Daniel Ivey-Soto

Dem donor launches ‘smear campaign’ against Dem state senator

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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 senator reports fellow Dem to FBI over alleged extortion attempt

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State senator Daniel Ivey-Soto (D-Bernalillo) has reported a fellow Democrat, Senate Pro Tem Mimi Stewart (D-Bernalillo) to the Federal Bureau of Investigation over an alleged extortion attempt, according to the Santa Fe New Mexican. Ivey-Soto has faced a barrage of attacks from Stewart and leftist organizations claiming he has sexually harassed women — claims he has denied. 

The report notes, “Sen. Daniel Ivey-Soto said an unidentified third party delivered a message to him from Stewart the day prior: Resign as chairman of the Senate Rules Committee and Stewart would make sure a confidential report that revealed new allegations against Ivey-Soto wouldn’t get leaked.”

“But if I did not agree to resign, then the report would be leaked,” he said to the New Mexican. “That is the very definition of extortion, and that is the reason why I reported that to the FBI at 3:30 [Thursday] afternoon, which was prior to [the report] being released.”

“The message was delivered through a third party, so there’s a witness to the communication,” said Ivey-Soto, adding, “I did inform the FBI who the third party was.”

Ivey-Soto says he “felt the need to contact the FBI because threatening an elected official is unlawful and threatening an elected official to take an official action [resign from a legislative committee] falls under public corruption. I took that very seriously.”

When the third party delivered the message that Ivey-Soto declined to be extorted, Steward leaked the report, as she allegedly threatened. 

The complaint filed over the sexual assault allegations was suspended according to Ivey-Soto, who said, “Last week my attorney was informed that the current matter before the [committee] regarding the complaint is indefinitely suspended, with no further action to be taken.”

Some of the sexual accusers are former Michelle Lujan Grisham staffers and have previously made bogus sexual assault claims, including that of lobbyist Marianna Anaya.

As we previously reported on Anaya:

Anaya is a far-left activist who supported now-Gov. Lujan Grisham’s failed pro-voter fraud bill, S.B. 8 and S.B. 144, that would have instituted widespread voter suppression and election corruption, is now apparently bringing forth the claim after she didn’t get what she wanted — stolen New Mexico elections.

“You deliberately prevented the bill from receiving a timely hearing, knowing that such delays were an effective death sentence for any piece of important legislation during a short session,” Anaya claimed.

Anaya further claimed that at a recent dinner before the voting bill was considered, Ivey-Soto became “aggressive,” while at dinner where she said she confronted him over said accusations. She claims he “put the breaks” on the bill Senate Rules Committee, which he chairs, because of her.

She wrote, “The way that the bill was slow-pedaled by Sen. Ivey-Soto after this confrontation in his capacity as Rules chair had the indicia of retaliation.”

Anaya hired the same lawyer, Levi Monagle, who participated in the slander of former state Rep. Carl Trujillo (D-Santa Fe), which led to Trujillo losing his seat in 2018. Trujillo’s case happened in tandem with Planned Parenthood lobbyist Juliana Koob, whose dark money organization she represents spread the false accusations against Trujillo.

Ex-MLG aide claims groping by senator but was mum on MLG sex assault settlements
Soros dark money groups demand investigation into Sen. Ivey-Soto

Dems continue eating fellow Dem alive

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Democrats continue their onslaught against their fellow Democrat, state Sen. Daniel Ivey-Soto (D-Bernalillo), over accusations of sexual harassment to a former Michelle Lujan Grisham staffer, Marianna Anaya, who has made false sexual assault accusations before.

Around 25 dark money far-left groups, including OLÉ, the Center for Civic Policy, Equality New Mexico, New Mexicans to Prevent Gun Violence, New Mexico Native Voters, the New Mexico Working Families Party, Planned Parenthood of the Rocky Mountains, ProgressNow New Mexico, Emerge New Mexico and the New Mexico Religious Coalition for Reproductive Choice, all signed a letter demanding the Democrat be stripped of his interim committee assignments.

