New Mexico Legislature

Legislative Update: Bills you need to know about for Feb. 19-20

3 Comments / Action Alert, New Mexico / By

This is a busy time at the New Mexico Legislature, and here are short rundowns of some bills being considered today, tomorrow, and over the weekend. Those marked with “BAD” are what Piñon Post sees as bills detrimental to the state.

Today, the New Mexico House of Representatives is expected to vote on the final passage of S.B. 10, an abortion up-to-birth and infanticide bill. New Mexico Alliance for Life is urging people to contact representatives who may be willing to change their vote, which can be found here:

Rep. Phelps Anderson: Roswell, 986 4426, phelps.anderson@nmlegis.gov | Rep. Melanie Stansbury: ABQ NE Heights, 986 4432, melanie.stansbury@nmlegis.gov | Rep. Marian Matthews: ABQ Tanoan 986 4242, marian.matthews@nmlegis.gov | Rep. Karen Bash: ABQ Westside 986 4236, karen.bash@nmlegis.gov | Rep. Joy Garratt: ABQ NE Heights 986 4249, joy.garratt@nmlegis.gov | Rep Meredith Dixon: ABQ NE Heights 986 4210, meredith.dixon@nmlegis.gov | Rep. Christine Chandler: Los Alamos, Rio Arriba, Sandoval & Santa Fe, 986 4242 christine.chancler@nmlegis.gov | Rep. Ambrose Castellano San Miguel, Torrance, 986 4236 ambrose.castellano@nmlegis.gov | Rep. Brittney Barreras: ABQ Westgate 986 4248, brittneyfornewmexico@gmail.com | Rep. Roger Montoya: Velarde, NM, 986 4464, roger.montoya@nmlegis.gov | Rep. Eliseo Alcon: Grants, NM 986 4416, eliseo.alcon@nmlegis.gov | Rep. Dayan H-Vigil: ABQ North Valley, 986 4432 dayan.hochman-vigil@nmlegis.gov | Rep. Liz Thompson: ABQ NE Heights 986 4415 liz.thomson@nmlegis.gov | Rep. Susan Herrera: Embudo, NM 505 986 4249 susan.herrera@nmlegis.gov

SENATE COMMITTEES

HEALTH AND PUBLIC AFFAIRS COMMITTEE – Senator Gerald Ortiz y Pino, Chair, convenes at 1:30 p.m.* 

*Times are subject to change depending on the Senate floor schedule. 

For spoken public comment, please follow the below Zoom link to access the meeting to testify:

Join Zoom Meeting
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/89738905182

Meeting ID: 897 3890 5182
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+12532158782,,89738905182# US (Tacoma)
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S.B. 224 – CRIME OF FAILURE TO SECURE FIREARM by Sen. Antoinette Sedillo-Lopez (D-Bernalillo) – BAD

As reported on earlier, this bill will criminalize parents who teach their children how to shoot and mandate specific gun safes and locks for firearms. This is the bill’s first committee appearance.

This bill is staunchly anti-Second Amendment and counter-productive, as it would leave children without proper firearms training to use guns properly. 

S.B. 232  – EXEMPTION FROM IMMUNIZATION by Sen. Gregg Schmedes (R-Bernalillo, Sandoval, Santa Fe, and Torrance) – GOOD

According to the fiscal impact report, “Senate Bill 232 would amend Section 24-5-3 NMSA 1978 to add a fourth reason why a child should be granted an exemption from state-required immunizations for school or dare. The fourth type of exemption, “for reasons of conscience,” would be added to the three existing reasons: medical exemptions; group religious objections to vaccine(s) and individual religious objections to vaccine(s).” This bill is friendly to New Mexicans who have conscience objections to vaccinations. 

S.B. 238 – ELIMINATE SEC. OF HEALTH POWERS by Sen. Gregg Schmedes (R-Bernalillo, Sandoval, Santa Fe, and Torrance) – GOOD

According to the fiscal impact report, “Senate Bill 238 eliminates the authority of the secretary of the Department of Health under the Public Health Emergency Response Act (PHERA) to isolate or quarantine a person who is unwilling or unable to undergo vaccination for reasons of health, religion or conscience. This bill contains an emergency clause and would become effective immediately upon signature by the governor.” This bill is friendly to those who have objections to being forcibly vaccinated by the Department of Health. 

SB 230 – INSTITUTIONAL RACISM IN STATE AGENCIES by Sen. Linda Lopez (D-Bernalillo) – BAD

“SB230 directs each state agency or entity that receives state funding to annually develop and submit a plan to address institutional racism as part of its annual final budget submission. SB230 would require copies of the annual plans to be provided to the Legislature, the Legislative Finance Committee, and the Courts, Corrections, & Justice Committee,” according to the Fiscal Impact Report. 

This bill would foster racism within state agencies based upon arbitrary attributes that employees cannot control. This would further bureaucratize New Mexico state agencies and waste hard-earned taxpayer money on programs that do not directly benefit the state in any way, shape, or form. 

