On Monday, the House Elections, House Elections, Government, and Indian Affairs Committee advanced S.B. 6, a 246-page elections bill that many New Mexicans had concerns over regarding definitions of “citizen,” among other issues. The Committee voted 8-1 to approve the bill, with Rep. Daymon Ely (D-Corrales) voting against it.
In the House Taxation and Revenue Committee, legislators struck down H.B. 48 and H.B. 49, which would exempt New Mexico from double-taxing Social Security checks. Rep. Jason Harper (R-Sandoval) bashed the bill, claiming its “supporters don’t understand the numbers.”
Appointed Rep. Pamelya Herndon (D-Bernalillo) erroneously claimed Texas was not benefitting from more retirees because of their policy not to tax income, whatsoever. She also claimed in places like Arizona, they are suffering from a lack of funds for schools because she said senior citizens don’t care about funding schools since they don’t have young children.
Rep. Moe Maestas (D-Bernalillo) piled on, saying, “I don’t want to blow the top just because it may make us more attractive to retirees in Wisconsin or Michigan, wherever they may be.” He also said those people who testified in support of H.B. 48 and H.B. 49 are “not credible” because they would “support tax cuts of any type.” He then made a motion to permanently table the bills, with no Republicans opposing his motion. This marks the likely death of these bills, with only days to go in the Legislature. There is simply not enough time to get them through the Committee and ultimately over to the Senate before adjournment.
In The Senate Judiciary Committee, Chairman Joseph Cervantes (D-Doña Ana) gagged public comment on the far-left pro-election fraud S.B. 8, despite people, including the Piñon Post’s John Block, signing up in advance to testify. Only two individuals who physically showed up to the meeting were allowed to testify against the radical bill.
Cervantes repeatedly shushed other senators who asked questions, including Senate Rules Chairman Daniel Ivey-Soto (D-Bernalillo). Cervantes claimed, “I’m running this committee my way.” The Committee ultimately passed a Judiciary Committee substitute for the bill which stripped it of automatic voter registration, although unsecured drop boxes, straight-ticket voting, and other corrosive measures remain in the radical bill. No GOP senators cared to go into a lengthy debate over the provisions of the bill and it quickly passed by a vote of 6-3. It now will go over to the Senate Finance Committee.
The House Commerce and Economic Development considered Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham’s resurrected “zombie” hydrogen energy bill sponsored by Rep. Patricia Lundstrom (D-McKinley) after the bill previously died with bipartisan opposition. Chairman Maestas took 30 minutes of public comment on either side before adjourning the Committee before members could debate the bill. It will likely be back in committee on Friday.
Bills to watch for on Thursday:
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.
This bill will be heard at 1:30 p.m. or 15 minutes after the floor session in the HOUSE CONSUMER & PUBLIC AFFAIRS COMMITTEE. The Zoom details are below:
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. 15, TRIBAL GROSS RECEIPTS RATES, by Rep. Georgene Louis (D-Bernalillo)
This commonsense bill will “require tribal gross receipts taxes be equal to or higher, instead of equal to or lower, than the rates of towns they border in order to receive a 75% tax credit against gross receipts tax due to the state,” according to the Rio Grande Foundation.
It will be considered on Thursday at 9:30 a.m. in the Senate INDIAN, RURAL AND CULTURAL AFFAIRS COMMITTEE. Zoom details are below:For public participation, click on the following link https://us02web.zoom.us/j/87300724547 to join the Webinar or via telephone 1-669-900-9128 Webinar ID: 873 0072 4547
Although there are not many hot-button bills being heard in committees, some will be heard on the House and Senate floors. Find the House calendar here. Find the Senate calendar here. Many Democrat bills are being considered for “third reading,” meaning final passage on the House floor. Each bill has three hours of debate. Republican House members would be wise to debate the full three hours for each to stall the Democrats’ radical agenda. It is unclear if they will.
I thought I did not sign up correctly to publicly comment on SB 8 but now I understand why I couldn’t comment. They did not allow public comments!! This is incredibly scary the grip the democrats have on our political process.