“We understand that the internal investigation, begun in March, has now been completed by an outside attorney and referred to the legislative subcommittee charged with making a determination on whether there is adequate evidence to [take] action on the multiple charges made against Ivey-Soto,” the groups wrote in a letter, according to the Santa Fe New Mexican.

They claim some of his accusers are appearing before the same committees “on which Ivey-Soto sits. As a committee member, he has the power to cross examine, embarrass, and even intimidate the very same advocates who have accused him of harassment. He can also influence the outcome of the bills brought by these women.”

Ivey-Soto told the New Mexican, “Certainly, if I were acting in any manner in these interim committee meetings that would be deemed as retaliatory or otherwise unprofessional, singling out people who have filed a complaint, I think at that point it would be cause for leadership to take action.”

Senate Pro-Tempore Mimi Steward (D-Bernalillo), who has animosity toward Ivey-Soto, reportedly said, “The subcommittee work is not yet completed and until it is we must follow the procedures, confidentiality and due process required by policy.”

“The subcommittee leads this process, not outside [counsel] or leadership, and they must be afforded the time to gather all the information they need before any decisions or further action related to this matter will be made,” she added. “I respect the concerns of the advocates and will take them into consideration at the appropriate time.”

The interparty fighting with Democrats comes as the November 8 election will decide the governorship and the fate of the state House of Representatives, where Republicans have a shot at flipping the chamber and reclaiming the Governor’s Mansion.

Despite the cries about supposed sexual assault by Ivey-Soto, these so-called “advocates” have been radio silent on Democrat Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham paying off a former staffer, James Hallinan, $150,000 over claims the governor poured water over his crotch and then groped him.

Soros orgs that were mum on MLG groping scandal now demand Dem senator resign

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On Monday, far-left dark money groups, including some funded by billionaire George Soros, demanded that state Sen. Daniel Ivey-Soto resign amid new supposed “allegations” from lobbyists where he is accused of raising his voice at women. Another allegation that just came to fruition was one from the 1990s where a former alleged college classmate claimed he pinned her to a wall.

The move comes as a far-left proponent of Democrats’ pro-voter fraud measures in the 2022 Legislative Session, Marianna Anaya, filed a complaint against Ivey-Soto for inappropriate behavior, which the senator denied. She claims Ivey-Soto slow-walked the pro-voter fraud bill to get back at her. 

The new allegations accuse Ivey-Soto of referring to one lobbyist, Heather Ferguson of Common Cause New Mexico, as “Lips and Hips.” New Mexicans to Prevent Gun Violence lobbyist Miranda Viscoli claimed the senator once screamed and cursed at her.

One allegation comes from Carmen López, who worked at the Thornberg Foundation. She doesn’t remember when Ivey-Soto allegedly raised his voice at her sometime between 2014 and 2018.

“Gayle Krueger, then a University of New Mexico staff member, said Ivey-Soto in the 1990s pressed her against a wall and screamed in her face. He was a student at the time, she said, and had been elected chair of a graduate student government organization,” reported the Albuquerque Journal.

The dark money groups demanding Ivey-Soto resign include “Common Cause, OLE-Organizers in the Land of Enchantment, Equality New Mexico, New Mexicans to Prevent Gun Violence, NM Native Vote and the Center for Civic Policy,” the Journal report noted.

It should be noted that not a single one of these organizations spoke out against multiple men accusing Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham, who has been endorsed by many of these groups, of sexual assault. Lujan Grisham paid out $150,000 to one alleged victim, James Hallinan, for claims she poured water over his pants and then groped his penis at an event held at state Rep. Deborah Armstrong’s house.

Now, these dark money groups, who have a political goal by attempting to oust Ivey Soto, suddenly care about sexual assault allegations when it appears to line up in ther best interest — to install a new Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham-appointed senator in his seat.

Soros dark money groups demand investigation into Sen. Ivey-Soto

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After Democrats failed to epic proportions in their attempt at ramming through their pro-voter fraud measures, S.B. 8 and S.B. 144 during the 2022 Legislative Session, dark money George Soros-funded groups dredged up a seven-year-old allegation against state Sen. Daniel Ivey-Soto, who they claim helped kill their attempt to steal future New Mexico elections through fraud.

