Michelle Lujan Grisham

Gas prices set to skyrocket after MLG signs 50+ cent per gallon gas tax bill

47 Comments / New Mexico, News, Politics / By

On Tuesday, the far-left, anti-energy Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham signed H.B. 41 into law. The bill sponsored by Sen. Mimi Stewart (D-Albuquerque) is dubbed the “clean fuel standard.”

The bill will increase gas prices by at least 50 cents per gallon, and you can expect similar increases in groceries and supplies and pretty much everything else. This bill will make life more expensive in New Mexico for average consumers — harming the poorest New Mexicans, who will take the biggest hit with the new law. 

The bill finally passed the Legislature by a thin margin of 36-33 in the House of Representatives.

California, Oregon, and Washington have similar laws in place, and the gas prices in these states have risen significantly due to the radical proposal. 

According to the California Energy Commission, “Filling up the tank in California also costs more since gasoline prices are higher on average than the rest of the United States for a few reasons. These reasons include the isolated nature of the state’s transportation fuels market, a special gasoline recipe that reduces air pollution, environmental program costs, and taxes.” 

Washington State’s Department of Ecology’s May 12, 2022 report admitted the price increase due to the Clean Fuel Standard in the state, while an Oregon Department of Environmental Quality report acknowledged significant cost increases due to its version of the law.

Now, as New Mexicans battle the crippling burdens of inflation among ramifications from other legislation passed, consumers will be saddled with the brunt of the extreme legislation to hike gas prices to high levels the state has never seen before. 

Despite the ramifications to New Mexicans, Democrats celebrated the extremist bill being signed into law:

State Rep. John Block (R-Alamogordo), also the Piñon Post’s editor, wrote about the bill taking effect, “Remember the gas prices now here in NM — and this is after over three years of Joe Biden’s hellscape. The governor and her allies in the Legislature are hiking our gas prices by over 50 CENTS PER GALLON with the horrific HB41. Hold THEM accountable by electing the strongest conservative fighters in the June primary and then the November general election to take them out and finally take out the trash!” 

“It’s clear that Governor Lujan Grisham took a look at California’s highest gas prices in the nation and decided that’s what she wants for New Mexico’s families,” said Larry Behrens, Communications Director for Power The Future, following the bill’s signing. “As a national leader in oil production, New Mexico’s leaders should do all they can to support our energy industry. Instead, Santa Fe politicians want to copy failed policies that punish families by driving up prices.”

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MLG holds photo op at ABQ school to sign two anti-gun bills

21 Comments / New Mexico, News, Politics / By

On Monday, far-left anti-gun Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham had a photo op at Albuquerque’s West Mesa High School, where she signed two anti-gun bills and two crime-related bills.

“These four bills are an incredible effort to do more,” she said at the presser, per the Santa Fe New Mexican.

At the press conference, she was flanked by discredited anti-gun group “co-president” Miranda Viscoli of “New Mexicans to Prevent Gun Violence” and the sponsor of the extreme H.B. 129 anti-gun bill State Rep. Andrea Romero (D-Santa Fe)

“All four bills become effective immediately, the governor said as she prepared to sign them,” the outlet reported, although the governor’s remark is inaccurate because these bills did not pass with an “emergency clause.” They will go into effect 90 days following the Legislature’s adjournment, which is in mid-May. 

Among the bills set to become law is House Bill 129, which forces through a mandatory seven-day waiting period for all gun purchases, with minor exceptions of law enforcement agencies and those who hold concealed carry permits. This is the most stringent anti-gun law passed this session, although it was significantly weakened from its original form.

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She will also sign Senate Bill 5 to make carrying a firearm within 100 feet of a polling station during active voting a misdemeanor. This rule comes with exceptions for law enforcement personnel on duty, legitimate business activities, individuals in their vehicles, and those possessing a concealed firearm, rendering the bill essentially meaningless.

Another bill she is set to sign is Senate Bill 96, which will toughen penalties related to violent crimes, escalating the punishment for attempted murder from a maximum of three years to nine years in prison. The bill also proposes to increase the sentence for second-degree murder from 15 to 18 years.

Finally, Senate Bill 271 introduces a new measure for repeat felony offenders, establishing an automatic no-bail hold for those who breach their release conditions by committing another felony, a minor fix to the state’s catastrophic 2016 ballot measure, which resulted in violent offenders to be released without bail pending trial. 

