Correcting the Wrong of HB2 Legalizing Marijuana

Mental Health experts have testified before our legislature that cannabis causes psychosis, hallucinations, and addiction, and dangerously affects teen brain development – not to mention lethargy, lack of motivation and an inability to concentrate.  The Sante Fe New Mexican reported that drugs are the most prevalent factor in domestic cases that have overwhelmed our child welfare programs.

In 2021 the New Mexico State Legislature sequestered itself, disallowing the public into the Roundhouse.  A chain link fence surrounded the building.  Horrendous anti-family bills were passed.  Cannabis legislation, House Bill 2, the Cannabis Regulation Act, did not pass during the regular session so a special session was called.  Marijuana was legalized in New Mexico and we now have drug dealers on every main street in every New Mexico town.

Fast forward: the 2025 Legislative session is hailed as the session that will deal with our “mental health and crime problem,” as we will hear in the Governor’s State-of-the-State address.  Those problems began with House Bill 2, the Cannabis Regulation Act of 2021.

If the New Mexico State Legislature is serious about dealing with New Mexico’s mental health and crime issues, the first order of business should be to rescind House Bill 2, the Cannabis Regulation Act, and take marijuana off our streets.  

It is the root cause of most of our crime and mental health problems.  Its elimination would be the beginning of what would make New Mexico safe again.

Congratulations Santa Fe’s Pro-Life Community: Santa Fe Planned Parenthood Closed

Santa Fe Planned Parenthood Closed on December 30, 2024

After years of carrying signs and holding prayer vigils in front of Santa Fe’s Planned Parenthood clinic on Saint Michael’s Drive, the abortion clinic has been closed.  According to Reginal Director Adrienne Mansanares, the closure is only temporary and will be reopened when new staff are hired.  Even if a new hire occurs, the clinic will not open until summer.

Thank you, Santa Fe Pro-Life Community, for your faithful prayers and defense of life.

Please pray for the permanent closure of the clinic.

To read the Santa Fe New Mexican article, click:

https://www.santafenewmexican.com/news/local_news/santa-fe-planned-parenthood-clinic-temporarily-closed-because-of-staffing-shortage/article_12e546f2-d35a-11ef-a085-0be4f09f9219.html

Antifa – LGBT Violate Civil Rights

The right to peaceful assembly was violated by Antifa and members of the LGBT community on Saturday, April 13, as Christians gathered at the State Capitol to pray.  The Christian gathering was called to pray for New Mexico children.  Instead, for an hour the prayer meeting was disrupted by men dressed in black, their faces covered, and persons carrying LGBT signs.  They disrupted by incessant whistleblowing, loud boombox blasting, and chanting in support of Palestinians.  A panic-stricken two-year old boy rode on the shoulders of a man who pranced in front of the crowd, taunting those assembled. 

In the aftermath, two women were assaulted, one having been pushed to the ground, the other groped four times.  The Christians are to be commended for their restraint in the face of such perversity.  The dozen State Police officers present did nothing to prevent the assaults or, at a minimum, enforce the peace.

Day 42 Tuesday, February 28

Pro-lifers are not the only ones coming to the capitol only to find their bill not heard.  A group of 27 medical doctors came from around the state only to be found sitting in the gallery in their white lab coats.  At issue is SB 298, a bill that would cap liability pay outs at $750,000.

A bill that would require government intervention for children born drug addicted passed the Senate on a unanimous vote.  SB 150 requires CYFD to assess the family.  A bill three years ago requiring medical care for a child born alive to sustain life in an abortion procedure failed.

SB 180, the election reform bill, passed the Senate along party lines.  An amendment requiring voter ID was quickly table.  SB 180 allows felons to vote and creates a permanent absentee ballot list among other “reforms.”  Last year’s bill was up for a final vote late in the session and was filibustered by a two-hour speech by Senator Bill Sharer.  It did not receive a final vote.

Please pray for honest and fair elections.

Day 30, Wednesday, February 15, 2023

HB 7 REPRODUCTIVE & GENDER-AFFIRMING HEALTH CARE is scheduled for debate by the full House.