The usual suspects whined and moaned on Twitter and across the internet, manufacturing outrage to a left-wing lobbyist’s accusation that the senator grabbed her buttocks. The activist who came forward with the accusation just so happened to previously dredge up a false allegation about other politicians, including Democrat Jeff Apodaca who unsuccessfully ran for governor in 2018. 

The accuser, Marianna Anaya, is a former staffer of then-U.S. Rep. Michelle Lujan Grisham (D-NM-01). Anaya hired the same lawyer, Levi Monagle, who participated in the slander of former state Rep. Carl Trujillo (D-Santa Fe), which led to Trujillo losing his seat in 2018. Trujillo’s case happened in tandem with Planned Parenthood lobbyist Juliana Koob, whose dark money organization she represents spread the false accusations against Trujillo.

The allegations from Anaya reek of “political hit-job,” where there could be a potential for this to harm Ivey-Soto in 2024 or annoy him so much that he decides not to run for reelection — both wins for the far-left.

The groups that manufactured outrage include George Soros-funded dark money Equality New Mexico, Common Cause New Mexico, the Center for Civic Policy, Progress Now New Mexico, Olé, Girls Inc., and Animal Protection New Mexico. 

“When one person is denied an investigation, all survivors are denied an investigation,” the dark money groups whined in a statement calling for an inquisition. 

But these same groups not only ignored Democrat Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham paying off a sexual accuser over $150,000 for claims she groped his crotch, but they actively encourage to this very day Lujan Grisham’s activities as governor, despite the disgraced leader’s hush money settlements to alleged victims.

Ex-MLG aide claims groping by senator but was mum on MLG sex assault settlements

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On Tuesday, a supposed accuser, Marianna Anaya, came forward claiming Sen. Daniel Ivey-Soto in 2015 “groped and pinched” her buttocks while at the Drury Plaza Hotel, which Ivey-Soto denies. Anaya is a former staffer of then-U.S. Rep. Michelle Lujan Grisham (D-NM-01).

Anaya is a far-left activist who supported now-Gov. Lujan Grisham’s failed pro-voter fraud bill, S.B. 8 and S.B. 144, that would have instituted widespread voter suppression and election corruption, is now apparently bringing forth the claim after she didn’t get what she wanted — stolen New Mexico elections.

“You deliberately prevented the bill from receiving a timely hearing, knowing that such delays were an effective death sentence for any piece of important legislation during a short session,” Anaya claimed.

Anaya further claimed that at a recent dinner before the voting bill was considered, Ivey-Soto became “aggressive,” while at dinner where she said she confronted him over said accusations. She claims he “put the breaks” on the bill Senate Rules Committee, which he chairs, because of her.

She wrote, “The way that the bill was slow-pedaled by Sen. Ivey-Soto after this confrontation in his capacity as Rules chair had the indicia of retaliation.”

Anaya hired the same lawyer, Levi Monagle, who participated in the slander of former state Rep. Carl Trujillo (D-Santa Fe), which led to Trujillo losing his seat in 2018. Trujillo’s case happened in tandem with Planned Parenthood lobbyist Juliana Koob, whose dark money organization she represents spread the false accusations against Trujillo.

The attack on Sen. Ivey-Soto, whether true or not, comes at a strangely opportunistic time, where he and Senate Pro-Tem Mimi Stewart (D-Bernalillo) have had their squabbles, even during the 2022 Legislative Session, where she repeatedly clapped back at him regarding him allowing public testimony on the elections bill while in his committee. 

Ivey-Soto said in response to the allegation, “I don’t know what happened. I don’t know what the movement was. But I did not reach down and grab her buttocks. I did not reach over and grab any part of her. But I’m not discounting that she has a recollection of that, and that’s why I said I was horrified.” Anaya is calling for Ivey-Soto’s resignation.

It should further be noted that Anaya, being a former staffer of Michelle Lujan Grisham, has not spoken out about the disgraced Governor who paid off $150,000 to a former staffer after he claims Lujan Grisham groped his crotch. Another man has also come forward accusing the chief executive of a similar groping incident. 

