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

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.