Weekly NM Roundup: Legislative Session Promises Big Budget Battle

Tuesday, January 21, 2020

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WHAT'S HAPPENING IN THE LEGISLATURE

ROUNDHOUSE RUMBLE STARTS IN SANTA FE TODAY

The annual Legislative Session began today as state lawmakers look to hammer out a state budget. In her State of the State Address, Gov. Lujan Grisham announced more programs she'd like, but didn't discuss fiscal details. Lujan Grisham has proposed more spending--an 8.5% increase over last year. If that happens, New Mexico's budget would have ballooned more than 20% in two years. The governor's progressive agenda calls for more funding--but from where? She wants free college tuition and a $320 million Early Childhood Trust Fund. No word on where this revenue stream would come from or what must be sacrificed for her to go on a spending spree. By the way, Governor, you can't count on the oil and gas industry to be a constant cash cow down the road.

DEMOCRATIC LAWMAKER WANTS A HIATUS IN FRACKING

Oil and gas provide billions to our state and accounts for 40% of the state's revenue. The strong industry helps fund schools and other vital government programs. Now a Democratic state senator wants to take a four-year break from issuing new permits for hydraulic fracturing. Sen. Antoinette Sedillo Lopez of Albuquerque pre-filed a proposal that calls for several state agencies to study the impacts of fracking and recommend new regulations. This failed Congressional candidate from Albuquerque knows nothing about the oil and gas industry. Her proposal would devastate our New Mexico economy and hurt New Mexico teachers, who rely on education funding.

PENSION TENSION

Lawmakers will be wrestling over how to fix New Mexico's pension system. The state has an unfunded liability in the billions. Now Gov. Lujan Grisham wants to increase public employee contributions to repair this broken system. Isn't that great? Workers will have to pay more because Democrats can't fix this years-long mess. It's wrong to take more out of people's pockets to band-aid this pension fiasco.

REPUBLICAN LEADER PROPOSES TAXPAYER BILL OF RIGHTS

House Minority Whip Rod Montoya wants some fiscal common sense--to control spending and get a grip on rising taxes. He's asking for a Constitutional Amendment that would restrict annual spending by state lawmakers and require any future tax increases to be approved by 3/5 majority of both chambers. He's also calling for taxpayers to receive annual rebates after spending limits are met. Finally, a push to get some responsibility in our government.

RECREATIONAL MARIJUANA COULD BE A BURNING ISSUE

Gov. Lujan Grisham is supporting a bill to approve recreational marijuana. The Republican Party opposes this. Shouldn't we focus on current drug abuse problems and mental illness first? In addition, it seems likely that such a law would lead to underage use and impaired driving. Meanwhile Democratic Las Cruces Mayor Ken Miyagishima has announced his opposition to this proposal. He worries recreational pot would increase crime. Maybe the governor should listen to fellow Democrats about why recreational pot is a bad idea.

DURING THE LEGISLATIVE SESSION, YOU WILL RECEIVE REGULAR UPDATES ON KEY BILLS AND OTHER HAPPENINGS AT THE ROUNDHOUSE.

IMPORTANT REMINDERS

COUNTY PRE-PRIMARY CONVENTIONS

New Mexico's counties are gearing up and preparing for Pre-Primary Conventions. The County Conventions begin January 25 and run through February 2. At each Convention, delegates will be selected to go to the State Convention in March.

Click here to go to our website page where you will find each county's information for its Convention, including date, time and location. In the "any category" drop-down menu, go to "county events."

As more counties provide us with information, we will update it on our RPNM website. On our Home Page, please select the "events" tab and proceed from there.

DEPLORE-A-BALL IN ARTESIA

The date has changed to March 28. See below.

PRIMARY NOMINATING PETITIONS

Let's make our courts conservative! Please sign all of our Party judicial nominating petitions for Supreme Court and NM Court of Appeals. Please go to our website, download and sign them all. They are separate races.

Remember, you must return the signed petitions to the RPNM office at 5150A San Francisco NE, Albuquerque, NM 87109 or mail to P.O. Box 94083, Albuquerque, NM 87199-4083. Please, NO EMAILS!

Please return the petitions by January 31.

Thank You.

PLEASE CHECK OUT THE REPUBLICAN PARTY OF NEW MEXICO'S UPDATED WEBSITE!

The new comprehensive website includes:

New features
All upcoming events
More content on local, county, state and federal officials
Voter resources
Press releases
Videos
Inside NM podcats
Various petitions and sign-up forms
Volunteer and Donation information

Click here to go the website

SUPPORT THE PARTY AND KEEP OUR ELECTIONS FAIR

Get involved in 2020 elections! You can become a poll watcher or a challenger and help preserve the integrity of New Mexico's elections.

To sign up, please click here.

GET YOUR PRESIDENT TRUMP GEAR!

Grab your MAGA gear! Shirts, hats, bumper stickers and more are available at RPNM Headquarters in Albuquerque. Our address is: 5150-A San Francisco NE, Albuquerque, NM 87109.

Hats and shirts are $20 each or both for $35.

DONATE TO RPNM

LISTEN TO CHAIRMAN PEARCE'S WEEKLY PODCAST!

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:

GOT A TIP?

Email us if you have a particular issue that you would like us to follow or highlight in our future newsletters.

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Republican Party of New Mexico

5150 San Francisco Rd NE # A

Albuquerque, NM 87109-4640

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