New Mexico Watchman

Monday, February 13, 2017
Please join us TOMORROW, Tuesday February 14, 2017, in support of Senator Bill Sharer and David Gallegos with SB 183 Partial and Late Term Abortion Bill. 
PLEASE CONTACT THE LEGISLATORS BELOW AND URGE THEM TO SUPPORT THIS BILL.

SB 183: PARTIAL AND LATE-TERM ABORTION:  WILLIAM SHARER and DAVID GALLEGOS
The SB 183 Partial and Late Term Abortion (Sharer R-Farmington) would ban abortion after 20 weeks.  The bill will be heard by the Senate Public Affairs Committee tomorrow, Tuesday, February 14, 2017 in Room 321 at 2:30 p.m. or a half-hour after the floor session ends.

The bill disallows abortion after 20 weeks with the only exception being the health of the mother.  The mental health of the mother will not be considered.  Please contact the Senate Public Affairs Committee member and sure them to support SB 183 Partial and Late Term Abortion Ban.

                                          NM Legislature 2017
                             Senate Public Affairs Committee

BILLS WE ARE FOLLOWING:
With the exception of the above, the following bills we are following have been scheduled.

HB 171: End of Life Options Act
This bill would allow any health care provider with any credential to prescribe a lethal dose of drugs to a dying patient.

CURRENT STATUS:    Passed the House Health and Human Services
Referred to House Judiciary Committee
COMMITTEE HEARING NOT SCHEDULED

HB 37: Born Alive Infant Protection Act
HB 37 Born Alive Infant Protection Act would require medical care for those infants surviving a failed abortion.

CURRENT STATUS:  House Consumer and Public Affairs Committee
COMMITTEE HEARING NOT SCHEDULED

HB 89: Cannabis Revenue and Freedom Act
HB 89 would legalize recreational marijuana, setting up taxation and board of regulators.
CURRENT STATUS:  Passed House Consumer Affairs with “No                                Recommendation”
Referred to House Business and Industry Committee
COMMITTEE HEARING NOT SCHEDULED

SB 278: Cannabis Revenue and Freedom Act
This bill is a duplicate bill to the above HB 89 which would legalize marijuana in the state.

CURRENT STATUS:  Rolled over in the Senate Judiciary Consumer.  Will be reconsidered  once recommended changes and deletions have been made the bills sponsors.
                                    ROLLED OVER FOR LATER CONSIDERATION 

HB 72 Reinstating the Death Penalty

As stated the bill would reinstate the death penalty in New Mexico and provide for an appeal procedures and methodolog

CURRENT STATUS:  Referred to House Consumer and Public Affairs
COMMITTEE HEARING NOT SCHEDULED

When it comes to enacting legislation, forward movement is essential.  The following is an

interim report on bills the New Mexico Watchman has been following;

HB 89: Cannabis Revenue and Freedom Act
Five bills related to marijuana have been submitted this year.  The bill that would legalize recreational marijuana received a lively debate last Saturday, February 5, 2017.  Rep. Bill McCamley (D-Mesilla Park) touted a wonderful prosperity with an estimated $400 million coming into the state as a result of a stoned populace.  The $65 million state budgetary deficit would be eliminated and 11,000 jobs would be created.  Representative McCamley compared the debilitating effects of alcohol to the mellowing effects of cannabis.  A rally in support of HB 89 at the Roundhouse drew very few supporters last week, maybe for the same reason.

During the Public Comment opposition was voiced regarding public safety, enforcement issues and the effects of an intoxicated populace including our youth, despite the 21 year old age requirement for purchasing.  The bill was moved forward by the House Consumer and Public Affairs committee with a “No Recommendation.”

HB 171: End of Life Options Act
The House Health and Human Services Committee heard the “End of Life Options Bill” also being carried by Representatives McCamely and Debra Armstrong.  The bill would allow a health care provider with any credential to prescribe lethal drugs to a dying patient.

Among others, the room was filled with New Mexico Highland University Social Work undergraduate students brought to the meeting by their professor, Dolores Ortega.

Many stories of suffering loved ones were expressed by the crowd of approximately 150.  A small group of eight in opposition to the bill raised questions of ethics, credentials and accountability that are absent in the proposed law.  The committee approved the legislation which now moves to the House Judiciary Committee.

HB 37: Born Alive Infant Protection Act
A press conference was held yesterday, Monday, February 8, 2017 at the Roundhouse exposing the deceptive practices and fallacious relationship of University of New Mexico and Southwest Women’s Options regarding among other things, the failure to received consent from mothers and the selling and utilization of baby body parts by the University.  HB 37 Born Alive Infant Protection Act would require medical care for those infants surviving a failed abortion.

The bill has been sent to the House Consumer and Public Affairs Committee but no hearing has been scheduled.

New Mexico Watchman
www.nmwathcman.com

The Born Alive Infant Protection Act HB 37 will NOT be heard tomorrow Saturday, 2/4/17

The House Health Consumer and Public Affairs Committee will hear the bill on Tuesday, February 14, 2017.

