in unprofessional conduct or is subject to discipline in this state if the health-care provider provides, prescribes, administers, or attempts medication abortion reversal in this state, unless the Colorado medical board, the state board of pharmacy, and the state board of nursing, in consultation with each other, each have in effect rules finding that it is a generally accepted standard of practice to engage in medication abortion reversal.”

According to a report by PBS, “The bill also limits advertising by pregnancy resource centers, which do not offer abortions; rather, they are known to try to talk people out of getting an abortion.”

“Abortion pill reversal (APR) offered me a second chance at choice after starting and regretting a chemical abortion in early 2013. Because of the help I received, my son was one of the first of over 4,500 babies saved and born perfectly healthy because of the progesterone reversal-treatment,” said Rebekah Hagan, the research education coordinator for the Vitae Foundation. 

“I am deeply saddened and concerned by S.B. 23-190, which seeks to eliminate a woman`s choice to reverse her abortion by banning the practice of APR. Without this much-needed help as an option, women will be forced to complete abortions they no longer want to complete, and children who have the potential to be saved will now perish,” she added.

Democrats passed the bill using the pretext of a 2019 study by Mitchell D. Creinin, which attempted to disprove the efficacy of abortion pill reversal via progesterone. However, the researchers had to halt the study after too many women hemorrhaged and ended up in the emergency room. 

Dr. Creinin incorrectly attributed this effect to progesterone and deemed the reversal process unsafe. In reality, only one woman from the reversal group went to the emergency room and did not need emergency treatment. Several women from the control group (the group that only took the abortion pill and did not have the reversal treatment) needed blood transfusions and a dilation and curettage (D and C).  Creinin’s study proved that the abortion reversal process is 80% effective and that the abortion pill, mifepristone, is dangerous. 

Colorado now awaits word from the Colorado Medical Board regarding its results on abortion pill reversal in the state. 

Colorado gov. signs bill banning women’s choice to stop chemical abortion Read More »

Will Rep. Vasquez vote to avert border catastrophe by extending Title 42?

First-term U.S. Rep. Gabe Vasquez of New Mexico’s Second Congressional District represents one of the two swing districts held by Democrats that include swaths of the southern border. The other vulnerable Democrat is Rep. Vicente Gonzales of Texas. 

Since Joe Biden took office, over six million illegal immigrants have flooded into the United States. Some of the immigration catastrophe has been averted due to Title 42, which was implemented first during the Trump administration, which grants removals by the U.S. government of persons who have recently been in a country where a communicable disease was present. However, Title 42 is set to expire on May 11, 2023.

Recently in El Paso, TX — just 46 miles from the Second District — over 1,000 migrants rushed the Paso Del Norte bridge border entry point.

On Thursday, the U.S. House of Representatives is set to vote on a measure, H.R. 2, to extend the policy that has alleviated some of the border fiasco. 

According to Axios, “Months of work” on the GOP package have resulted in “the strongest border security package that Congress has ever taken up,” said Majority Leader Steve Scalise (R-LA).

“The bill also includes money to improve technology for border security and additional border personnel,” reported the outlet.

“The crisis at the border is unfolding in these vulnerable Democrats’ backyards. They can either vote with their extreme party leadership or do something to alleviate the pain for their constituents – and we will be watching closely whose side they choose,” wrote National Republican Congressional Committee spokeswoman Delanie Bomar in a statement to the Piñon Post

Vasquez is one of the most vulnerable House Democrats up in 2024, with the NRCC putting his seat on the shortlist of congressional districts being targeted in Next November’s election. Former Congresswoman Yvette Herrell, who held the seat between 2021 to 2023, is running again for the seat with national figures, including Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-CA), who was in Las Cruces for her election kickoff. 

Will Rep. Vasquez vote to avert border catastrophe by extending Title 42? Read More »

Unions demand UNM wage hike despite just getting raises

The University of New Mexico teacher’s union, “United Academics” of UNM, along with the American Federation of Teachers (AFT) New Mexico, are picketing on Wednesday from noon to 1:00 p.m. at the university for higher wages despite just being given a six percent raise bump.

But the raise was not enough for the militant unions, which are now demanding a “living wage” and scoffing at the six percent raise as not “real.”

AFT New Mexico wrote, “Are you fired up about the fight for a living wage? It’s time to make your voice heard! Join @UA_UNM for a Living Wage Rally to show we won’t stand for low wages! Together, let’s show our strength and commitment.”

A signup sheet for the picket claims, “Thousands of UNM employees, including hospital workers, faculty, graduate workers, facilities workers, and staff, struggle to make ends meet every day living on wages that often fall below the federal poverty line. The UNM Regents need to ensure that staff and educators (who are bringing up the next generation of New Mexicans, producing research advancements, and ensuring our university’s day-to-day functions) are paid a dignified wage!” 