S.B. 274 – USE OF DEADLY FORCE REPORTINGby Sen. Antoinette Sedillo-Lopez (D-Bernalillo) and Rep. Patricia Roybal Caballero (D-Bernalillo) – BAD

Note: both of these women are running for Congress in CD-1.

According to the bill, “Within twenty-four hours of a person suffering great bodily harm or death as a result of a peace officer’s actions, the sheriff or the chief of police of the jurisdiction in which the great bodily harm or death occurred shall report the great bodily harm or death in writing to the district attorney of the judicial district in which the great bodily harm or death occurred. The sheriff or chief of police shall report all instances of suspected great bodily harm to the appropriate district attorney, even if a more thorough assessment of great bodily harm will be undertaken at a later date,” 

The bill would put undue suspicion of wrongdoing on the part of the law enforcement officer, overburdening local sheriffs and district attorneys, while not trusting police officers to carry forth their duties. 

NOTE: This same bill, but in the House form as H.B. 254 will be heard in the HOUSE CONSUMER AND PUBLIC AFFAIRS COMMITTEE on Thursday, February 18, 2021 – 10 Minutes After the Floor Session – Zoom: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/89243737297

S.B. 227 –  INSPECTION OF POLICE MISCONDUCT INVESTIGATION – Sen. Linda Lopez (D-Bernalillo) – BAD

This bill is opposed by the Bernalillo County Deputy Sheriffs Association. It adds crippling restrictions on law enforcement and adds strict reporting criteria which does nothing by penalize law enforcers for simply carrying out their duties. Included in the bill are restrictions, such as the following:

“A law enforcement officer shall not use a chokehold. J. A law enforcement officer shall not discharge tear gas or other chemical weapons. K. A law enforcement officer shall not discharge rubber pellets from a propulsion device. L. A law enforcement officer shall not direct a dog to bite a person.” This is an anti-law enforcement bill, which takes critical tools away from officers. 

SATURDAY SENATE HEARINGS

TAX, BUSINESS AND TRANSPORTATION COMMITTEE – Senator Benny Shendo Jr., Chair | Saturday, February 20, 2021 – 9:00 a.m. – Virtual Zoom Meeting

S.B. 197 – INCREASE CIGARETTE TAX sponsored by Sen. Linda Lopez (D-Bernalillo) – BAD

According to the fiscal impact report, the bill “increases the tobacco products tax for products distributed for consumption from 25 percent to 83 percent, for e-liquids from 12.5 percent to 83 percent, and for closed system cartridges from 50 cents to $3.32 per closed system cartridge” 

This would put a crippling burden on this commodity by hiking its tax by over 332%.  

For public participation send an email to SCORC@nmlegis.gov with your Name, Entity Represented, Bill #, For or Against and indicate if you wish to speak. The deadline to respond is Friday, February 19 at 5:00 p.m. You will be contacted by our Zoom Operator with the virtual meeting instructions.

See the full Senate schedule here.

HOUSE COMMITTEES

HOUSE COMMERCE AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE

ANTONIO “MOE” MAESTAS, CHAIR – 1:30 p.m. – Zoom

H.B. 110 – PHASED MINIMUM WAGE INCREASE by Rep. Patricia Roybal Caballero (D-Bernalillo) – She is running for Congress in CD-1.  – BAD

“Starting January 1, 2022, the minimum wage would rise to $12.00 per hour Starting January 1, 2024, the minimum wage would rise to $15.00 per hour,” according to the fiscal impact report.

This bill hurts small businesses and causes fewer people employed because of the mandates from this anti-business, anti-worker bill. 

You are invited to a Zoom webinar. Feb 22, 2021 01:30 PM When: Feb 22, 2021 01:30 PM Mountain Time (US and Canada) Topic: HOUSE COMMERCE & ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE Please click the link below to join the webinar: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/83846715600

SATURDAY HOUSE HEARINGS

HOUSE HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES COMMITTEE – DEBORAH ARMSTRONG, CHAIR

Saturday, February 20, 2021 – 9:00 a.m. – Zoom

Please click the link below to join the webinar: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/89853256841 Or iPhone one-tap : US: +13462487799,,89853256841# or +16699009128,,89853256841#

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: 898 5325 6841

H.B. 205 – PROHIBIT SALE OF FLAVORED TOBACCO PRODUCTS sponsored by Rep. Joanne Ferrary (D-Doña Ana) and Rep. Liz Thomson (D-Bernalillo) – BAD 

This bill would make it a crime “to knowingly sell, offer to sell, barter or give a flavored tobacco product to a person,” and or “purchase, possess or attempt to purchase or possess any flavored tobacco product,” which infringes on personal liberty. 

See the full House schedule here.

