MLG

Opening day: MLG goes leftward, Dems boot moderate from powerful chair post

20 Comments / New Mexico, News, Politics / By

On Tuesday, the New Mexico Legislature met for the first session of the 56th Legislature, which is meeting for 60 days this year. 17 new members were sworn in, and Democrats elected Rep. Javier Martínez (D-Bernalillo) as the next state House speaker, succeeding former Speaker Brian Egolf (D-Santa Fe). 

Democrat Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham also gave her annual “State of the State” address, where she made clear her priority to ram through $10 million in funding for a new Las Cruces abortion facility and codify abortion up to birth into law.

She also announced she wants socialized “universal health care” in New Mexico, taxpayer-funded paid family leave, expanded “free” college programs, as well as millions more to fund the state’s already failing schools that rank behind all other states and the District of Columbia. She also called for a new state department, the “New Mexico Health Care Authority” to help enact her universal healthcare dreams, as well as universal gun bans in the state.

But the most surprising takeaway from the meeting of the 56th Legislature on opening day was the removal of more moderate Rep. Patricia Lundstrom (D-Gallup) from the powerful House Appropriations Committee. Speaker Martinez put progressive Rep. Nathan Small in the spot instead, garnering confusion about the leadership mixup.

According to the Santa Fe New Mexican, Lundstrom said following the news, “This is unbelievable.” She told the Albuquerque Journal, “I’m incredibly disappointed, and I’m absolutely shocked.” She said Martínez “said I don’t meet his vision.”

“The speaker has the responsibility and the prerogative to organize the House committees as he feels best meets the current needs of New Mexico,” House Democratic spokeswoman Camille Ward told the Journal. “With new leadership on both sides of the aisle and on many of our committees in this session, Speaker Martínez is beginning a new chapter to move New Mexico forward.”

Another member making a large move is Rep. Christine Chandler (D-Los Alamos), who was moved from the chairwoman of House Taxation and Revenue to the powerful House Judiciary Committee, succeeding Rep. Gail Chasey (D-Bernalillo), who was recently elected Democrat House floor leader.

Initiatives Democrats seek to pass during the legislature include many of Lujan Grisham’s proposals, as well as “modernizing” the state legislature from a “citizen legislature” to a “professional legislature” where members of the House and Senate are paid, while they each are granted funds for district offices in their respective areas of the state. 

Opening day: MLG goes leftward, Dems boot moderate from powerful chair post Read More »

Lujan Grisham surprises with support for ‘School Choice Week’

16 Comments / New Mexico, News, Politics / By

Democrat Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham made a surprise proclamation honoring School Choice Week, which commemorates school choice and the betterment of educational opportunities for students. 

Lujan Grisham declared January 22-28, 2023 as School Choice Week in the state, writing in the proclamation that “educational variety not only helps to diversify our economy, but also enhances the vibrancy of our community.”

She recognized that New Mexico has “many high-quality teaching professionals in all types of school settings who are committed to educating our children.”

Now, as the 2023 Legislative Session rolls around on Tuesday, she will have the opportunity to push for and sign legislation that will enshrine school choice in New Mexico.

State Sen. Craig Brandt (R-Sandoval) is sponsoring a school choice bill enacting “Education Freedom Accounts, which can be used to pay for private school tuition, tutoring services, textbooks, and instructional materials, nationally standardized assessments, and other educational charges” approved by the Public Education Department.

“It outlines the application process and procedures for parents and education service providers, as well as the rules and responsibilities of the parents and students,” and “creates an Education Freedom Review Commission to assist the department in determining what expenditures are qualifying educational expenses,” according to Brandt.

A similar bill being sponsored by state Rep.-elect John Block (R-Otero), will enable open enrollment for students to attend other schools in their district or outside of their district if their zoned educational resources are failing. Block believes no child should have to be stuck in a failing school just because of where they live in New Mexico.