But after Anaya’s claim, allis of alleged groper Lujan Grisham descended upon Twitter, writing without evidence, “I see you. I believe you. #nmleg needs to investigate this NOW,” as a far-left dark money organization director for “OLÉ” wrote. It just so happens most of her supposed “support” for her claim comes from those who also supported the failed pro-voter fraud legislation. 

Interestingly, a well-organized group of dark money organizations that lobbied for the pro-voter fraud bill claimed they believed Anaya, writing, “We hold our elected officials to a high standard.” All of these groups were mum on Lujan Grisham’s sexual assault settlements, as well as corruption by former Democrat House Majority Leader Sheryl Williams-Stapleton (D-Bernalillo), who resigned in disgrace.

Legislative update: Pro-election fraud bill stalls, House advances two anti-gun bills

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Friday was busy at the Legislature, with the Senate Rules Committee taking the entire day to consider radical pro-election fraud S.B. 8, while the House Judiciary Committee advanced two anti-gun bills, including H.B. 9 that forces New Mexicans to buy locked containers to lock up their guns and a bill, H.B. 68 making teenagers felons for “brandishing” a firearm. H.B. 9 passed in the committee 7-4 while H.B. 68 passed.

Another bill that was heard on the House floor, H.B. 15, allowed tribal governments to set their own tax rates, which passed with a handful of representatives voting against the bill’s final passage.

S.B. 8 had hundreds of New Mexicans comment in opposition and support, with slightly more in opposition to the radical bill. It would allow 16-year-olds to vote in municipal elections, let absentee ballots be received seven days AFTER an election, let third parties get direct access to the Secretary of State’s voting system, legalize ballot harvesting, allow straight-ticket voting, among other measures to erode the security of New Mexico’s elections.

Those who testified against it included Republican Secretary of State candidate Audrey Trujillo, pro-life activist Elisa Martinez, Piñon Post editor and candidate for the New Mexico House in District 51, John Block, engineer Erin Clements, activist Sara Smith, among others. 

During the public comment period, Senate Pro Tem Mimi Stewart (D-Bernalillo) and Sen. Jerald Ortiz y Pino repeatedly complained about the length of the public’s commentary on the bill. Stewart complained, “I think…if you can end this at this point,” demanding he cut off public comment after a member of the public testified at length about the downsides of the bill. “I don’t believe allowing people to go on for 10 minutes if there are 50 waiting, is a wise decision,” she said. Chairman Daniel Ivey-Soto (D-Bernalillo) denied her request to her ire.

Throughout public comments, Democrat senators, including Ivey-Soto laughed at people testifying against the bill and made snide remarks about their comments. Most, if not all, of the testimony in support of the radical bill, included paid activists from extremist groups such as “New Mexico Dream Team,” “Olé,” and the Sierra Club. 

Many of the supporters of the bill did not speak of specifics of the bill. Rather, they claimed the opposition was racist for not supporting the measure. One commentator said opponents were “fascists” and “white supremacists,” while another said opponents were supporting “Jim Crow” and were spewing “bulls**t.” Another said, “Voting is not solely for the elite and less melanated.”

While the committee amended the bill, Democrat Secretary of State Maggie Toulouse Oliver, who sat to testify on the bill with Democrat Leader Peter Wirth (D-Santa Fe), falsely claimed New Mexico’s elections were secure. “You know, a problem [in an election] is not the same as illegal activity,” she said.

After two one-hour breaks and small fights between Ivey-Soto and Sen. Katy Duhigg (D-Bernalillo), the committee abruptly adjourned at around 7:30  p.m. until Monday. Leader Wirth had attempted to convince Ivey-Soto to adjourn the committee so the Senate could meet to ram through more extreme bills but the chairman declined, postponing the Senate floor session to reconvene at 1:00 p.m. Saturday. 

Key Bills being heard Saturday:

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. 