Hearings after Saturday:
TAX, BUSINESS AND TRANSPORTATION COMMITTEE – Monday, February 22, 2021 – 1:30 p.m. – Virtual Zoom Meeting

For public participation send an email to SCORC@nmlegis.gov with your Name, Entity Represented, Bill #, For or Against and indicate if you wish to speak. The deadline to respond is Thursday, February 18 at 10:00 a.m. You will be contacted by our Zoom Operator with the virtual meeting instructions.

SB 168 – INCREASE GAS TAX by Sen. “Bobby” J. Gonzales (D-Los Alamos, Rio Arriba, Santa Fe and Taos) – BAD — rolled over

Senate Bill 168 increases the gasoline excise tax and the special fuel excise tax by five cents per gallon (from 17 cents to 22 cents and from 21 cents to 26 cents, respectively) over a five-year period, with a one-cent increase each fiscal year beginning in FY22.

In an economic crisis, the state already faces, this bill will raise taxes on gas, hurting the state and hurting people in New Mexico already suffering enough through burdensome taxation. 

This is just an overview of some of the most consequential bills going through the pipeline, but please visit NMLegis.gov to follow more bills.

Legislative Update: Bills you need to know about for Feb. 19-20 Read More »

Legislative Update: Bills you need to know about for Feb. 18-19

Leave a Comment / Action Alert, New Mexico, News, Politics / By

This is a busy time at the New Mexico Legislature, and here are short rundowns of some bills being considered today, tomorrow, and over the weekend. Those marked with “BAD” are what Piñon Post sees as bills detrimental to the state.

TODAY (NM SENATE): 

Senate Conservation Committee – 8:30 a.m. 2/18/2021 – Watch live here.

S.B. 296 sponsored by Sen. Brenda McKenna (D-Bernalillo & Sandoval) and Jeff Steinborn (D-Doña Ana) – BAD 

This is an anti-energy bill that would increase penalties for environmental violations from $10,000 to $20,000 in some cases and from $15,000 to $30,000 in others, which is excessively punitive to businesses. 

According to the fiscal impact report on the bill, it “increases the maximum civil penalty under the New Mexico Mining Act, implemented by the Energy, Minerals and Natural Resources Department (EMNRD), from $10 thousand to $20 thousand per day for each violation, including violations of a rule of the Mining.” 

The bill also “increases the Environment Department’s (NMED) penalty authority for violations of the Air Quality Control Act, the federal Clean Air Act, air quality permits, emission limits, and regulations from $15 thousand per day per violation to $30 thousand per day per violation.” 

TOMORROW (still time to RSVP to testify) 

HEALTH AND PUBLIC AFFAIRS COMMITTEE – Senator Gerald Ortiz y Pino, Chair, convenes at 1:30 p.m.* 

*Times are subject to change depending on the Senate floor schedule. 

For spoken public comment register at https://ggle.io/3pe5. If there is a high volume of requests for public comment, not everyone may be able to speak. For written comment send an email to SPAC@nmlegis.gov with your Name, Entity Represented, Bill #, and For or Against. Written comments are limited to 300 words or less. The deadline to respond is Thursday, February 18 at 5:00 p.m. You will be contacted by our Zoom Operator with the virtual meeting instructions. If you do not receive a response, check your junk email.

S.B. 224 – CRIME OF FAILURE TO SECURE FIREARM by Sen. Antoinette Sedillo-Lopez (D-Bernalillo) – BAD

As reported on earlier, this bill will criminalize parents who teach their children how to shoot and mandate specific gun safes and locks for firearms. This is the bill’s first committee appearance.

This bill is staunchly anti-Second Amendment and counter-productive, as it would leave children without proper firearms training to use guns properly. 

S.B. 232  – EXEMPTION FROM IMMUNIZATION by Sen. Gregg Schmedes (R-Bernalillo, Sandoval, Santa Fe, and Torrance) – GOOD

According to the fiscal impact report, “Senate Bill 232 would amend Section 24-5-3 NMSA 1978 to add a fourth reason why a child should be granted an exemption from state-required immunizations for school or dare. The fourth type of exemption, “for reasons of conscience,” would be added to the three existing reasons: medical exemptions; group religious objections to vaccine(s) and individual religious objections to vaccine(s).” This bill is friendly to New Mexicans who have conscience objections to vaccinations. 

S.B. 238 – ELIMINATE SEC. OF HEALTH POWERS by Sen. Gregg Schmedes (R-Bernalillo, Sandoval, Santa Fe, and Torrance) – GOOD

According to the fiscal impact report, “Senate Bill 238 eliminates the authority of the secretary of the Department of Health under the Public Health Emergency Response Act (PHERA) to isolate or quarantine a person who is unwilling or unable to undergo vaccination for reasons of health, religion or conscience. This bill contains an emergency clause and would become effective immediately upon signature by the governor.” This bill is friendly to those who have objections to being forcibly vaccinated by the Department of Health. 

