1. REPUBLICAN LAWMAKER CRACKS DOWN ON "CATCH AND RELEASE" CRIMINAL PROBLEM
Rep. Gregg Schmedes (R)-Tijeras is taking the bulls by the horns when it comes to our judicial system releasing dangerous criminals. Today Schmedes introduced House Bill 203 which will address the catch and release loophole in New Mexico’s courts by making it harder for repeat offenders to continue targeting our communities. NM House Republican leaders are continuing their longstanding work to pass crime-focused bills in the 2020 legislative session. The bill is a response to a recent Albuquerque citizens survey. The survey revealed a sense of hopelessness in the city and people said crime and homelessness were the biggest problems.
“Crime is an epidemic in our communities and Mayor Keller is not listening to his citizens. Despite that I am hopeful that the Democrat leadership finally takes this problem into consideration,” said Rep. Schmedes.“Just four years ago the Speaker ended session by complaining about the ‘all crime all the time’ Republican agenda.”
2. BUDGET AND FINANCE TOP PRIORITIES IN SESSION, BUT PANEL CALLS RED FLAG BILL "GERMANE."
Democrats are determined to shove the Red Flag bill through. This 30-day Session is supposed to be about mainly crafting a state budget and dealing with fiscal issues to keep New Mexico's house in order. But today the Democratically-controlled Senate Committees' Committee agreed that the Red Flag bill is "germane" to the Session. The legislation would allow authorities to take away guns from people they consider to be a danger to others. This is a blatant attack on our 2nd Amendment rights. Call your lawmakers to stop this bill, the Extreme Risk Firearm Protection Order Act, (HB 7 and SB 5) from moving forward.
3. REPUBLICAN LAWMAKER DEMANDS TRANSPARENCY IN WRONGDOING SETTLEMENTS
Sen. Sanders Rue (R)-Albuquerque has sponsored a bill to make public any financial settlements that involve accusations of wrongdoing by state officials. The bill, which has bi-partisan support, was introduced into the Senate. The reforms would make public the terms of taxpayer-funded settlements as soon as agreements are either signed, paid out, or mandated by a jury award. The legislation addresses concerns surrounding the current system that led to secretive, unjustified payouts during Gov. Susana Martinez's Administration. It's time we had more transparency in our government.
4. DEMOCRATS READY TO THROW HUNDREDS OF MILLIONS INTO EARLY EDUCATION
Seems those Democrats will never learn. Today House Democrats introduced that bill to establishes a childhood education fund to the tune of $320 million. Here's what the bill's sponsor said:
“What we are doing now is not working and that can be seen by our dismally low ranking in child well-being. We won’t reverse this trend until we make the necessary investments in our kids..."
Instead of fixing the serious problem of early childhood education, Democrats are tossing more money into this. This is just a one-time appropriation as well, and Democrats plan to rely on contributions from the Emergency School Tax and Federal Mineral Leasing to keep it going. This is not sound fiscal policy. And where will this first $320 million revenue stream come from?