Enacting school choice, which is a non-partisan issue, has shown to be an incredible step forward in creating quality education in other states. If New Mexico enacts such changes, it could lift the state from being 51st in education and propel it on the path to educational betterment.

Editor’s note: Block is the founder and editor of the Piñon Post, New Mexico’s #1 conservative online news publication.

Lujan Grisham surprises with support for ‘School Choice Week’ Read More »

MLG releases massive $9.4B budget proposal for upcoming legislature

12 Comments / New Mexico, News, Politics / By

On Tuesday, far-left Democrat New Mexico Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham released her executive budget that she will demand the legislature pass in the upcoming 2023 Legislative Session starting next Tuesday, January 17, 2022.

The massive $9.4 billion budget would be a 10.58 percent increase from last fiscal year’s $8.5 billion budget. This proposed budget would include a four percent increase in salaries for state workers, a four percent increase for all school staff, along with a $750 rebate, according to the Santa Fe New Mexican. 

In the budget are sweeping social programs, including $107 million for housing and homelessness initiatives, $200 million infusion for health care programs, and $30 million for “free” school lunches in all schools.

Despite the massive spending on education and educator salaries, New Mexico’s schools rank below all other states and the District of Columbia. 

Weak-on-crime politics have led to a deadly past few years in New Mexico, especially in the state’s most populous city, Albuquerque, which shattered its homicide rate again in 2022, the second straight year in a row. 

Last year’s budget included $75 million in recurring funds for socialist “free” college for citizens and illegal aliens, millions for an anti-gun office of “gun violence prevention,” millions to carry out 2019’s Energy Transition Act (Green New Deal), among other waste that was spent on socialist-style handout programs in the state.

This year’s proposal would include a $4.1 million slush fund of sorts to the Environment Department to “develop and implement actions related to climate change,” along with $5.9 million for enviro-Marxist policies.

New Mexico remains the most federally dependent state in the nation. This executive budget would continue that record of heavy dependence on the government. 

After the budget was released, Power The Future’s Larry Behrens wrote, “Governor Lujan Grisham has proudly said we need to transition away from fossil fuels, but she sure can’t seem to transition away from spending the revenue,” adding, “Before taxpayers foot the bill for more of the Governor’s green pet projects, it’s past time for an examination on the Governor’s past initiatives to see if they’ve delivered on her over-hyped promises.”

MLG releases massive $9.4B budget proposal for upcoming legislature Read More »

In latest snub to NM doctors, MLG gets knee replaced in D.C.

18 Comments / New Mexico, News, Politics / By

In her latest snub to New Mexico healthcare professionals, Democrat Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham, 63, is once again fleeing the state for Washington, D.C. to get her knee replaced. This comes after a previous September 2022 visit to the nation’s capital, where she had “a consultation on an ongoing knee injury with an orthopedic surgeon from whom she has previously received treatment, according to her office,” as reported at the time. 

Now, the governor’s office has confirmed she will be going off to D.C. again. The Associated Press reported, “Lujan Grisham was scheduled to depart Tuesday and return next week after the replacement of her right knee with an artificial joint. She consulted with an orthopedic surgeon in September after aggravating a previous injury.”

The Albuquerque Journal noted that the governor is expected to return to New Mexico in time for the January 17 opening day festivities of the Legislature, where she will deliver her State of the State address.

“Lujan Grisham spokeswoman, Nora Meyers Sackett, said Tuesday the governor expects to deliver an in-person State of the State Address on the opening day of the 60-day legislative session. She has delivered the speech remotely during each of the last two years due to the COVID-19 pandemic,” the Journal noted.

It is unclear why the governor snubbed New Mexico doctors, who could have easily performed the routine knee replacement surgery in-state. It is also unclear who she may be meeting with while in Washington, D.C.

Previously, Lujan Grisham was angered over a debate with her former opponent, Republican Mark Ronchetti, who would not sit at a table to spar with the scandal-ridden governor. Instead, he stood at a podium, which is customary for debates.