SB 230 – INSTITUTIONAL RACISM IN STATE AGENCIES by Sen. Linda Lopez (D-Bernalillo) – BAD

“SB230 directs each state agency or entity that receives state funding to annually develop and submit a plan to address institutional racism as part of its annual final budget submission. SB230 would require copies of the annual plans to be provided to the Legislature, the Legislative Finance Committee, and the Courts, Corrections, & Justice Committee,” according to the Fiscal Impact Report. 

This bill would foster racism within state agencies based upon arbitrary attributes that employees cannot control. This would further bureaucratize New Mexico state agencies and waste hard-earned taxpayer money on programs that do not directly benefit the state in any way, shape, or form. 

S.B. 274 – USE OF DEADLY FORCE REPORTING by Sen. Antoinette Sedillo-Lopez (D-Bernalillo) and Rep. Patricia Roybal Caballero (D-Bernalillo) – BAD

Note: both of these women are running for Congress in CD-1.

According to the bill, “Within twenty-four hours of a person suffering great bodily harm or death as a result of a peace officer’s actions, the sheriff or the chief of police of the jurisdiction in which the great bodily harm or death occurred shall report the great bodily harm or death in writing to the district attorney of the judicial district in which the great bodily harm or death occurred. The sheriff or chief of police shall report all instances of suspected great bodily harm to the appropriate district attorney, even if a more thorough assessment of great bodily harm will be undertaken at a later date,” 

The bill would put undue suspicion of wrongdoing on the part of the law enforcement officer, overburdening local sheriffs and district attorneys, while not trusting police officers to carry forth their duties. 

NOTE: This same bill, but in the House form as H.B. 254 will be heard in the HOUSE CONSUMER AND PUBLIC AFFAIRS COMMITTEE on Thursday, February 18, 2021 – 10 Minutes After the Floor Session – Zoom:

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/89243737297

S.B. 227 –  INSPECTION OF POLICE MISCONDUCT INVESTIGATION – Sen. Linda Lopez (D-Bernalillo) – BAD

This bill is opposed by the Bernalillo County Deputy Sheriffs Association. It adds crippling restrictions on law enforcement and adds strict reporting criteria which does nothing by penalize law enforcers for simply carrying out their duties. Included in the bill are restrictions, such as the following:

“A law enforcement officer shall not use a chokehold. J. A law enforcement officer shall not discharge tear gas or other chemical weapons. K. A law enforcement officer shall not discharge rubber pellets from a propulsion device. L. A law enforcement officer shall not direct a dog to bite a person.” This is an anti-law enforcement bill, which takes critical tools away from officers. 

This is still being updated.

TAX, BUSINESS AND TRANSPORTATION COMMITTEE – Thursday, February 18, 2021 – 1:30 p.m. – Virtual Zoom Meeting

For public participation send an email to SCORC@nmlegis.gov with your Name, Entity Represented, Bill #, For or Against and indicate if you wish to speak. The deadline to respond is Thursday, February 18 at 10:00 a.m. You will be contacted by our Zoom Operator with the virtual meeting instructions.

SB 168 – INCREASE GAS TAX by Sen. “Bobby” J. Gonzales (D-Los Alamos, Rio Arriba, Santa Fe and Taos) – BAD 

Senate Bill 168 increases the gasoline excise tax and the special fuel excise tax by five cents per gallon (from 17 cents to 22 cents and from 21 cents to 26 cents, respectively) over a five-year period, with a one-cent increase each fiscal year beginning in FY22.

In an economic crisis, the state already faces, this bill will raise taxes on gas, hurting the state and hurting people in New Mexico already suffering enough through burdensome taxation. 

HOUSE LABOR, VETERANS’ AND MILITARY AFFAIRS COMMITTEE – ELISEO LEE ALCON, CHAIR Thursday, February 18, 2021 – 2:00 p.m. – Zoom
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/84249828480 

H.B. 268 – CORONAVIRUS & WORKERS’ COMP by Reps. Dayan Hochman-Vigil (D-Bernalillo) and Christine Chandler (D-Los Alamos, Rio Arriba, Sandoval, and Santa Fe). 

According to the New Mexico Business Coalition, “the employee would not be required to prove that they were actually exposed to Covid-19 at work.” 

The business would be forced to go to court to dispute the claim that the essential employee contracted COVID-19 during work. The bill reads, “The presumptions created in Subsection B of this section may be rebutted by a preponderance of evidence in a court of competent jurisdiction establishing that the employee engaged in conduct or activities outside of employment that substantially violated the then existent public health orders related to the coronavirus disease 2019.” 

The New Mexico Business Coalition urges members of the public to reach out to legislators on the committee and urge them to vote “NO” on the measure “because it is unfair and injurious to businesses that have been working to keep the economy going during forced shutdowns.”

Monday, February 22, 2021

HOUSE COMMERCE AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE

ANTONIO “MOE” MAESTAS, CHAIR – 1:30 p.m. – Zoom

H.B. 110 – PHASED MINIMUM WAGE INCREASE by Rep. Patricia Roybal Caballero (D-Bernalillo) – She is running for Congress in CD-1.  – BAD

“Starting January 1, 2022, the minimum wage would rise to $12.00 per hour Starting January 1, 2024, the minimum wage would rise to $15.00 per hour,” according to the fiscal impact report.

