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The First Session of the 55th Legislature
Monday, January 25, 2021
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WHAT'S HAPPENING IN THE LEGISLATURE
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HOUSE APPROVES RULES FOR SESSION—TRANSPARENCY IN STATE GOVERNMENT DEFEATED
Real transparency and open government in this legislative session were dealt a blow today. The full House voted to approve a radical Democrat-led package of rules designed to silence the minority party. After hours of debate, the House voted 48 to 22 to keep meetings and floor sessions virtual, even if lawmakers were in the chamber. House Resolution 1 would force any lawmaker to appear online. It’s obvious that the majority is afraid of the impression it might give if Republicans were actually in the chamber, conducting the peoples’ business. Today’s vote and the closure of the Roundhouse to the public demonstrate a real defiance by Democrats to have a transparent state government. The new rules go against the state Constitution which requires lawmakers to meet in Santa Fe.
“Today is a sad day for New Mexico and for transparency and open access to our government,” said House Republican Leader Jim Townsend (R-Artesia). “What the Democrats did today was not simply silencing their political opposition in the House with their rule changes, they silenced the very people we were elected to represent. “
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BILL THAT WOULD DECRIMINALIZE ABORTION CLEARS SENATE COMMITTEE
Legislation that would repeal a 1969 New Mexico law that outlaws abortion cleared the Senate Health and Public Affairs Committee late today. The vote on SB 10 went along party lines 5 to 3. It now heads to the Senate Judiciary Committee. This bill would allow for late term abortion and infanticide and must be stopped.
CALL TO ACTION: Contact lawmakers on the Senate Judiciary Committee and tell them this bill will not protect the unborn, women and health care professionals. Sen. Joseph Cervantes is the Chair. His email is: [email protected] and his phone number is: (505) 397-8820. We must hold life sacred. It is our responsibility to protect our children and women throughout New Mexico.
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2021 ROUNDHOUSE PROFILES: WORKING HARD FOR YOU
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Sen. Greg Baca is the new Senate Minority Leader. He lives in Belen and serves Bernalillo and Valencia Counties. Baca is on the Rules, Judiciary and Committees' Committee. He's been in the Senate since 2017. You can email Sen. Baca: [email protected]
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Rep. James Townsend is the House Minority Leader. Townsend lives in Artesia and serves Chaves, Eddy and Otero Counties. He's been in the House since 2015. Townsend is a member of the Judiciary, Rules and Order of Business and Energy, Environment and Natural Resouces Committee. You can email Rep. Townsend: [email protected]
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CHECK OUT WHAT'S HAPPENING ON THE NEW MEXICO SENATE AND HOUSE REPUBLICANS FACEBOOK PAGES
To go to the NM Senate Republicans Facebook page, click here.
To go to the NM House Republicans Facebook page, click here.
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DURING THE LEGISLATIVE SESSION, YOU WILL RECEIVE REGULAR UPDATES ON KEY BILLS AND OTHER HAPPENINGS AT THE ROUNDHOUSE
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LISTEN TO CHAIRMAN PEARCE'S PODCAST
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Be sure to catch Inside New Mexico with Steve Pearce each week on your favorite podcast platform. You can subscribe to listen and be notified when a new episode is available.
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