The governor wrote on X, formerly Twitter, following the event, “It’s time that we treat crime like the serious problem it is in New Mexico. That’s why today I signed four bills that will help make our state safer. Thank you to West Mesa High’s wonderful students for the warm welcome today!”

It is not uncommon for the governor to use children for political gain, especially to promote her extreme anti-gun agenda. 

Of the over a dozen extreme anti-gun bills proposed during the 2024 Legislative Session, these two measures were the only ones that passed — a huge defeat for the anti-gun governor who attempted to ban most firearms in the state after signing an illegal, unconstitutional executive order last year to snatch guns.

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Lujan Grisham admin. trying to raise fees for state parks by over 100%

11 Comments / New Mexico, News / By

Democrat Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham’s State Parks Division is set to update its fee structure by significantly raising fees across its 35 state parks. 

Wendy Mason, the division’s marketing and public relations manager, highlighted in a discussion on “New Mexico Living” that the parks are part of the Energy, Minerals, and Natural Resources Department and are tasked with generating a significant portion of their budget—75%—through park fees and other self-sustained revenue streams.

Mason said state parks have been grappling with staffing shortages and constrained budgets, which is why the proposed price hikes. “Nothing is permanent right now,” Mason emphasized, indicating that the division is in the process of determining the most suitable fee adjustments after conducting studies and seeking input from the public.

Among the proposed changes are the removal of day-use fees for New Mexico residents to encourage more visits, the discontinuation of annual passes, and modifications to camping, utility, boat registration, and launching fees. Mason said that the elimination of day-use fees for locals aims to make the parks more accessible for exploration and enjoyment.

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However, it would not raise such fees for overnight stays. According to a study commissioned by the division and reported by KOAT & News, “The study shows proposed fees such as raising day-use per vehicle from $5 to $10; raising camping fees from $10 to $20 a night for New Mexico residents; electric service from $4 to $10 a night; water service for $10.” These proposed increases would cost over 100 percent more.

New Mexico House Republicans have come out unanimously against the proposed fee increase, writing, “The proposals appear likely to result in more than $6 million in additional revenue collection for the Division, which will more than double the revenue the Division is collecting in state park fees. Given the timing of the Division’s publication of the proposed rule – at the conclusion of the 2024 legislative session – this appears to be an end-run around the legislative process and a means for the Division to ensure its FY25 budget aligns with its requested budget levels rather than living within the means established by the Legislature.”

“New Mexicans are among the most economically challenged Americans. Rasing our fees to be consistent with the fees of neighboring states – which in some instances results in increases of 200% – fails to account for the vast differences in wealth of residents in our neighboring states, all of which have significantly fewer people living in poverty. The increased fees and new fees will make activities like camping, boating, and paddle sports unaffordable for many New Mexicans at a time when they are struggling to keep up with the significant inflation of recent years,” the House Republicans added in the letter.

Public input meetings will be held before April 1, and more information about them can be found here.

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Lujan Grisham, Santa Fe Mayor Webber publicly trade blows over obelisk toppling

9 Comments / New Mexico, News, Politics / By

Far-left Democrat Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham has publicly contested the account given by far-left Democrat Mayor Alan Webber during his deposition related to a lawsuit concerning the October 2020 removal of the Plaza obelisk “Soldiers’ Monument” in Santa Fe. The governor criticized the mayor’s portrayal of their conversation, stating, “Mayor Webber’s remarks during his deposition amount to an egregious mischaracterization of our conversation.”

During his deposition, Mayor Webber suggested that Governor Lujan Grisham had discouraged him from attempting to address the contentious issue surrounding the obelisk, which had been a focal point of tension between stakeholders.

According to Webber’s recounting, the governor described the issue as “unsolvable” and warned him against trying to “rectify hundreds of years of history that were hard to untangle.”

However, Governor Lujan Grisham countered this narrative, asserting that her advice to Mayor Webber was to approach the situation with “caution and sensitivity,” given the highly charged emotions it elicited among the residents of Santa Fe. The governor accused Mayor Webber of shirking responsibility and criticized his leadership, stating, “Instead of leading on this issue, Mayor Webber is attempting to pass the buck and spread blame. That gets us nowhere, and he should be ashamed of himself for not owning his inaction when asked about it. There is an obvious leadership problem at the City of Santa Fe.”