Lujan Grisham has planned to attempt to ram through many far-left policy proposals in the upcoming 2023 Legislative Session, including trying to codify abortion up-to-birth and infanticide into state law, as well as enviro-Marxist proposals to enshrine her Green New Deal.

In latest snub to NM doctors, MLG gets knee replaced in D.C. Read More »

MLG’s new NMDOH pick has scant health background, backed lockdowns

20 Comments / New Mexico, News, Politics / By

Democrat Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham recently announced she would be nominating outgoing Oregon Health Authority Director Patrick Allen, 59, as her new cabinet secretary for the New Mexico Department of Health (NMDOH) after Dr. David Scrase of the Human Services Department remained as acting director.

Scrase’s tenure came after the departure of Secretary Tracie C. Collins, who was only confirmed by the state Senate in 2021. Since the beginning of her regime, Lujan Grisham has constantly had personnel and cabinet members flee or be forced out after short tenures.

Allen, an appointee of unpopular lame-duck Oregon Gov. Kate Brown, is being forced out of a job in Oregon as incoming Democrat Gov. Tina Kotek pledged to oust the controversial cabinet chief who was making a hefty $253,308 a year. Kotek’s win prompted his resignation, writing that he was “sad to be leaving this work behind.”

Now, Lujan Grisham has scooped him up to head her NMDOH, writing that Allen “shares my vision of a New Mexico that fosters better health outcomes for every resident of our beautiful state.” It is unclear what his salary will be in his new gig.

Allen claimed he was “proud” of his COVID-19 response in Oregon, despite abysmal pandemic policies that resulted in child suicides, increased deaths, and economic catastrophe. He also said he moved toward “health equity” to coerce people of color (Latino, Black, African American, and African Immigrants) into getting jabbed against the virus.

Despite this, in his resignation letter, he wrote to Brown regarding her lockdowns, “You have made hard choices that enabled us to save thousands of people in  Oregon and navigate the worst health crisis our nation has faced in more than a century. I  appreciate the integrity of your leadership and all the support you’ve given me and the staff at OHA.”

Similar to Lujan Grisham, Allen also shamed residents of his soon-to-be former state of Oregon for not abiding by the extreme COVID lockdown measures enacted by Brown, as evidenced below:

In actuality, Allen has no experience in public health before Brown’s appointment, with a background on a local Sherwood planning commission. His degree in economics from Oregon State University, with no public health focus. He also is not an osteopath or medical doctor. 

According to the Oregon Capital Chronicle, the Oregon Health Authority, under his leadership, “has failed to help people with mental health and addiction problems, critics say. They point out it has been slow to distribute more than $1 billion to create behavioral health programs and new facilities, as well as addiction treatment networks as part of the rollout of Measure 110, Oregon’s drug decriminalization measure that included a plan to step up treatment. In national studies, the state has repeatedly had the highest or close to the highest rate of people with mental health and addiction problems in national studies.”

According to the Chronicle, “Allen had a ‘serious’ fall on Jan. 23 and was hospitalized, according to a news release from the agency two days later. He was evaluated for heart issues and returned to his home in Sherwood within three days. The health authority said he did not have COVID-19.” 

Critics have suggested Allen’s fall could have been due to alcoholism, namely “binge drinking,” which resulted in a large dent left in his forehead. Others have criticized him due to his lack of apparent personal health fitness and wondered if he has the stamina for the job.

MLG’s new NMDOH pick has scant health background, backed lockdowns Read More »

MLG promises more extreme radical left policies at inauguration

69 Comments / New Mexico, News, Politics / By

On Sunday, far-left Democrat Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham was sworn in for her second term as New Mexico governor at Santa Fe’s Lensic Performing Arts Center, promising more abortion up-to-birth policies, enviro-Marxism, and expanded social programs focused on “poverty” during a roughly 20-minute speech.