This bill will be heard in the HOUSE ENERGY, ENVIRONMENT AND NATURAL RESOURCES COMMITTEE on Saturday, February 5, 2022 at 9:00 am – Room 317 – Zoom: 

Please click the link below to join the webinar: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/88679832287 Or One tap mobile : US: +13462487799,,88679832287# or +16699009128,,88679832287# Or Telephone: Dial(for higher quality, dial a number based on your current location): US: +1 346 248 7799 or +1 669 900 9128 or +1 253 215 8782 or +1 312 626 6799 or +1 646 558 8656 or +1 301 715 8592 Webinar ID: 886 7983 2287

Legislative update: Radical anti-gun bill to be heard Tuesday

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It is another week of the 2022 Legislative Session and Democrats ager going full-speed ahead trying to ram through extreme bills left and right.

Here are the bills you need to know about and how you can help stop them:

H.B. 68 “CRIMINAL CODE CHANGES” by Rep. Meredith Dixon (D-Bernalillo)

This radical bill turns law-abiding gun owners into felons if they are carrying a gun within a school zone. According to state Rep. Stefani Lord (R-Sandia Park), “Exceptions are in the car if over age 19” and concealed carry. “However, open carry is LEGAL in NM, but you would now be arrested for a felony if you walked down the sidewalk within 1000 feet of a school zone. If you lived in a school zone, you are now a felon once you walk to your car on the street.”

Other issues with the bill include “school zone” being “defined to mean any public, private or parochial school or property used for school purposes and the area within 1,000 feet of the school property line, but it does not mean a post-secondary school. This bill is unnecessary, overbroad, confusing and sets up legal traps for law-abiding citizens. First, let’s acknowledge that criminals ignore gun-free zones. This bill will impact law-abiding gun owners,” Lord writes.

These bills will be considered on Tuesday in the House Consumer and Public Affairs Committee. To testify, the Zoom details are below: 

When: Jan 25, 2022 01:30 PM Mountain Time (US and Canada) Topic: House Consumer & Public Affairs Committee Please click the link below to join the webinar: 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

S.B. 15 “KN95 MASKS AND EDUCATION” by Sen. Jeff Steinborn (D-Doña Ana)

This radical bill will waste more taxpayer money by shelling out $10 million state dollars to buy “KN95” masks to disseminate across all New Mexico schools, as well as a fund “a robust statewide public education campaign about the importance and proper usage of masks.” 

The wasteful bill will appear in the Senate Health and Public Affairs Committee on Monday, January 24, 2022, at 1:30 or a half-hour after the floor session that day. The hearing will be held in Room 311.

The meeting details are below: 

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/87967039414 or via telephone 1 669 900 9128.  The Webinar ID for SHPAC is 879 6703 9414.

Contact the committee members to advocate against this bill by clicking here. 

S.B. 3 ENHANCING DEATH BENEFITS FOR LAW ENFORCEMENT by Sen. George Muñoz (D-Cibola, McKinley, and San Juan)

This commonsense bill would enhance the death benefits for peace officers, mounted patrol officers, and reserve police officers in New Mexico.

After an officer has been determined to be killed in the line of duty, “[i]n addition to any other death benefits provided by law, the surviving spouse, children or parents shall be paid… one million dollars ($1,000,000) as supplemental death benefits.” 

It appears Muñoz’s bill will also create a new fund called the “peace officers’, New Mexico mounted patrol members’ and reserve police officers’ survivors fund” that will reserve ten percent of “all money received for fees, licenses and penalties from life, general casualty and title insurance business pursuant to the New Mexico Insurance Code” to be paid monthly to the state treasurer and credited to the fund. It is to never have less than $1 million in the fund at all times. 

It will also be heard in the Senate Health and Public Affairs on Monday at 1:30 p.m. or following the floor session that day.

S.J.R. 8 “SALARIES FOR PUBLIC OFFICIALS” by Sen. Daniel Ivey-Soto (D-Bernalillo)

This bill would attempt to change the New Mexico Constitution to give authority to the Democrat-controlled State Ethics Commission to “review and establish the salaries of all elected state officers every two years.”