This bill hurts small businesses and causes fewer people employed because of the mandates from this anti-business, anti-worker bill. 
You are invited to a Zoom webinar. Feb 22, 2021 01:30 PM When: Feb 22, 2021 01:30 PM Mountain Time (US and Canada) Topic: HOUSE COMMERCE & ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE Please click the link below to join the webinar: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/83846715600

HOUSE ENERGY, ENVIRONMENT AND NATURAL RESOURCES COMMITTEE

MATTHEW MCQUEEN,
CHAIR
Thursday, February 18, 2021 – 8:30 a.m. – Zoom

H.J.M. 3 – WAIVE OIL & GAS PERMIT BAN ON FED LANDS by Rep. James G. Townsend (R-Artesia) and Rep. Rod Montoya (R-Farmington) – GOOD

This bill requests Joe Biden waive the suspension of new oil and gas leasing and drilling permits for federal lands in New Mexico.

Legislative Update: Bills you need to know about for Feb. 18-19 Read More »

Report: Every NM legislator bankrolled by the abortion lobby in 2020

4 Comments / New Mexico, News, Politics / By

The votes on abortion up-to-birth and infanticide bills H.B. 7 and S.B. 10 are slated for today or Friday in the New Mexico House and Senate, respectively. A lot of speculation has gone into who will vote for or against these abortion up-to-birth bills and who is being bankrolled by the abortion lobby.

We went through every donation the abortion lobbyists gave to members during the 2020 election from the New Mexico Secretary of State’s website, and all the recipients are below. The abortion groups that gave during this cycle included Planned Parenthood (abortionists) and EMILY’s List (sexist pro-abortion advocates who only give money to pro-abortion women).

Sen. Carrie Hamblen (D-Doña Ana): $5,567.36 total ($4,567.36 from Planned Parenthood, $1,000.00 from EMILY’s List).

Sen. Leo Jaramillo (D-Los Alamos, Rio Arriba, Sandoval, and Santa Fe): $3,944.86 total (all from Planned Parenthood).

Sen. Mimi Stewart (D-Bernalillo): $4,567.35 total (all from Planned Parenthood).

Sen. Siah Correa-Hemphill (D-Catron, Grant, and Socorro): $9,567.36 total ($4,567.36 from Planned Parenthood, $5,000 from EMILY’s List). 

Sen. Brenda McKenna (D-Bernalillo & Sandoval): $4,567.36 total (all from Planned Parenthood). 

Sen. Katy Duhigg (D-Bernalillo & Sandoval): $4,567.36 (all from Planned Parenthood). 

Rep. Miguel P. Garcia (D-Bernalillo): $2,032.22 total (all from Planned Parenthood). 

Rep. Raymundo Lara (D-Doña Ana): $4,567.36 total (all from Planned Parenthood).

Rep. Linda Serrato (D-Santa Fe): $4,567.36 total (all from Planned Parenthood).

Patricia Roybal Caballero (D-Bernalillo): $2,516.23 total ($2,016.23 from Planned Parenthood, $500 from EMILY’s List). 

Rep. Roger Montoya (Colfax, Mora, Rio Arriba, and San Miguel): $3,944.86 total (all from Planned Parenthood). 

Rep. Kristina Ortez (D-Taos): $4,567.36 (all from Planned Parenthood).

Rep. Meredith Dixon (D-Bernalillo): $1,220.69 (all from Planned Parenthood).

Rep. Matthew McQueen (D-Bernalillo, Santa Fe, Torrance, and Valencia): $4,567.36 (all from Planned Parenthood). 

Rep. Marian Matthews (D-Bernalillo): $5,067.36 total ($4,567.36 from Planned Parenthood, $500 from EMILY’s List Federal Fund). 

Rep. Joy Garratt (D-Bernalillo): $70 total (all from EMILY’s List). 

Rep. Elizabeth Thomson (D-Bernalillo): $70 total (all from EMILY’s List). 

Rep. Dayan Hochman-Vigil (D-Bernalillo): $70 total (all from EMILY’s List). 

Rep. Natalie Figueroa (D-Bernalillo): $70 total (all from EMILY’s List). 

Rep. Debra Sarinana (D-Bernalillo): $70 total (all from EMILY’s List). 

The Piñon Post will keep you up to date on the floor votes for H.B. 7 and S.B. 10. Planned Parenthood has been lobbying in favor of these bills with well-funded misinformation campaigns, one even claiming not being able to get an abortion is similar to not being able to own a credit card.

If you haven’t already, you can find your legislators to contact by clicking here. 