In July 2022, UNM raised its minimum hourly wage for staff employees increased to $15. The average salary estimate for a UNM employee is around $21.29 per hour or $44,277 annually, according to data from August 2022.

The university’s guiding principles regarding salaries state that “[q]uantifiable, objective measures are used to evaluate the success of the University’s Compensation program over time.” The program notes some key factors in its pay adjustments include rewarding “individual excellence and promote employee growth and development” and promoting “fair and equitable compensation of its staff employees at all organizational levels.” 

The minimum wage of $15 an hour and competitive salaries for UNM workers aren’t enough to appease the unions, which are now moving the goalposts for a “living wage.” The unions have not said what salary number they are looking for to achieve the so-called living wage. 

According to MIT’s living wage calculator, for a single adult in Albuquerque, New Mexico, one would be making $15.97. The $15 minimum wage plus a six percent increase, as set by UNM, essentially matches this figure. However, it appears the unions want an even higher salary than a “living wage.”

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Eco-leftists take out full-page ABQ Journal ad to attack Gov. Lujan Grisham

On Sunday, a full-page ad funded by multiple aco-left groups appeared in the state’s largest newspaper, the Albuquerque Journal, and the Santa Fe New Mexican and the Las Cruces Sun-News blasting Democrat Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham.

The group angered over the governor’s veto of electric vehicle tax cuts, claimed the Democrat made “empty promises” on “climate change.”

The ad, paid for by the Western Environmental Law Center (WELC), was co-signed by a mirage of different “climate change” groups, including 350NM, the Center for Biological Diversity, ProgressNow New Mexico, the Sierra Club’s Rio Grande Chapter, WildEarth Guardians, among others. 

WELC wrote on Twitter, “After stymieing #ClimateAction for two consecutive #NMLeg sessions, we call on @GovMLG & #nmpol to #ActOnClimate,” adding, “The climate movement in New Mexico will not relent.”

ProgressNow New Mexico chimed in, “We hope @GovMLG takes her role on [the U.S. Climate Alliance] seriously and leads with a commitment to #ActOnClimate that she has shown in the past. There’s no time to waste,” referring to the group Lujan Grisham was recently appointed to serve. 

The outcry comes after the far-left Democrat governor signed 2019’s Energy Transition Act, which is the state’s version of the extreme socialist Green New Deal. Apparently, the groups are not happy with these extreme steps to harm the oil, gas, and coal industries, wanting even more New Mexico energy jobs to be stricken by the pen of Gov. Lujan Grisham.

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Former New Mexico state Senator Dow passes away

On Saturday, it was reported that former New Mexico Sen. R. Leo Dow, a Republican, passed away at the age of 96. 

According to his obituary, “Leo was born in 1926 in Chilili, New Mexico and worked hard his entire life. He started building barns and cuartito’s in his teens, and served in the U.S. Army, during WWII. He was very proud of his military service and that people everywhere thanked him for it until the day he passed. After the war ended, he returned home, purchased a truck and hauled wheat, beans, potatoes and vigas throughout the Southwest.”

“Certainly, a steadfast entrepreneur from 1950 to 1990, he was elected to public office by age 40 serving as NM State Senator from 1967-1976 for District 32 (became District 10).”

Dow introduced Pete V. Domenici “to every corner of New Mexico in the early 1970’s. Leo and Pete were good friends from early years of baseball and produce deliveries,” according to the write-up.

After serving two terms in the state Senate, Dow ran as former Congressman Joe Skeen’s lieutenant governor running mate, losing the race by one percent. 

He “proudly knew, met, or shook hands with seven U.S. Presidents, and summed a lot up with a handshake,” the obituary added. 

Celebration of Life services will be held on Friday, May 12, 2023, and are arranged through Gabaldon Mortuary at Our Lady of Guadalupe Church (1860 Griegos Rd. NW, Albuquerque, NM 87107) with a public viewing at 10:00 a.m., Rosary at 10:30 a.m., Mass at 11:00 a.m., and internment at Mt. Calvary Cemetery (1900 Edith Blvd. NE, 87102) at 12:30 p.m.

Former New Mexico state Senator Dow passes away Read More »

Open government group urges CYFD to obey Open Meetings Act

On Thursday, the New Mexico Children, Youth, and Families Department held a policy advisory council meeting/press conference where it announced that its meetings would be closed to the public.

“Sunlight is the best disinfectant – words from the late U.S. Supreme Court Justice Louis Brandeis that still ring true today – except it seems for a special council formed by Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham to address the dysfunctional Children Youth and Families Department,” wrote the New Mexico Foundation for Open Government (NMFOG). 

