Pastor Dewey Moede Note: Thank the Lord for people like Dr. Guy Clark that stand in the gap for God on the horrific gambling problem in New Mexico! We are thankful for our relationship with Dr. Clark and what he stands for! PS: Not enough of the body of Christ is involved in this effort to end gambling in New Mexico. I do not find in my Bible that this is allowed. Thanks to all of the FGGAM readers that got involved in stopping this ungodly legislation! PTL!! Thank you LORD for those that see your ways. 
SUCCESS IN DEFEATING SB-180
Dear Friends,
Senate Bill 180, the bill that had the potential to replace the paper lottery with video slot machines went down today, February 16, in House Ways and Means Committee in a lopsided 8 to 4 victory for our side.
The bill had been on a fast-track, passing its first Senate Committee on February 8, skipped out of Senate Finance, and passed the full Senate on February12. It was referred to the House Ways and Means Committee on the same day.
There were probably several reasons for the victory. Our pounding on the nebulous phrase in the bill allowing the lottery authority to contract for “lottery gaming systems,” raised the spectre of slot machines in lottery vendors across the state. Another reason for the victory was the dozens of phone calls and emails that most of the committee members received calling for the rejection of the bill (GOOD WORK!!). An editorial in the Albuquerque Journal today, February 16, titled, “Don’t let scholarship bill expand video gambling” probably helped us to defeat the bill.
At any rate, many members of the committee were not comfortable with the “lottery gaming systems” phrase, although the sponsors tried hard to explain it away. They denied that it meant video slot machines, but were never successful in explaining what it WAS.
It was a great victory and we are thankful for all of your help.
Dr. Guy C. Clark, chairman
Stop Predatory Gambling New Mexico
Round Up From The Roundhouse From The New Mexico House Republican Caucus:
In Case You Missed It!
Senate Committee Kills Bipartisan Ethics Commission
Santa Fe, NM – Today, the Senate killed a bipartisan proposal to create an independent ethics commission. After the Senate Rules Committee stripped the bill of any teeth the ethics commission would’ve had Rep. Jim Dines said he no longer wanted his name on the proposal.
Ethics commission hits dead end in Senate panel
Dan Boyd, Capitol Bureau Chief
Albuquerque Journal
February 16, 2016
https://www.abqjournal.com/724698/abqnewsseeker/ethics-commission-hits-dead-end-in-senate-panel.html
SANTA FE, N.M. — A renewed attempt to create a New Mexico ethics commission to look into complaints against legislators, other elected officials and lobbyists stalled this morning in a Senate committee and is likely dead for the 30-day session that ends Thursday.
The sponsor of the ethics commission measure, Rep. Jim Dines, R-Albuquerque, told members of the Senate Rules Committee he was not comfortable with the committee’s proposed changes to the legislation.
Specifically, Dines said he would no longer want his name appearing on the measure if the changes were adopted.
One of the proposed changes to the ethics commission legislation would have reduced the body’s authority, which Dines said have meant less public access to its deliberations.
“We’re going to have to embrace transparency,” Dines told senators. “It’s something that we’re going to need to have to have an effective ethics commission.”
The proposed ethics commission, House Joint Resolution 5, was approved by the House on a 50-10 vote last week. The idea was sparked by recent scandals involving New Mexico elected officials.
If approved by the Legislature, the ethics commission proposal would have been placed on the November ballot.
Instead, it will meet the same fate as previous attempts to enact an ethics commission. Several previous ethics commission measures also passed the House but died in the Senate, most recently in 2013.
Several members of the Senate Rules Committee said today they plan to keep working on the issue, but added they want to be sure any enacted ethics commission is well thought out.
“We’re at a point where this needs to be done,” said Sen. Sander Rue, R-Albuquerque. “I’m disappointed we didn’t get it done this year.”
Bill to Archive Legislature’s Webcasts Passes House Floor Unanimously
Santa Fe, NM – House Bill 301, sponsored by Rep. Alonzo Baldonado, would require the Legislative Council Service to archive webcasts of the Legislature’s floor sessions and committee meetings for five years. The bill passed the House Floor on a unanimous 62 to 0 vote tonight.
“Preserving the public’s access to these records improves transparency and helps the public stay informed,” Baldonado said. “Enacting this legislation will let New Mexicans across the state observe what their elected officials are doing in Santa Fe.”