This legislation could open the door to sweeping increases in raises for elected officials in New Mexico, as well as bestow even more authority to the Democrat-controlled Supreme Court: 

“When necessary, the chief justice of the supreme court may designate any justice of the supreme court, or any district judge of the state, to act as a judge of the court of appeals, and the chief justice may designate any judge of the court of appeals to hold court in any district, or to act as a justice of the supreme court.”

According to the fiscal impact report on the bill, it conflicts with H.J.R. 10 being proposed by socialist Rep. Angelica Rubio (D-Doña Ana) and Rep. Javier Martinez (D-Bernalillo), which would attempt to change the Constitution to give a salary to legislators — despite legislators making per diem and a pension. New Mexico’s legislature is supposed to be a “citizen legislature” not made up by career politicians.

This bill will be heard on Monday at 9:00 a.m. in the Senate Rules Committee, conveniently chaired by Sen. Ivey-Soto. The Zoom details are below: For public participation click on the following link https://us02web.zoom.us/j/86412647187 to join the Webinar or via telephone 1-253-215-8782 Webinar ID: 864 126 47187

Other legislation to keep an eye out for in the coming days is S.B. 14, which would result in at least a 20-35 cent-per-gallon tax on fuel — hurting the poorest New Mexicans. This bill was previously proposed in the 2021 Legislative Session, but thanks to the Piñon Post’s advocacy to engage New Mexicans to testify against the bill, it died before reaching final passage. 

NM Senate bully targets another senator in apparent vindictive rage

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Over the weekend, far-left Sen. Jacob Candelaria (D-Bernalillo), who has not always towed the party line and gone along with the Senate Democrats’ wishes, is being targeted by the Senate bully, Pro-Tem Mimi Stewart (D-Bernalillo), according to his tweets.

Candelaria wrote, “Have been informed that Sen Mimi  Stewart will remove me from Senate Finance Committee, on account of my opposition to Gov control over federal ARPA funds.” 

In a subsequent tweet, he wrote, “This move will require full senate approval before final, let’s see if Mimi can pull it off. One things [sic] for sure though—Mimi Stewart is not morally or ethically fit to lead the Senate. Our legislature needs better and actual leaders.”

According to the Santa Fe New Mexican, “But Senate President Pro Tem Mimi Stewart, D-Albuquerque, says that’s not true. She said if she removes Jacob Candelaria, who also represents Albuquerque, from that position, it will be because he has pulled away from his party and no longer caucuses with other members.”

“It’s no big surprise to me that this is coming on the heels of the decision of the Supreme Court on Wednesday,” Candelaria said. “This in no way has dampened my spirits. If leadership wants to act in this sort of retaliatory fashion, that’s their decision, just as it will be the Senate’s decision as to whether it will go along with this childish behavior.”

“He’s completely wrong. What he did this week [before the Supreme Court] has nothing to do with what I might have to do,” Stewart countered. While she said it is “possible” she may move to remove him from that committee, “it will have nothing to do with his great performance in front of the Supreme Court.”

Stewart has long bullied other members she disagrees with, including many in her own party. She bullied Sen. Daniel Ivey-Soto (D-Bernalillo) in committee hearings, then subsequently refused to answer Ivey-Soto’s questions on the Senate floor on a bill she sponsored. Because she refused to answer, she claimed Ivey-Soto was being “sexist.”

In a previous committee hearing, Ivey-Soto claimed “leadership” (meaning Stewart) told him he could no longer debate on House bills, so he left the meeting and claimed he would not hear House bills in his Senate Rules Committee for the foreseeable future. This came after Stewart accused Ivey-Soto of not emailing her the proper bill, which he countered with a time and date the bill was sent to her email.

In committee hearings, Stewart bashed the public who had concerns over her extremist bill that would add on at least 20 a cent per gallon of gas tax that would harm poor New Mexicans the most.

“Two cents a year — That is nothing,” she said, claiming, “I am not concerned about that because I do believe this is kind of fear-mongering…. I want to answer honestly because that’s how I feel about it.”  

Stewart clapped back at concerns with her bill, “I don’t have concerns. I’m certainly proud that you all are concerned about low income. I don’t think it’s going to impact us,” she said, adding, “We’ve got two years to phase this in. We’re going to do it right.”