“The New Mexico Foundation for Open Government (FOG) strongly urges the committee to reconsider and adopt a resolution opening all the meetings, and we know from experience it can be done,” the group wrote. 

“As the goal of the CYFD committee is to make recommendations to generally improve the safety and well-being of children in the care of the child protective services system, FOG believes any attempt to engage in a public decision-making process without including the public is a violation of the public’s trust. It is basically a question of accountability and being transparent – something CYFD is sorely lacking,” it continued, noting that The New Mexico Open Meetings Act (OMA) “is dependent upon an informed electorate for the benefit of all New Mexicans.” 

Others criticized the futility of the meeting itself, with Rep. Stefani Lord (R-Sandia Park) writing, “No solutions to stop our vulnerable children from being neglected, raped, abused, tortured, and killed at this CYFD meeting.  They will think about ideas to recruit and retain workers and foster care parents and meet again in a month. ZERO urgency to save these children right now! These kids don’t have time for roundtables and discussions. I presented over a dozen bills to fix things immediately, and [Gov. Lujan Grisham] had them all pushed aside and promoted these talking heads.” 

Although the governor-appointed board claims to be working on solutions, many are asking for more urgency in attempts to reform the broken Department. Gov. Lujan Grisham has refused to call a special session to fix issues with CYFD, despite in previous years calling special sessions for much less pertinent issues, such as legalizing recreational marijuana sales in the state.

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See how New Mexicans are reacting to Heinrich announcing 2024 reelection bid

Democrat U.S. Senator Martin Heinrich just announced his reelection campaign for another term, claiming he’s “all in for re-election in 2024. In his campaign video, he touted his work to push for climate change policies and to take away Americans’ Second Amendment rights. 

Here are some of the best reactions to Heinrich’s announcement:

Power The Future’s communications director, Larry Behrens, wrote in response to Heinrich’s announcement, “Since his first day in the Senate, Martin Heinrich continues to be ‘all in’ on whatever Chuck Schumer demands. Martin Heinrich is squarely in the pocket of the environmental left and all he’s helped deliver to our families are record gas prices and massive inflation. New Mexicans deserve a real leader who listens to our state and not another empty suit who does the bidding of his partisan allies in Washington.”

Many were quick to point out that Heinrich lives in Maryland — not New Mexico — as a primary residence. He has been living there for ten years.

“​​But he does not even live in New Mexico. New Mexico stop voting for this,” one person wrote.

Another chimed in, “You ‘work’ for NM? Then why do you and you family live in Maryland full time?? Been living there for years already.” 

“You actually don’t work for New Mexico. You don’t even live here. You work for whatever you’re told to work for by your corporate & party overlords,” one Twitter user wrote

Far-left U.S. Rep. Gabe Vasquez of New Mexico’s Second Congressional District quickly jumped on the bandwagon to endorse Heinrich. However, he remains the only member of New Mexico’s fully Democrat congressional delegation not to endorse Joe Biden for the presidency in 2024.

The National Congressional Campaign Committee’s spokeswoman Delanie Bomar wrote, “Between the porous southern border, surging crime, and skyrocketing inflation, the Biden presidency has been an abject disaster for New Mexicans. Gabe Vasquez has rubber stamped the Biden agenda in Congress, so why is he so afraid to endorse Biden for re-election?”

Other replies noted Heinirch’s far-left actions and votes in office, which turned them off from supporting his reelection. 

“As a lifelong democrat I must say that your recent actions and votes disgust me! I’ll be voting Republican for the first time this year and I know millions of other former democrats who will do the same,” wrote a Twitter user.

Finally, the Republican National Hispanic Assembly of New Mexico wrote, “You’re a clown Marty and you’re not going to win. We have a very special candidate for you. He’s been in office before. Enjoy your short time left.” 

See how New Mexicans are reacting to Heinrich announcing 2024 reelection bid Read More »

Cycling governing body defends letting biological men compete against women

After backlash following Austin Killips becoming the first transgender athlete to win an official Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI) race at the Tour of the Gila in New Mexico on Sunday, the cycling governing body doubled down on allowing biological men to compete in women’s sports. 

Former Olympian Inga Thompson said the decision to let Killips compete was “effectively killing off women’s cycling.” 

From left: Shayna Powless (DNA Pro Cycling), Austin Killips (Amy D Foundation), Nadia Gontova (Roxo Racing). Via Tour of the Gila: https://tourofthegila.com/2023-tour-of-the-gila-concludes-uci-women-press-release-stage-5/

Former British Olympic swimmer Sharron Davies told the Daily Mail, “This is beyond disappointing. Those in charge should hang their heads in shame. The UCI is not fit for purpose.”

