Author: JD Vasquez

When presenting a bill, especially a bill that’s going to cost the government $1.2 million, it’s helpful to throw in some statistics.  HB 134 will require every public school to stock free menstrual products.  Proponents of the bill came up with a BMC Public Health study that found 20% of students have difficulty affording menstrual products.  That number increases to 25% for Hispanic students according to the open-source publication.   The bill, devised by 3 Albuquerque teens, received a “Do Pass” from the Senate Education Committee.

HB 4 Voting Rights Protection was passed by the House and is on its way to the Senate.  Proponents of the bill described a weeping felon who was brought to tears as the result of being disallowed the chance to vote.  In a strategic move, allowing 16-year-olds to vote that was part of last year’s Voting Rights bill was presented as a separate bill and did not survive its first committee hearing.

As we approached the final day, may the lawmakers choose wisely what legislation to advance and what to remain unfinished.

The LGBQ community began their movement decades ago, in the 1940s.  In the 1980s the movement took off in earnest with TV and movies displaying homosexuals as sympathetic victims.  We were urged to be tolerant in the face of an oppressed minority.  Bills in the New Mexico Legislature were passed that required the “acceptance” of an oppressed minority.  We were disallowed counseling a gender-confused child for example. 

Yesterday HB 7 cleared the Senate.  We as a state have gone from sympathy to tolerance to now, affirming homosexuality.  If we fail to affirm the penalty is a $5,000 fine.  All this is being done in the guise of health.

The bill also insures that no county can ban abortion and that any child seeking an abortion or sex change must be affirmed.

HB 7 returns to the House for “concurrence,” that is to clean up language differences between the House and Senate versions, then to the Governor for signature.

The primary task of the legislature is to create and pass a budget.  The question currently is how much of the billions of dollars should be returned to New Mexico taxpayers.  Currently under consideration is $300 for individuals and $600 for couples.  The Governor is seeking double that amount.  Her proposal would cost $1 billion dollars, the legislature’s proposal is half that.

Also included in the budget package is a $60,000 raise for the Governor.

Making bestiality a crime has become a priority for lawmakers.  A law outlawing having sex with animals is very much needed according to our legislators.  New Mexico is the only state that does not outlaw bestiality.

The voting rights access bill, SB 4, is headed for a full Senate vote.  The bill automatically registers felons upon their release from prison, registers anyone doing business with DMV, creates a permanent absentee ballot list, and makes election day a state holiday.

Please pray for just and righteous voting laws in the state and a fiscally responsible budget.

The Senate Judiciary Committee consists of 5 lawyers, a former school teacher, a businessman, and a farmer

In hearing HB 7 Reproductive and Gender-Affirming Health Care, the lawyers on the committee admitted that the amendment to the bill was unreadable.  They passed it anyway.  The fact that the bill is an assault on the first amendment rights of public employees and that the bill protects predatory teachers was not mentioned.

In the wake of children possessing handguns resulting in murder, the bill requiring guns to be locked away and out of the reach of children, HB 9, is the first piece of gun legislation to reach Governor Lujan Grisham’s desk.

In addition, SB 11 Paid Family Leave and SB 4 Free School Meals have both passed the Senate.

Day 46, Friday, March 3, 2023

A bill that would cap medical malpractice payouts at $750,000 has been tabled.  The argument for the cap was that independent medical providers will not survive a major lawsuit and the cap would draw out-of-state doctors to New Mexico.  The argument against the bill was that some medical injuries would require a great amount of compensation.     

A bill to provide free breakfasts and lunches to all school children has advanced.  The SB 4 is budgeted at $30 million.  The perpetual argument for the bill is that children can’t learn when they are hungry.  The counter argument is the continued expansion of the role government plays in our society.

Albuquerque is plagued with carjackings.  The thief is the highest in the nation.  A bill to increase penalties for repeat carjackers was tabled along a party lines vote, leading Representative Block to call the vote a “clown show.”

HB 7  Reproductive and Gender Affirming Health Care passed the Senate Health and Public Affairs Committee on a party-line vote of 6 to 2.  Debate centered around Senator Greg Schmedes’ pointing out that all European countries have discontinued the use of the “gender-affirming model.”  

Dr. Schmedes, a physician, pointed out that scientific papers on both sides of the argument could be produced but that the countries that had implemented these procedures experienced negative consequences for those who were affirmed, specifically homosexuals.  Under the model, homosexuals were encouraged to transition and puberty blockers were antithetical to the person’s overall well-being.

Senator David Gallegos pointed out that we have reverted back to biblical times in which the god Molech was worshiped with the sacrifice of infants.

New Mexico State Legislature

nmlegis.gov

New Mexico Alliance for Life

https://www.nmallianceforlife.org/

Right to Life

http://rtlnm.org/

Southwest Coalition for Life

https://southwest.life/

New Mexico Family Movement

www.nmfam.org

New Mexico Watchman

https://nmwatchman.com

Piñon Post
pinonpost.com

The Rotunda of the State Capitol is a very busy place during the legislative session.  Various groups, everything from environmentalists to child advocates occupy the space for rallies.  Rarely does the Governor make an appearance.  Yesterday, however, the anti-gun lobby bussed in school children to hear the Governor insist that anti-gun legislation be passed.   Bills that are being considered are a 14-day wait period before the purchase of a gun, a ban .50 caliber assault weapons, penalties for child accessibility as the result of improper storage, and a ban on automatic assault weapons.

Given New Mexico’s drug and mental health crisis, a number of bills have been introduced such as $20 million for drug treatment for the homeless and $10 million for mental health staffing.  Little progress has been made and the effort appears piecemeal. 

Please pray that the power and the monies available to our legislators would result in the betterment of our state rather than the just loss of freedoms.

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.

“HB 7 Reproductive and Gender-Affirming Freedom Health Care” is slated for debate and passage by the New Mexico State Legislature’s House of Representatives.  The bill is anti-family and anti-free speech.  Please click the link below. 

https://www.dropbox.com/s/i7ik1cz0xhfkvnd/HB7%20Destroys%20Families.mp4?dl=0