The Cannabis Revenue and Freedom Act HB 89 will be heard tomorrow, Saturday, 4, 2017 at 10 a.m. in the House Chamber.

The members of the House Consumer and Public Affairs Committee are as follow.

Please pray for our legislators for wisdom and guidance and the Lord’s present in their deliberations.

New Mexico Watchman
www.nmwatchman.com

House Consumer & Public Affairs Committee

The Physician Assisted Suicide Bill will be heard tomorrow, Friday, February 3, 2017 at 8:30 a.m. in Room 309 by the House Health and Human Services Committee, Representative Deborah Armstrong, Chair.  This bill allows medical care providers to assist the killing of patients without legal ramifications.

The bill is titled End of Life Options Act:  House Bill 171, Rep. Deborah Armstrong, Albuquerque and Rep. Bill McCamley, Mesilla Park

Following the New Mexico Supreme Court failure to find Physician-Assisted-Suicide unconstitutional, the State Legislature has now taking steps to make the act legal.  House Bill 171 removes all criminal liability for assisting patients in killing themselves.

PLEASE CONTACT the member of the House Consumer and Public Affairs Committee (see below) and voice your opposition to HB 171 End of Life Options.  The issue that this bill raises has been addressed by the New Mexicans for Ethical Medical Treatment.  The flyer is attached.

Thank you for your prayers and responsiveness to this critical issue.  Please continue to pray and to act by joining us at the Roundhouse, contact the Representative and praying.

New Mexico Watchman
www.nmwatchman.com

Assisted Suicide
New Mexicans for Ethical Medical Treatment

• Assisted suicide decreases the value of human life.
• It would violate the doctor’s Hippocratic Oath and change the role of the doctor. The AMA opposes assisted suicide for this reason.
• It would open up many abuses, such as: assisting someone who is not really dying, assisting someone who is in depression, assisting someone who feels their existence is inconvenient to others, and lastly assisting the elderly who can be coerced.
• It encourages doctors and families to give up on hope of recovery and avoid heroic measures.
• Undue pressure can be put on the patients and doctors by insurance companies or the government.
• Doctors would be given too much power and can make the wrong diagnosis.
• Talking high doses of barbiturates is not a peaceful death
• Those with disabilities, mental problems, the elderly or those with chronic conditions would be a great risk.
• There is no requirement for a witness to be available at the time of death.
• Patients may not know all of the pain management choices.
• Heirs could gain their inheritances sooner, which might encourage assisted suicide.
  Mexicans for Ethical Medical Treatment.
  Call for more information @ 505-881-4563,
  WWW.NMEMT.ORG

2017 NM Legislature
House Consumer & Public Affairs Committee

Alert:  Three Bills Major This Saturday, February 4-10:00 a.m.

Three major bills will be heard by the House Consumer and Public Affairs Committee.  The bills are Born Alive Infant Protection Act, the Cannabis Revenue and Freedom Act and the Reinstatement of the Death Penalty Act.

The bills will be heard at the New Mexico State Capitol (325 Don Gaspar, Santa Fe and Paseo de Peralta) in Room 309.  The meeting is scheduled to start at 10:00 a.m.  Because of the nature of the legislation, it is not unusual for the meeting rooms to be filled to capacity two hours before start time.  If you are planning to attend, please plan to be their early.

Following is the legislation to be presented:

Born Alive Infant Protection Act:  House Bill 37, Rep. Rod Montoya (R-Farmington)

New Mexico is a center for unlimited abortions.  Sometimes those children tended for abortion are born alive.  The practice currently is thought to be to allow these child to die.  In 2013 the number of reported infants surviving an abortion was 1,270.

Rep. Montoya’s bill would require that any child born alive receives medical care and that the child is to be reported as a live birth. The bill is slated to stop infanticide following a failed abortion.

Cannabis Revenue and Freedom Act:  House Bill 89 Rep. Bill McCamley, Mesilla Park and Rep. Javier Martinez, Albuquerque

House Bill 89 legalizes marijuana in the state, establishes and oversight board, restricts possession amounts and taxes sales.  If passed the bill is expected to bring in millions of dollars into the state but at a tremendous social cost.

Reinstating the Death Penalty: House Bill 72  Rep. Monica Youngblood (R-Albuquerque)

As stated, this bill would reinstate the death penalty in New Mexico and provide for an appeal procedures and methodology.

[ Please Note:  In addition HB 50 Background checks on Gun Transfers:  Rep. Garcia Richard is also to be heard, a exceptionally large number of people are expected to attend these hearings.]

ACTION ALERT:

It is vital that the members of the House Consumer and Public Affairs Committee hear from us on these issues.  Please take the time to meet with, write, telephone and email the legislators on the committee with you concerns, especially if the legislators represent your district.  Below you will find their names and contact information.

Please keep our legislators in prayer for wisdom and guidance with regards to this legislation.

God bless you and God bless the New Mexico State Legislature.

New Mexico Watchman

www.nmwatchman.org

nmwachman@comcast.net

2017 NM Legislature

House Consumer & Public Affairs Committee

Note:  CN refers to offices located in the Capitol North building.

To dial the legislator’s phone, use 986- plus the extension.