Report: Every NM legislator bankrolled by the abortion lobby in 2020 Read More »

Ungrateful NM legislators complain about ‘not getting paid’ despite per diem, pensions

3 Comments / Editorial / By

For years, New Mexico lawmakers have complained incessantly about being the only “citizen legislature” that does not receive an annual salary. Legislators from the Democrat Party and the extreme “moderate” wing of the Republican Party have repeatedly whined about it.

However, these elected leaders knew full-well when running for their place in the House or Senate that their positions were intended as a mostly voluntary position, one of service to the community and one meant not for self-enrichment, but for representation to one’s community.

But some legislators have fallen out-of-touch with the idea of the citizen legislature, such as Rep. Angelica Rubio (D-Doña Ana) who claimed in 2019 while sponsoring a bill to pay legislators a salary, that the current system has people “being left out of the system.”   

Recently, 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.” 

First-term Sen. Antoinette Sedillo Lopez (D-Bernalillo), who is already looking for a promotion to a higher office (U.S. House of Representatives), is already complaining about the Legislature not paying members a traditional salary, chiming in on Soules’ conversation, writing, “Being unpaid and part-time makes this branch of government weak.” 

“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. 

Multiple other “moderate” Republicans and leftist Democrats have complained about the pay strucutre of New Mexico legislators.

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.

Let us never forget that public servants are supposed to represent us. Those who are quick to complain about the trust we have placed in them or are putting their own well-being above that of New Mexicans should not be rewarded by getting another term in any elected office, much less a seat in the New Mexico House or Senate.

Ungrateful NM legislators complain about ‘not getting paid’ despite per diem, pensions Read More »

‘Worse’ red-flag law proposed, anti-life bills to be heard Friday

3 Comments / New Mexico, News, Politics / By

The 2021 Legislative Session is in full-swing and here are some updates on some of the most divisive anti-gun and anti-life bills:

Anti-Gun Bills

On Thursday, it was revealed that far-left Democrat lawmakers in the New Mexico House of Representatives are looking to ram through even more divisive anti-gun legislation, this time in the form of an amended “red-flag” law, H.B. 193, which will make Michelle Lujan Grisham’s 2020 version of the bill signed into law even worse. 

According to the New Mexico Shooting Sports Association’s Zac Fort (NMSSA), the bill was proposed because Democrats became “frustrated that the initial law has hardly been used.” The bill would give the authority to a police officer to request an “extreme risk” red-flag order directly, further circumventing the process and making it easier to violate due process rights enshrined in the U.S. Constitution. Fort notes that “The order would allow the police officer to search the home of the defendant and seize any firearms the officer finds.” 

“The red-flag gun confiscation order has been a failure, as has every gun-control law passed in New Mexico. No one has been made safer, we only have fewer rights to show for it. Rather than making a bad thing worse, we need to repeal the red-flag law to protect New Mexicans civil liberties,” writes Fort. 

Another overtly anti-Second Amendment bill, H.B. 166, is also being considered, proposing bans on multiple types of firearms components and self-made firearms, turning owners of such firearms into felons. Read the Piñon Post’s full analysis of the bill here.  The bills will be considered in the House Consumer and Public Affairs Committee. Members of the Committee can be found here. 

Anti-life bills

Also coming down the pipeline are two anti-life bills, H.B. 47 and H.B. 7. The first bill, H.B. 47, is an anti-life physician-assisted suicide bill that includes some horrifying language. The bill, sponsored by a far-left friend of Gov. Lujan Grisham, Rep. Deborah Armstrong (D-Bernalillo), alongside 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.”

The bill would dehumanize New Mexicans living with a terminal illness and leave them open to self-administering a fatal poison that could not only not work but could leave them in more pain than they started with, among other concerns. 

The assisted suicide bill will be heard on January 29, 2020, at 8:30 a.m. in the House Health and Human Services Committee. Members of the Committee can be found here.   

H.B. 7, the abortion up-to-birth and infanticide bill would strip critical life-saving protections for babies in the womb and mothers. It would also strip out essential protections of conscience for medical professionals, safeguarding them from being forced to perform abortions. Because the statute is flatly stripped out, the bill would allow underaged mothers to get abortions without their parents’ consent, opening up unsafe opportunities for human trafficking and abuse. The bill would allow any medical professional (not just a doctor) to perform the abortion, leaving women in risky positions, where they could face life-altering injuries and death. 
The abortion up-to-birth and infanticide bill will be considered in the House Judiciary Committee on Friday, January 29, 2020, at 8:30 a.m. Legislators in the committee can be found here.

‘Worse’ red-flag law proposed, anti-life bills to be heard Friday Read More »

NM House Dems ram through last-minute rules changes to ‘fool the public’

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Late on Friday night, the New Mexico House Rules Committee met to hash out new rules for the 2021 Legislative Session, with Democrats claiming COVID-19 warranted a complete overhaul of the years-long grandfathered-in procedures.

