MLG proposes massive $7.3B budget, Dem legislators pre-file radical legislation

On Monday, Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham’s Department of Finance and Administration released the Governor’s executive budget, which seeks to spend $7.3 billion, an increase of 3.3%. 

“The pandemic and economic uncertainty may have disrupted our forward momentum in job creation, child wellbeing improvements, and various other policy emphasis areas, but we are ready to bounce back quickly and robustly. This budget recommendation is our first step to position New Mexico to prosper in a post-pandemic world,” said the Governor.

Here’s the Governor’s proposed spend: 

• $475M for additional pandemic relief for New Mexico.
• $893.1M in total fund money for behavioral health support across all state agencies.
• $193M for the continued rollout of early childhood education and care investments.
• $5.1M for youth, adolescent, and young adult suicide prevention.
• $151.2M to maintain K-5 Plus, Extended Learning Time (ELTP) & Career Technical Education and Community School Programs.
• $26M to continue on the promise for tuition-free education at one of New Mexico’s public colleges, including
• $4M for a pilot program for students that lost the lottery scholarship.
• $25M to restore and revitalize the tourism economy.
• $10M from the General Fund for broadband expansion across New Mexico, which should be bolstered by significant funding from capital outlay.
• $4.5M for investments in cybersecurity for state agencies and public education institutions.
• $2M for innovative grid modernization projects.
• $6M for the Secretary of State to fund local elections.

NOTE: No further details from the Governor’s office were provided.

Also, Democrats in the New Mexico House and Senate are already preparing radical legislation, including an anti-life physician-assisted suicide bill that includes some horrifying language. The bill, sponsored by far-left friend of Gov. Lujan Grisham Rep. Deborah Armstrong (D-Bernalillo) and Senators Liz Stefanics (D-Santa Fe) and Bill O’Neill (D-Bernalillo) proposes a signed document where an individual requesting to have a medical professional help them kill themselves acknowledging the following:

“I understand the full import of this request, and I expect to die if I self-administer the medical aid in dying medication prescribed. I further understand that although most deaths occur within three hours, my death may take longer.” 

Another bill sponsored by Majority Leader Sheryl Williams Stapleton (D-Bernalillo) and Rep. Patricia Roybal Caballero (D-Bernalillo) proposes “non-discrimination” in public schools over certain types of hair and headdresses, but not all. The bill outlines the “protected” styles below:

As used in this section: (1) “cultural headdresses” includes burkas, head wraps or other headdresses used as part of an individual’s personal cultural beliefs; (2) “protective hairstyles” includes such hairstyles as braids, locs, twists, tight coils or curls, cornrows, bantu knots, afros, weaves, wigs or head wraps; and (3) “race” includes traits historically associated with race, including hair texture, length of hair, protective hairstyles or cultural headdresses.”

A bill sponsored by Rep. Dayan Hochman-Vigil (D-Bernalillo) proposes changes to the state’s definitions of what “domestic terrorism” is. A concerning section of the legislation appears to say any firearms teacher may be charged with a third-degree felony if someone they taught may at any time use the weapon for the bill’s definition of “terrorism.” 

Any person who teaches or demonstrates the use, application or making of any firearm, destructive device or technique capable of causing injury or death to any person with the intent that the knowledge or skill taught, demonstrated or gained be unlawfully used to commit terrorism as defined in Subsection C of this section in furtherance of a civil disorder is guilty of a third degree felony

Any person who trains, practices or receives instruction in the use of any firearm, destructive device or technique capable of causing injury or death to any person with the intent that the knowledge or skill taught, demonstrated or gained be unlawfully used to commit terrorism as defined in Subsection C of this section in furtherance of a civil disorder is guilty of a [fourth] third degree felony

The narrow definition may endanger gun stores, ranges, and firearms instructors, as they may be accused of being an accomplice to domestic terrorism, even if they are not.

The bill also redefines terrorism, as follows:

Terrorism consists of committing any act that causes great bodily harm or death with the intent to: (1) intimidate or coerce a civilian population, including committing mass violence in a place of worship or public accommodation; (2) influence the policy of a state entity or political subdivision of the state; or (3) affect the conduct of a state entity, political subdivision of the state or public accommodation by mass destruction, assassination, kidnapping or an act of violence enumerated as a serious violent offense in Section 33-2-34 NMSA 1978. Whoever commits terrorism is guilty of a second degree felony.

The bill also bars the public from filing an Inspection of Public Records Act (IPRA) request on more information relating to “terrorism.” 

The following information is not subject to inspection pursuant to the Inspection of Public Records Act: (1) information a state entity receives regarding cyberterrorism, terroristic threats, terrorist acts or any other information prohibited by the Antiterrorism Act; (2) notice sent from the state entity to the New Mexico all source intelligence center regarding cyberterrorism, terroristic threats, terrorist acts or any other information prohibited by the Antiterrorism Act; and (3) information that the New Mexico all source intelligence center, other state entities and any political subdivision of the state receives from federal entities regarding the detection and prevention of cyberterrorism, terrorism and terroristic threats, terrorist acts or any other information prohibited by the Antiterrorism Act.”

Another bill proposed by far-left Rep. Angelica Rubio (D-Las Cruces) looks to force private businesses, already suffering through Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham’s lockdowns, to pay their employees one hour of “paid sick leave” for every thirty hours worked. This means that if a worker works 40 hours per week for a year (52 weeks), they would have accrued 69.3 hours each year of “paid sick leave,” which all New Mexico employers would be forced to pay. The act, does, however, limit that number to 50 hours per year of accrued sick leave hours. 

Rubio is known for belittlign her constituents and saying, “Who said the shut down was only supposed to be temporary?”

These legislative proposals by House and Senate Democrats are not a definitive list for the 2021 Legislative Session, however, there is sure to be a fight ahead between Democrats and Republicans on this legislation. Abortion up-to-birth and legalization of recreational marijuana bills are expected to be proposed, per the Governor. All bills proposed so far can be found on NMLegis.gov.

This upcoming legislative session will be 100% virtual, per House Speaker Brian Egolf (D-Santa Fe), meaning the public is barred from attending in-person, and technology will be 100% utilized.