After attending an inaugural Mass held by Santa Fe Archbishop John C. Wester at the Cathedral Basilica of St. Francis of Assisi, Lujan Grisham’s inaugural festivities commenced. Wester was photographed welcoming the pro-abortion governor to the Mass. He previously refused to deny her the sacrament of the Eucharist, despite her anti-life views and policies.

Lujan Grisham pledged during her inaugural speech to push for codifying abortion up-to-birth in state law, claiming, “Never again for all of time will a woman in the state of New Mexico have anything less than full bodily autonomy and freedom of choice” (code for unrestricted abortion).

She previously signed a bill legalizing abortion up-to-birth and infanticide in 2021 by stripping all protections for women, children, and medical professionals, the latter being forced to perform and refer for ending the lives of children in the womb via abortions. She also signed a bill legalizing physician-assisted suicides via lethal drug cocktails in the state.

The Santa Fe New Mexican reported, “Lujan Grisham said she also plans to continue work started during her first term on early childhood education and care, economic growth and environmental stewardship (enviro-Marxism). She also promised to fight poverty and homelessness by expanding access to affordable housing and free child care.”

She said, “The work is not done, but we have made a good start, and I will not rest until this is a state where the conditions that create generational poverty are a dusty relic of the distant past.”

The scandal-ridden governor, who was narrowly reelected by a mere 52 percent of the vote, charged $1,000 per person to attend her inaugural ball that featured the Lightning Boy Hoop Dancers, Compania Chuscales Flamenco, Mariachi Azteca de Santa Fe, musician Theo Kutsco, and the NM Peace Choir. 

Ex-state Rep. Deborah Armstrong (D-Bernalillo) and failed congressional candidate Victor Reyes both served as co-chairs for the Democrat’s inaugural festivities.

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Lujan Grisham politicizes Advent to promote her pro-abortion policies

19 Comments / New Mexico, News, Politics / By

On Tuesday, far-left Democrat Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham used Advent to promote her pro-abortion policies.

During her “12 Days of Delivering for New Mexicans” social media campaign, Lujan Grisham wrote, “Standing up for women’s rights has never been more important.” She continued, “I am proud that under my leadership, New Mexico was one of the few states to advance access to reproductive health care and abortion in 2021.” 

The Democrat’s post included a graphic reading, “Stood up for women’s rights: Repealed the 1969 criminal abortion statute that punished women and their doctors.”

“I will never stop protecting the right of women and their families to make their own decision about when to have children,” she added in a subsequent tweet.

However, the 2021 “repeal” she refers to stripped all protections for women, babies, and medical professionals. The repeal took away these life-saving protections while opening up doctors, nurses, and others in health care to violations of their conscience rights. It also legalized abortion up to birth and infanticide.

Despite claiming to support women’s rights, Lujan Grisham’s policies are not only hurting women, but they are leading to the killing of many other children in the womb — half of them being female. 

In the upcoming 2023 Legislative Session that commences on January 17, 2023, Lujan Grisham is hoping to ram through $10 million in state funds to open a new Las Cruces abortion facility that would kill more Texas mothers’ children from across the border since Texas has enacted policies to protect life in the state. 

New Mexicans offered their takes on the Democrat’s gruesome Advent message: 

MLG signs pro-abortion executive order to further promote abortions

Lujan Grisham politicizes Advent to promote her pro-abortion policies Read More »

MLG’s PED wants more funds despite ‘moonshot’ cash infusion fail

23 Comments / New Mexico, News, Politics / By

Democrat Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham’s New Mexico Public Education Department (PED) Secretary Kurt Steinhaus is requesting another increase in spending on the Department despite the state failing behind every single other state and the District of Columbia in education.

The request for more cash comes directly after Lujan Grisham’s administration demanded a massive lump of funding the administration claimed was an education “moonshot” to help solve New Mexico’s failing education system.