Retired Canadian world champion cyclist Alison Sydor tweeted, “The current UCI rules that allow males to compete in female cycling events are not fair to female athletes.” 

‘Time for UCI to admit this current rule situation is unsustainable and leaving a black mark on cycling as a fair sport for females.’

In a statement Tuesday, the group wrote, “The UCI acknowledges that transgender athletes may wish to compete in accordance with their gender identity.”

“The UCI rules are based on the latest scientific knowledge and have been applied in a consistent manner. The UCI continues to follow the evolution of scientific findings and may change its rules in the future as scientific knowledge evolves.”

Last December, Killips faced criticism after he finished third at the USA’s National Cyclocross Championships, where he was also accused of pushing another competitor off course.

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NM continues to hold record for third-highest poverty rate in U.S.

According to the U.S. Census Bureau’s American Community Survey data, New Mexico has the third-highest poverty rate. The state has held this same abysmal record for three years in a row now.

“The figures were included in the March edition of the New Mexico Labor Market Review published by the New Mexico Department of Workforce Solutions. The state’s average of 18.4% in 2021, the latest year for which data were available, was better only than that of Louisiana (19.6%) and Mississippi (19.4%). The national poverty rate was 12.8%, while New Hampshire had the lowest rate in the country at 7.2%,” the Farmington Daily Times reported

As for children living in poverty, New Mexico had the third-highest poverty rate (23.9 percent) in the entire country for those younger than 18 years of age. 

“The state was third in 2020 with a poverty rate of 16.8%, third in 2019 with a rate of 18.2%, second in 2018 with a rate of 19.5% and tied for second in 2017 at 19.7%,” the report notes. 

For those 65 years of age and older, New Mexico also tops the nation, with a rate of 12.8 percent being bested only by Louisiana and Mississippi.

McKinley County has the highest poverty rate, at 30.3 percent. The second, third, and fourth-highest poverty rates were those of Luna (27.6%), Chavez (27.6%), and Sierra counties (26.7 percent).

NM continues to hold record for third-highest poverty rate in U.S. Read More »

After Haaland scorns Navajo Nation, council rejects Chaco Canyon buffer plan

The 25th Navajo Nation Council voted to reject a plan by the U.S. Department of the Interior led by Secretary Deb Haaland, a former New Mexico congresswoman, that would withdraw 351,000 acres of land around Chaco Canyon, pushing Navajo property owners (allottees) into “greater poverty,” a “contradiction of her professed concern for environmental and economic justice for Native American communities,” according to the Western Energy Alliance (WEA).

The Council wrote, “If the buffer zone is adopted, the Navajo allottees who rely on the income realized from oil and natural gas royalties will be pushed into greater poverty.” It stressed the “detrimental impact to Navajo Nation allottees by preventing the development of new oil and gas resources on allotments as a result of the allotments being landlocked,” exposing the fallacy from DOI that the withdrawal will not impact Navajo lands. 

The U.S. Department of the Interior’s (DOI) plan to withdraw 351,000 acres from oil and natural gas leasing would cost Navajo members with allotted property rights an estimated $194 million over the next 20 years. The group notes, “The Navajo Nation withdrew its previous five-mile buffer resolution after DOI failed to even consider the tribe’s compromise alternative to a proposed ten-mile buffer.” 

WEA president Kathleen Sgamma said, “Sec. Haaland and Interior Department officials have grossly mismanaged the land withdrawal process since first announcing it in 2021. They have failed to hold adequate tribal consultations and listen to the voices of the Navajo Nation in the immediate vicinity of Chaco while giving preference to Sec. Haaland’s and related Puebloan tribes hundreds of miles away. Interior has exhibited a lack of environmental justice as they work internally to advance this ill-conceived proposal.”

“Recent congressional testimony by Sec. Haaland displayed her lack of understanding of the massive cost to a disadvantaged Native American community. She was unable to answer questions about the costs of foregone oil and natural gas royalties to tribal members. And despite her claims that the energy rights of Navajos would be protected she was unable to guarantee access to those minerals. What good are rights if Interior isolates your lands and you can’t access your resources?”

Sec. Haaland also has several conflicts of interest when it comes to plans to create a buffer around Chaco Canyon. “In a recent letter to lawmakers in Congress, the Alliance pointed out the secretary’s deep connections to a climate activist group in New Mexico lobbying the agency on the withdrawal. Sec. Haaland’s daughter works for the Pueblo Action Alliance, an organization that helped coordinate a violent anti-oil-and-gas protest at Interior headquarters and has aggressively lobbied DOI and Congress to advance the Chaco withdrawal,” WEA concluded.

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