Memorials and resolutions are ways in which the Legislature acknowledges and commemorates organizations, individuals, cities etc.  Yesterday, Tuesday, was Hispanic Day at the Capitol.  The legislators, who mostly use the time to read bills and caught up on emails, were treated to music and stories and heard speeches from Hispanic leaders.  HB 7 was not debated. 

HB 134 MENSTRUAL PRODUCTS IN SCHOOL BATHROOMS has passed its first committee in the House.  The bill’s intent is to help female students in the name of Equity.  For some curious reason, the bill required the placement of feminine hygiene products in boys’ bathrooms as well.  The cost to the state is estimated at $1 million.

The HB 80 TERMINATION OF STATES OF EMERGENCY is scheduled for the House Judiciary Committee today.  The bill required the Governor to call a special session of the Legislature after 45 days of shutting down the state.  The question remains; if the bill passes will the Governor sign it into law.

Please pray for wisdom for House members as they examine HB 7, a bill that will silence public employees in matters of abortion and gender.

Day 29, Tuesday, February 14, 2023

News from the Roundhouse is the visitations from our Washington delegation.  Senator Martin Heinrich, Representative Teresa Leger Fernandez, and Representative Gave Vasquez spoke to a  joint session of the Legislature yesterday.  Senator Heinrich stressed rural health care.  He wouldn’t commit to running for governor in 2026; Leger Fernandez talked about mental health and drug treatment while Gave Vasquez stressed his roots living in poverty in Mexico. 

An effort to increase the state’s minimum wage to $12.00 appears to have been stopped this session.  The argument that increasing the minimum wage is inflationary seems to have won the day.

The federal government has used New Mexico for the deposit of nuclear waste.  A $230 million project is slated by the federal government for a facility to be built between Carlsbad and Hobbs.  Democrats in Senate voted to halt the projects at least for now.

Please pray for wisdom for the Legislators.  Happy Valentine’s Day.

Day 28, Monday, February 13, 2023
Homosexual political organizations are well-funded and exacting in their demands on our government. HB 207 “Expansion of Human Rights Act” has passed its first committee in the New Mexico State Legislature. The sponsors of the Bill state laws protecting homosexuals as ruled by the court do not cover State, County, or local governments in discrimination against homosexuals.  HB 207 will close that gap for them. The problem is that if the government entity does not hire the man wearing a dress (because he identifies as woman,) that man can sue the government on the basis of discrimination.  Also, as pointed out by Rep. Martin Zamora R-Clovis, it makes it much more difficult to remove that same person for incompetence. Please pray for a deep understanding amongst our politicians that our nation’s Judeo-Christian past is the only thing that will insure our future as a country. New Mexico Watchman
www.nmwatchman.com
nmwatchman@comcast.net                                          
“And God saw that it was good.”   
Geniuses 1:10b

NEW MEXICO STATE LEGISLATURE UPDATE: Day 25, Friday, February 10, 2023

THE GOVERNOR:

The question has always been is Governor Michele Lujan Grisham using the New Mexico governorship as a steppingstone to big and better things in Washington DC.  Governor Grisham has just been appointed by President Joe Biden to the Council of Governors.  The Council is a 10-member bipartisan group that was begun by Barack Obama to examine issues related to state and federal government. As we approach the mid-point in New Mexico’s Legislative session, the Governor has taken five days off in DC.

GUN SAFETY:

Gun safety remains a major topic with the legislators.  HB 9 UNLAWFUL ACCESS TO FIREARM BY MINOR requires all gun owners to “lockem up.”  HB 9 has passed the House.

MATERNITY & SICK LEAVE:

Maternity and sick leave are issues that also have advanced.  A new tax law on employees and businesses would set up a program for 12 weeks of medical and paternity leave.  SB 11 PAID FAMILY & MEDICAL LEAVE would tax employers $4.00 for every $1,000 they pay in wages and employees $5.00 for every $1,000 they receive.  If passed, the program would begin in 2026.

An employer would anxiously want to know if new hire was pregnant or thinking of getting pregnant.  According to the Left, the question would apply to both men and women.  Three months is a long time for an employee to be gone and a tricky amount of time to find a replacement.

PRAYER REQUEST:

Please pray for wisdom for each Legislator as they define the line between government imposition and personal freedoms.