The city, through Bernie Toon, a senior adviser, initially indicated a willingness to respond to the governor’s remarks but later decided against commenting on the matter, per the Santa Fe New Mexican.

The controversy over the obelisk and other monuments sparked legal action by Union Protectíva de Santa Fé, a local Spanish fraternal organization. In June 2021, the group filed a lawsuit against Mayor Webber, alleging that his decision to remove the obelisk, among other actions, violated the New Mexico Prehistoric and Historic Sites Preservation Act. The group argued that the mayor had succumbed to pressure from out-of-state fringe anti-Hispanic hate groups without adequately exploring alternatives to preserve the site. The lawsuit aims to compel the city to reconstruct the obelisk.

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First and likely only anti-gun bill of 2024 Session heads to MLG’s desk

16 Comments / New Mexico, News, Politics / By

An anti-gun bill creating a mandatory seven-day waiting period for firearm transactions in New Mexico is now awaiting the governor’s approval following its passage in the state legislature after extensive discussions on Monday evening.

The bill underwent some revisions from its original form before securing approval with a narrow 36-32 vote, where it faced opposition primarily from Republican legislators, although some Democrats voted against the anti-gun bill. This marks the second occasion the House has deliberated on the bill due to amendments introduced by the Senate earlier in the session.

Key modifications to the bill pertain to exemptions from the seven-day waiting period. The exemptions apply to individuals with a federal firearm license, holders of a concealed carry license, law enforcement officers engaging in firearm transactions among themselves, and family members transferring firearms to one another.

However, some lawmakers believe the bill should include additional exemptions. State Rep. Stefani Lord (R-Sandia Park) expressed particular concern over the lack of an exemption for survivors of domestic violence, stating, “But the biggest thing for me on top of everything else, Mr. Speaker and gentle lady, was the fact that they didn’t allow the exemption for survivors of domestic violence. I think if you come in and have a restraining order, you are scared for your life, you are not living with this person, you are afraid they are going to kill you, you don’t have the opportunity to bypass that.”

Further adjustments by the Senate stipulate that if the mandatory federal background check is not completed within 20 days, the firearm sale may proceed. The initial version of the bill required buyers who did not pass the background check within the waiting period to fund a subsequent check. Additionally, the bill now exempts firearm mufflers and silencers from the waiting period.

This bill is among several firearm-related measures proposed by the governor at the start of the legislative session. Other pending proposals on the House floor include the bill to attack firearms manufacturers and sellers, stringent updates to the red flag law, a prohibition on semi-automatic firearms, and an increase in the minimum age for purchasing firearms to 21, stripping 18-20-year-olds of their constitutional rights, and a bill to ban “high capacity” magazines on firearms. With these bills currently at the midpoint of the legislative process, it is unlikely any other anti-gun bills may pass.

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NM House narrowly passes one of governor’s extreme anti-gun bills

14 Comments / New Mexico, News, Politics / By

On Friday, the New Mexico House of Representatives narrowly approved unconstitutional anti-gun legislation that mandates a seven-day waiting period for all firearm sales in New Mexico, amid criticism from Republicans who view it as an unnecessary burden on responsible gun owners and ineffective in curbing criminal access to firearms. The passage of House Bill 129 by a vote of 37-33, with dissent from both some Democrats and Republicans, now sends the bill to the Senate for further deliberation.

State Rep. Andrea Romero (D-Santa Fe), the sponsor, claimed the bill would save lives. In contrast, Republican Representative Stefani Lord of Sandia Park, a staunch defender of gun rights, accused proponents of targeting law-abiding citizens instead of focusing on criminals.

The debate went on for three hours — the maximum allowed under the House rules. State Rep. Bill Rehm (R-Albuquerque) employed a procedural tactic known as a “call of the House” to ensure all members were present for the vote, adding urgency to the proceedings.

Originally, the bill proposed a 14-day waiting period, but an amendment introduced by State Rep. Art De La Cruz (D-Albuquerque), reducing it to seven days, narrowly passed by a single vote with Rep. Anthony Allison (D-Fruitland), who voted against the bill on final passage, not voting on the amendment. The bill now includes a provision for a misdemeanor charge for any sale that contravenes the waiting period, with exceptions for transactions between immediate family members, but not for domestic violence situations or for military, veterans, or police officers.