Despite the “moonshot,” New Mexico’s education system remains the lowest in the nation. The PED receives the largest sum from the state budget, making up approximately 45 percent, or around $4 billion.

Steinhaus’ department is now requesting an at least 6.3 percent increase, increasing spending for the department to $4.3 billion.

Lujan Grisham’s regime not only brought no results with its union-focused education agenda; It actually plunged New Mexico’s students into historic decline.

“We’ve got to build a budget that will deliver a better outcome of getting those licensed people in the classroom,” Steinhaus said.

From 2020 to 2022, fourth-grade mathematics scores for New Mexico children are ranked 50th out of all 50 states, being beaten only by the territory of Puerto Rico. Eighth-grade mathematics scores ranked 49th, being nearly tied with Washington D.C. and West Virginia while only beating Puerto Rico in that category.

In the category of reading, New Mexico fourth-graders ranked once again took the bottom spot, with no jurisdictions ranking higher in the category, but the District of Columbia, West Virginia, and Alaska coming close. New Mexico eighth-graders also scored the lowest in the nation, with the exception of Puerto Rico. Other states with similar low eighth-grade reading scores include Oklahoma, Alabama, West Virginia, and the District of Columbia.

Only 19 percent of New Mexico fourth-graders are proficient in math, while 13 percent of New Mexico eighth-graders are math proficient. 21 percent of the state’s fourth graders are proficient in reading, while 18 percent of New Mexico’s eighth graders are proficient in the same category. 

In both mathematics and reading, New Mexico’s children did not change in the rankings, while all other states and jurisdictions improved post-pandemic. 

Fourth-grade math scores are the lowest in 17 years, while eighth-graders scores are the lowest in 30 years. In reading, New Mexico fourth graders had the lowest scores in 13 years, while eighth graders in the same category had the lowest scores in 15 years.

MLG’s PED wants more funds despite ‘moonshot’ cash infusion fail Read More »

MLG copies former GOP opponent’s rebate plan she once called ‘socialist’

16 Comments / New Mexico, News, Politics / By

In a strange turn of events, far-left Democrat Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham is urging New Mexico legislators to adopt a $750 to $1,500 rebate plan with the new windfall of over $1.1 billion in “new money” to spend in the new fiscal year due to increased oil and gas proceeds

The Albuquerque Journal reported, “The specific size and scope of the rebates remain under negotiation with the session just over a month away, but a spokeswoman for the Democratic governor said Tuesday the rebates could be in the ballpark of $750 per taxpayer – or $1,500 per married couple filing jointly.” 

“The governor has been working for several months to urge the Legislature to support using a portion of the one-time funds to deliver another rebate to New Mexicans as they continue to experience high costs due to inflation,” Lujan Grisham’s press secretary Nora Meyers Sackett said.

“The record-high revenue projections present a unique opportunity to keep more money in New Mexicans’ pockets, and the governor will continue to push for an additional round of rebates as we near the legislative session,” she continued.

Backtracking to the 2022 campaign, where Lujan Grisham beat her GOP opponent Mark Ronchetti, she blasted his campaign’s plan to give tax rebates based on oil and gas production — essentially the same policy she is proposing now. 

Ronchetti’s website read during the campaign, “At current oil and gas production and budget surplus levels, this would amount to more than $500 for every man, woman, and child in New Mexico.”

In July, Lujan Grisham’s campaign railed against Ronchetti’s plan, calling it a “fiscally irresponsible socialist scheme” that would eliminate funding for the state budget. The governor’s administration has now copy-pasted the Ronchetti plan.

Lujan Grisham’s previous critique of Ronchetti’s plan came after she approved robbing the Land Grant Permanent Fund of billions to pay for socialist “free” daycare, approved $75 million annually for socialist “free” college (including for illegal aliens), and promoted full-blown socialist policies, such as the state’s “Energy Transition Act,” also known as the Green New Deal to implement the socialist Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez-style policy.