Stewart’s spat with Candelaria appears to be her latest move in her nasty tirades against other members of the Legislature, both Republican and Democrat.

Legislators work to pay themselves salaries, ignoring concept of a ‘citizen legislature’

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In January, we ran an editorial titled “Ungrateful NM legislators complain about ‘not getting paid’ despite per diem, pensions” focusing on New Mexico’s inept political “leaders” whining about not being paid enough despite getting pensions and per diem for their time on the job.

But now, these same ungrateful legislators are renewing their calls to be paid more with the interim Courts, Corrections, and Justice Committee considering a joint resolution to pay themselves, a proposal that Sen. Daniel Ivey-Soto (D-Bernalillo) aims to sponsor in the 2022 30-day legislative session.

Ivey-Soto’s bill would amend the New Mexico Constitution via sending the voters a ballot measure to pay legislators via the State Ethics Commission, which would oversee salarying the legislative branch.

The Albuquerque senator claims, the Legislature is currently “comprised of the three R’s: the rich, the retired and the resourceful.” However, the Legislature was made to be a “citizen legislature,” meaning it was comprised of average citizens who work actual jobs while not in Santa Fe for the legislative session, letting them be closer to the people they serve. 

“We would have more time to devote to constituent services, oversight of state government, crafting legislation throughout the interim, and these crazy 60 and 30-day sessions wouldn’t be so crazy,” claimed Rep. Moe Maestas (D-Bernalillo), who would be happy to have a full-time legislature. And with Democrats in power in both the House, Senate, and Governor’s Mansion, it would be a field day for the far-left if they could ram through their extremist agenda year-round.

But far-left Sen. Antoinette Sedillo Lopez (D-Bernalillo) claims Ivey-Soto’s bill doesn’t go far enough. She claimed as well as the Legislature being salaried, she wants its structure to be changed “to make it have the ability to do its job.” She claims in its current form, it is an “extremely weak branch of the government,” which is likely what the framers’ of the New Mexico Constitution intended.

Previously, other members have whined about the lack of pay legislators get, despite them knowingly running for the job with full knowledge it didn’t have a salary. 

Sen. Bill Soules (D-Doña Ana), who has been in the New Mexico Senate since 2013, tweeted a picture of a dollar bill, writing, “#nmleg. ‘Another day another ………’. Oh wait.  That’s right.  The New Mexico Legislature is unpaid.  The only unpaid legislature in the country.” 

From our January editorial:

“Moderate” Rep. Alonzo Baldonado (R-Valencia), while defending Rep. Kelly Fajardo’s (R-Valencia) vote in favor of Democrat Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham’s “mini” Green New Deal, wrote, “For all of you out there that think making votes and not getting paid to do it is easy….I say you go do it.” In 2022, many conservative Republicans will do it, and hopefully, strong patriots who do not cower will run against Reps. Fajardo and Baldonado to bring true representation to the Legislature—actual servants of the people who will not complain about the job they knew full-well they were getting into. 

Rep. Angelica Rubio (D-Doña Ana) claimed in 2019 while sponsoring a bill to pay legislators a salary, that the current system has people “being left out of the system.” However, she somehow got elected to the Legislature. 

But despite all the misinformation from ungrateful supposed “public servants,” legislators in New Mexico do get reimbursed through a daily per diem for their work, which is $184 a day and 58 cents a mile. They also get a hefty pension for their service. After ten years, it amounts to $10,824.00. 

The point of New Mexico’s legislature is for it to work for New Mexicans—not the other way around. Just remember, senators and representatives in the U.S. Congress get paid hundreds of thousands of dollars per year for not doing much at all. Having regular citizens who work jobs in the time they are not in the New Mexico Legislature (usually 10-11 months each year) serving as our representatives, brings them closer to the people they are supposed to represent and makes them more accountable to their constituents.

Now, time will tell if Republicans, other than extreme “moderates” like Alonzo Baldonado, join the herd of radical Democrats to try and pay themselves salaries, especially as New Mexico recovers from Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham’s extreme lockdown that left 40% of small businesses closed and countless jobs lost.

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