However, Democrats, hungering for more power, did not budge in ther rules changes of forcing members of the chamber to go through their party leadership to make a point of order, forcing all members to be on Zoom, despite Republicans being in the chamber. At the same time, Democrats refused to remain there, and a completely virtual online voting system, which Democrat Speaker Brian Egolf insisted was “doubly encrypted.”  

During the debate late Friday night, Republican Leader Rep. Jim Townsend (R-Artesia), said “The majority is hesitant for the public to see the optics of the minority on the House floor doing what they were elected to do and the other side of the chamber empty,” adding, “That is the real issue.” He said the move was to “fool the public” since Egolf’s Democrat members were refusing to stay on the House floor for debate.

Triggered by Townsend’s words, Egolf claimed he was “dangerously close” to “denouncing the reputation of other legislators,” despite not much of a reputation to uphold after Egolf has repeatedly corrupted the House chamber for his own political gain, repeatedly ramming through radical left-wing legislation despite House rules forbidding these practices.

“There’s nothing embarrassing about empty Democratic seats on the floor,” Egolf interjected, claiming, “That’s something we should be proud of.”

One far-left member, Rep. Daymon Ely (D-Albuquerque), claimed it was “dangerous” for legislators to show up to do their jobs on the House floor. He said, “The more members that are on the floor and the longer they are on the floor, the more dangerous it becomes.”

Democrat Leader Sheryl Stapleton added to the fear-mongering, saying, “Maybe some of us will end up with COVID,” and “Some of us, or one or two of us, may end up dead as a result of being in that room.” 

Republican Whip Rep. Rod Montoya (R-Farmington) quipped, “The ones not on the floor are the ones acting responsibly.” 

Democrats are likely to ram through as many left-wing partisan policy items this 60-day legislative session as possible, including abortion up-to and after birth, legalized recreational marijuana, assisted suicide, new “terrorism” definitions, higher taxes, more handouts private businesses will be forced for fork over, among other things. 

Here’s an example of Hosue Speaker Brian Egolf’s actions as speaker:

NM House Dems ram through last-minute rules changes to ‘fool the public’ Read More »

NM Capitol fenced off ahead of Legislature, NM National Guard troops sent to DC for Inauguration

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On Wednesday, it was reported that New Mexico National Guard soldiers and airmen were deployed to Washington, D.C. to act as security during the January 20th Inauguration. They reportedly will be among the 15,000 other troops from other states deployed for the event. “They will assist in areas like security, communications, and medical evaluation,” one report writes. 

“I am grateful to Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham for authorizing the New Mexico National Guard to work on this mission,” said Lujan Grisham-appointed Maj. Gen. Ken Nava, the Adjutant General of New Mexico. “This mission provides our Soldiers and Airmen the great opportunity to work and experience our democracy at work as they assist with a peaceful transition of power.”

Gov. Lujan Grisham faced harsh criticism early in her term as governor when she removed National Guard troops from the Southern Border helping in various capacities to assist federal authorities with securing the perimeter and administrative work. She called their presence there a “charade.” 

According to one National Guardsman who declined to give the Piñon Post his name in fear of retribution, he said that he was ordered to report Tuesday night to his base on Wednesday at 9:00 a.m. to be sent off for his post in Washington, D.C.

The move to lock down the Nation’s Capitol comes after alleged Antifa and fringe groups led the charge to breach the poorly secured U.S. Capitol during President Donald Trump’s January 6th speech. During the speech, the President told his supporters to march to Congress and peacefully protest the stolen election. 

Trump said at the event, “I know that everyone here will soon be marching over to the Capitol building to peacefully and patriotically make your voices heard.” 

Now leftists are using the breach as an excuse to haul off tens of thousands of Army National Guard troops to Washington, D.C. to “protect” the Nation’s Capitol from the American people.

In similar form, at the New Mexico Capitol in Santa Fe, a large fence has been erected around the perimeter of the building, shutting the public out ahead of the 55th Legislative Session set to convene on January 19th, one day before the presidential inauguration in Washington, D.C. The entire 2021 Legislature will be 100% virtual, meaning no public is allowed in the building. Speaker Brian Egolf cites “COVID-19” as the reason for this.  

It is unclear if there are any formal protests being organized on January 20th or the days running up to the inauguration in New Mexico, but the liberal media outlets are sure to be looking for rambunctious behavior from Trump supporters to attempt to damage the conservative movement, so peace is key.

President Trump said last night in a video statement, “No true supporter of mine could ever endorse political violence. No true supporter of mine could ever disrespect Law Enforcement or our great American flag. No true supporter of mine could ever threaten or harass their fellow Americans. If you do any of these things, you are not supporting our movement, you are attacking it and you are attacking our country.”

NM Capitol fenced off ahead of Legislature, NM National Guard troops sent to DC for Inauguration Read More »

NM House Dem calls for Trump supporters to be ‘forever branded with a scarlet S for seditionist’

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On Friday, in a tweet, far-left state Rep. Liz Thomson (D-Albuquerque), said that anyone who supports President Donald Trump after the January 6 protest at the Capitol be forever branded with a “scarlet S” for “seditionist.” The comment echoes another arguably unhinged op-ed in the Washington Post calling for similar actions to be taken against Senate Republicans who voted against the certification of votes from states with voter irregularities. 