The bill aims to address loopholes in federal legislation by ensuring adequate time for background checks, a measure supported by the bill’s proponents as a means to prevent impulsive acts of violence. Critics, however, argue that it could disadvantage individuals in immediate need of protection, especially in the most rural areas of the state.

The proposal is part of a broader legislative effort from anti-gun Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham, with proposals such as the waiting period bill, failing repeatedly throughout her two terms as governor so far. 

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Lujan Grisham walloped in court again over unconstitutional gun grabs

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The United States District Court for the District of New Mexico’s Judge Kea W. Griggs denied an emergency motion filed by defendants, including far-left, gun-grabbing New Mexico Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham, to stay a preliminary injunction. This injunction had previously halted a public health order issued by the New Mexico Department of Health, which temporarily banned firearms in public parks in Bernalillo County and Albuquerque.

The court’s decision is a significant setback for Gov. Lujan Grisham’s administration, which had sought to implement these firearm restrictions as part of a broader public health emergency declaration due to gun violence. Critics argue that this move by the governor and her administration is an overreach of executive power, questioning the effectiveness and legality of such firearm restrictions.

The court’s order underscores a failure on the part of the governor’s team to provide sufficient historical evidence justifying the firearms ban in public parks. The ruling cites the Supreme Court’s decision in New York State Rifle & Pistol Ass’n, Inc. v. Bruen, which establishes a standard for evaluating Second Amendment cases based on historical tradition. The court found that the defendants, including the governor’s office, did not meet the burden of showing a historical tradition of banning firearms in public parks.

The Court wrote that the “[d]efendants’ arguments are contradictory. They cite … three shootings [that] occurred in Albuquerque parks before the public health order’s ban on firearms in Albuquerque parks, as proof that a ban is necessary. However, those shootings occurred during what Defendants allege was a separate firearm ban imposed by the City of Albuquerque.”

It further added that the defendants “assert or imply that by referencing the months of September and October in his declaration, Plaintiff was asserting he only attends parks in September and October, and no other time. The Court disagrees.”

This decision raises serious questions about the governor’s approach to public safety and constitutional rights. The insistence on pursuing a public health order that restricts Second Amendment rights without adequate historical justification reveals a grievous disconnect with legal precedents and historical standards.

The rejection of the governor’s motion also reflects on the broader issue of balancing public safety with constitutional rights. While the intention to address gun violence is commendable, the method of implementing such policies must align with constitutional standards and historical precedence. 

Furthermore, the ruling also vacated the temporary stay of the preliminary injunction pending briefing on this motion, thereby allowing the earlier court decision to enjoin the firearms ban in public parks to stand. This outcome is a clear indication that executive actions, particularly those impacting constitutional rights, must be carefully scrutinized and justified within the established legal framework.

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KOAT 7 News smacks MLG with fact-check of ‘State of the State’ speech

14 Comments / New Mexico, News, Politics / By

Far-left Democrat Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham’s recent State of the State address covered her radical 2024 legislative priorities, including snatching guns from law-abiding citizens and dunking more money into the state’s failing education system. While the governor highlighted several achievements of New Mexico, KOAT 7’s “Target 7” smacked her with a fact-check.

One of the key assertions made by Governor Grisham was about the state’s financial growth. She claimed, “We rank among the top states for financial growth and stability and have grown our permanent fund more than 200 percent.” However, “Target 7 has determined that this statement is mostly false.”

According to U.S. News and World Report’s Best State Ranking, New Mexico is placed 44th in terms of economy, considering factors such as the business environment, labor market, and economic growth. This contradicts the governor’s implication of being among the top states.

UNM economist Reilly White shed further light on this, stating that although New Mexico has made significant advances, it still falls short in several areas. The governor’s office attributed her statement on financial growth to a US Department of Labor report indicating high wage growth in the state last summer.

Regarding New Mexico’s permanent fund, the fund did increase from $23.2 billion in 2018 to $42.9 billion in 2023, marking an 84% rise, not the 200% claimed by the Governor. 