MLG, who promotes socialist policies, claims Republican Ronchetti is a socialist

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MLG’s Human Services Dept. wants budget hike to keep COVID-era policies

15 Comments / New Mexico, News, Politics / By

Democrat Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham’s New Mexico Human Services Department (HSD) just released its budget request for the New Mexico Legislature, which the Department says it will use to continue to prop up expanded pandemic-era social programs. HSD wrote in a press release that it is “requesting a budget of $1.6 billion that will leverage an additional $8.4 billion in federal funds to assist 1,088,981 New Mexicans who will experience significant reductions in Medicaid and SNAP (food stamps) benefits when the COVID-19 Federal Public Health Emergency ends.” 

The state portion — $1.6 billion — is a 14.4 percent increase from HSD’s Fiscal Year 2023 budget request. In the previous year’s budget, the Department expanded by 22 percent, or $257 million.

HSD wrote in the press release, “The Human Services Department provides services and benefits to 1,088,981 New Mexicans through several programs including: Medicaid, SNAP (food assistance), income supports, behavioral health, financial assistance, utility assistance, and child support.” 

“Our mission is to transform the lives of the 1,088,981 New Mexicans we serve through our programs and services, and now we have the opportunity to develop a new Medicaid waiver to drive transformation in healthcare,” said David R. Scrase, M.D., cabinet secretary for the New Mexico Human Services Department. 

“HSD has a once in a century opportunity to fund measurable improvements in health outcomes as every state dollar in Medicaid generates an additional $3.52 in a federal match – it’s a great investment that can dramatically strengthen our healthcare system that has served New Mexico so valiantly during the pandemic.” 

Although the state claims it wants to focus on fixing New Mexico’s “broken behavioral healthcare system” with the expanded budget request, its own statistics show it only used $7,958,100 of the $1.2 billion in federal COVID relief funds during the 2020-2022 fiscal years. In contrast, it spent $468,965,500 on food stamps during the same period. HSD insists it will use the state money for the following: 

  • Building on the July launch of 988, the national behavioral health crisis support line, HSD is requesting a statewide expansion of the Crisis Now integrated behavioral health response system that includes Mobile Crisis Teams and Crisis Triage Centers designed to respond to a variety of behavioral health needs safely and effectively. This request will support the development and launch of half of the State’s needed system (two in urban areas, seven in rural areas, and six in frontier areas).  
  • Implementing Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinic (CCBHCs), a federally recognized model of sustainable and high quality, integrated behavioral health clinics that research demonstrates shows outcomes. The suite of required services for CCBHCs enhances and supports the already established 988 system in NM and will be launched in Eddy, Grant, Lea and Doña Ana counties as the first step towards statewide expansion.  
  • Raising non-Medicaid behavioral health reimbursement rates from 85 percent of Medicaid to 100 percent, eliminating the discrepancy between payments for services ineligible for Medicaid and/or other forms of insurance. HSD provided 214,951 adults with non-Medicaid behavioral health services from April 2021 – March 2022.    

Regarding food stamps, the Department writes, “Benefit enrollment has increased by 20 percent during the COVID-19 pandemic. HSD will begin redetermining eligibility for many SNAP and Medicaid customers when the Federal Public Health Emergency (PHE) ends. These redetermination efforts require increased staff capacity and additional IT investments, which is reflected in this request. Importantly, this fiscal year 2024 request brings HSD to a level of staffing needed that will allow HSD to meet federal requirements ensuring timely delivery of benefits and services to our 1,081,988 customers as we unwind from the PHE.” 

According to Fiscal Year 2023 estimates, 1,055,525 New Mexicans are on government assistance through New Mexico’s Human Services Department.

New Mexico’s Fiscal Year 2023 budget was $8.5 billion, the largest in state history. During that budget year, the state delved out 11% of the budget to New Mexico’s Department of Health and Human Services, according to the Legislative Finance Committee.

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