She added that no individual who supports President Trump should ever be given a position of “power or responsibility,” among other attacks.

“Here’s a thought. Anyone who continues to back the orange traitor after the terrorist attack, is forever branded with a scarlet S for seditionist. They should never be given any position of power or responsibility, nor should they ever be given a platform to spread their lies,” she wrote.

The comment comes after Thomson has been a constant critic (on Twitter) of Republicans, specifically pro-Trump patriots. She has on multiple occasions demeaned New Mexicans with differing opinions, many times resorting to ad-hominem attacks and personal jabs.

In December 2020, the Piñon Post reported that Thomson mocked New Mexicans who were concerned about taking the COVID-19 vaccine, writing, “Yikes. Some education is obviously in order. Unfortunately, all of the disinformation is rampant and strong.” 

NM House Dem calls for Trump supporters to be ‘forever branded with a scarlet S for seditionist’ Read More »

Egolf says 2021 Legislature to be ‘100% virtual to the public,’ dealing a blow to rural NM

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On Monday, Speaker of the New Mexico House Brian Egolf confirmed to KRQE News 13 that the 2021 Legislative Session will be “100% virtual for the public,” meaning the “Roundhouse will be closed to the public.” 

Previously, legislators were discussing utilizing the Santa Fe Convention Center to accommodate “social distancing,” however, that appears not to be the case, according to one report.  

“Speaker Egolf said they will be expanding the use of Zoom so people can participate remotely in the session. They will even have closed captioning for people hard of hearing,” said the report. 

The move to go 100% virtual, however, will be the final call of the Legislative Council, but Egolf appears to have the votes.

Republican legislators responded to the news that was delivered to them via tweet, instead of the Speaker letting them know any other way. Rep. Gail Armstrong (R-Catron, Socorro & Valencia Counties) wrote on Twitter, “So much for transparency!” 

Rep.-elect Stefani Lord (R-Bernalillo, Sandoval & Santa Fe Counties) wrote to her followers, “If you don’t have internet.  If you have a spotty internet connection. If you don’t know how to use ZOOM, well, your voice won’t be heard this year at the roundhouse.  P.S. I can’t believe I learned about this on Twitter.  Shouldn’t the speaker let the legislators know?” 

The upcoming Legislature will be 60 days long and many hot-button issues including an abortion up-to-birth bill, recreational marijuana legalization, anti-gun bills, and other previously defeated legislation from Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham are expected to be discussed. The move to go 100% virtual may hamper access to those who live in rural communities without access to a reliable internet connection, among many others. 

Speaker Brian Egolf can be contacted via email at this address brian.egolf@nmlegis.gov.

Egolf says 2021 Legislature to be ‘100% virtual to the public,’ dealing a blow to rural NM Read More »

NM legislator who disrespected police brags about buying luxury Hermés products: ‘Treat yo self’

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Over the weekend, state Sen. Jacob Candelaria bragged on Instagram about his new purchases from the expensive French fashion house, Hermés. The legislator is known for mercilessly berating State Police officers who he called to help him with hate mail. 

When the officers arrived at Candelaria’s home, which appears to be an apartment building, he repeatedly mentioned that he was a state senator, that he would call Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham on the officers, and finally kicked them out after he did not receive the answers he was looking for.

He also filmed a 30-minute-long video where he dramatically cried about the issue and claimed that he did not feel safe, later saying in a tweet that he now has Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) from the experience. The Governor’s office appears to have blocked out Candelaria and dismissed his melodramatic tirade.

Now, after the experience, it appears the state lawmaker, who also likes to mention in his Twitter bio that he attended the Ivy League Princeton University, has decided to treat himself to luxury goods that range from hundreds of dollars to tens of thousands of dollars from Hermés, one of the most expensive fashion houses in the world.

In a post showing off the signature orange and blue boxes with the company’s logos, Candelaria wrote, “Treat yo self. The road is long and the fights are hard—-celebrating your joy is a seditious act.” 

Although the image does not disclose what specific products the state lawmaker purchased, the box’s large size means he may have purchased any number of items. Men’s scarves on the site range from $455 to $870, belts range from $825 to $5,435, and wallets range from $590 to upwards of $20,200. 

Candelaria’s likely $1,000+ purchase of luxury French goods comes as New Mexicans are feeling the effects of Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham’s strict COVID-19 lockdowns, which now threaten even more businesses with having to close for good. Working families are still struggling to put food on the table, small businesses are not allowed to operate due to their “non-essential” status, and families are not allowed to gather for the Thanksgiving holiday with more than five family members. Candelaria has supported such lockdowns.

NM legislator who disrespected police brags about buying luxury Hermés products: ‘Treat yo self’ Read More »

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