Another claim by Governor Grisham was the improvement in reading scores among students. She said, “Over the last year alone, we saw a 4% statewide increase in reading scores for kids in grades 3 to 8. and an unprecedented 5% increase in reading scores for Native American students.” Target 7 found this statement to be mostly true. New Mexico Public Education Department’s report confirmed a 4% increase in reading proficiency, rising from 34% to 38%. However, the increase for Native American students was 3%, not 5%. The changing testing metrics also likely led to increased numbers. 

Governor Grisham also addressed the issue of child fatalities due to guns, stating, “Right now, the leading cause of death for our children is guns.” But Target 7 wrote, “A little less than a year ago, the New Mexico Department of Health released its child fatality report. It says unintentional injury was the leading cause of death among New Mexico children, accounting for more than 36% of all deaths. The report defines unintentional deaths as motor vehicle crashes; drowning deaths; unintentional overdose or poisoning and fire-related deaths. That would also include unintentional gun deaths – but it doesn’t state how many were caused by firearms. Suicide was the second leading cause.” 

While the governor’s address highlighted her far-left legislative priorities, KOAT 7’s fact-check shows the governor’s issue with the truth. 

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MLG praises ‘brave’ rioters after thrice being interrupted by racist chants

22 Comments / New Mexico, News, Politics / By

In Santa Fe on Tuesday, far-left Democrat Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham delivered the State of the State address outlining her legislative agenda. This agenda includes a few measures to combat violent crime, enhance public education, expand affordable housing, and tackle “climate change” and drought issues while snatching New Mexicans’ gun rights. The speech coincided with the commencement of a 30-day legislative session focused on allocating a budget surplus for the next fiscal year.

During the address, Governor Lujan Grisham proposed embedding specialists in underperforming schools to boost student support, addressing the state’s educational challenges. She emphasized the need for accountability in the use of funds allocated for public education to improve outcomes.

Protests disrupted the session three times, shouting about climate change and shouting the antisemitic chant, “From the river to the sea, Palestine will be free,” interrupting official proceedings. They were all escorted out, but not without Lujan Grisham applauding them for their “brave” protest while saying, “That takes courage.” 

The governor also mentioned she wants $170 million for energy storage projects, including batteries, geothermal electricity, and hydrogen fuel. This comes amid expectations of a record $13 billion state income for the upcoming fiscal year.

Democrat leaders in the state legislature have proposed a moderate 5.9% increase in general fund spending, prioritizing sustainable government programs and cautioning against overreliance on fluctuating oil and gas revenues, despite legislation passed by the Legislature in the last few years to cripple the oil and gas industry.

Gov. Lujan Grisham, however, is advocating for a more substantial spending increase, with plans including a $500 million housing initiative and a $40 million program to combat homelessness.

The governor also highlighted her anti-gun agenda, including extending background check wait periods, regulating “assault-style rifles,” and raising the minimum age for purchasing semiautomatic rifles and shotguns to 21.

In response to “climate change” concerns, the governor proposed tax incentives for electric vehicle purchases and the development of alternative water sources from the byproducts of oil and gas drilling.

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Lujan Grisham’s anti-gun attempts again make national news

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New Mexico’s far-left Democrat Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham, who is intent on yanking guns from law-abiding citizens, is again making national headlines for her screeds against guns.

“The constitutionality questions are beginning to be very complicated in the arena of gun violence,” Lujan Grisham said at a press conference Friday, which was reported on the front page of Fox News on Saturday. The far-left governor added, “We are going to continue this effort, following what is going on around the country.”

“There will be others who will follow in our footsteps, creating their own public safety corridors, which in effect also make New Mexicans safer,” she said of her rabidly anti-Second Amendment proposals.

According to the New Mexico Shooting Sports Association, the governor wants to bring forward the following during the upcoming 30-day session.

  • A semi-automatic rife ban modeled after the failed federal proposal from Senator Heinrich
  • Banning the carrying of firearms in parks, playgrounds, and near polling places
  • Raising the age limit to purchase firearms to 21
  • A 14-day waiting period when purchasing a gun
  • Expanding New Mexico’s “red-flag” gun confiscation law (HB27)
  • Making it easier to sue gun manufacturers and retailers

On the other side, Republicans are launching pro-Second Amendment proposals, including Rep. Stefani Lord’s bill to create tax incentives for buying firearm safes, Rep. Block’s proposals to institute constitutional carry and reduce gross receipts taxes on guns and ammunition, as well as other proposals to incentivize gun safe ownership.

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