Currently, committee meetings and floor sessions are webcast live on the Legislature’s website, but not archived for the public to watch later. If the bill becomes law it would require the Legislature to archive the recordings of all committee meetings and floor sessions.
Senate Democrats Kill Two Bills That Would Protect Children From Child Abusers
Santa Fe, NM –Senate Democrats killed two bills in Senate Public Affairs Committee that would have protected New Mexico’s children from child abusers. In addition, the bills received three committee referrals and languished in the Senate for weeks before their first committee hearings. The two bills passed the House Floor last month by an overwhelming majority.
“There is absolutely no reason these bills should have died,” said Rep. Alonzo Baldonado, House Majority Whip. “As legislators, one of our most critical jobs is to protect children from abuse. It is extremely disappointing that Senate Democrats did not vote to protect our most vulnerable today.”
House Bill 68 was killed in Senate Public Affairs. The bill would have increased the penalty for the first offense of intentional child abuse from a third degree felony to a second degree felony. The penalty for subsequent offenses would have been increased from a second degree felony to a first degree felony. The bill passed the House on a 61 to 1 vote in January.
House Bill 69 was also killed in the committee. This bill would have broadened Baby Brianna’s Law to include all children under the age of 18. The law is named after Brianna Lopez, an infant who was killed by members of her family in 2002. Currently, individuals who intentionally abuse a child resulting in the death of the child face life in prison only if the child is under the age of 12. James’ proposal would have made all acts of child abuse resulting in the death of the child punishable by life imprisonment, regardless of the age of the child. This proposal passed the House unanimously.
Last year, a similar proposal to expand Baby Brianna’s Law was also killed in the Senate Public Affairs Committee after passing the House with a large majority.
Bill to Create Tax-Free Savings Accounts for People with Disabilities Heads to Governor’s Desk
Santa Fe, NM – A bill to authorize Achieving a Better Life Experience (ABLE) savings accounts in New Mexico passed the Senate today by a unanimous vote of 34 to 0. House Bill 61 is sponsored by Reps. Conrad James and Sheryl Williams Stapleton. The House of Representatives unanimously approved the measure on February 8, 2016. It will now be sent to Governor Susana Martinez for her signature.
“Passage of this bill is a victory for members of the disability community and their families,” said James. “This legislation gives New Mexico families an opportunity to take advantage of this beneficial federal program, and it provides peace of mind that loved ones will have the resources they need now and in the future. I’m glad it’s on its way to becoming law.”
The federal ABLE Act of 2014 allows families to set aside money on a tax-free basis to pay for the costs of a family member living with a disability. It encourages saving by waiving the $2,000 limit on savings and assets required to maintain eligibility for federal means-tested programs such as Medicaid. The federal law requires each state to pass legislation authorizing the creation and regulation of these accounts within the state. The State Treasurer’s Office would be responsible for overseeing these accounts in New Mexico.
House GOP Caucus Update
February 16, 2016
Santa Fe, NM – There are just a couple of days left in the 2016 Legislative Session, and House Republicans have scored crucial victories to end the practice of giving driver’s licenses to undocumented immigrants and bring New Mexico into compliance with the REAL ID Act. The House also passed important bills to establish an independent ethics commission and allow law enforcement officers to return to work after retirement.
Senate Democrats continue to block reforms needed to protect the safety and security of New Mexicans. The Senate Public Affairs Committee killed an effort to fix New Mexico’s Habitual Offenders law to include DWI felons. The same committee also blocked two bills to strengthen our state’s child abuse laws.
In the House:
Bill to stop giving driver’s licenses to illegal immigrants and make New Mexico Real ID compliant heads to Governor’s desk. “Pacheco stressed that, under the legislation, undocumented immigrants would no longer be issued driver’s licenses, as they have been under state law since 2003. That’s been a priority for Martinez since she was elected in 2010.” (“Driver’s License Deal Heads to Governor” Albuquerque Journal, 2/15/2016)
House and Senate bill sponsors reach a compromise on bail bond reform and passed the House unanimously. “A revamped version of a constitutional amendment that would let judges keep dangerous suspects behind bars without bail while creating a pathway for those who can’t afford bail to get released cleared the House on a bipartisan vote.” (“Bail constitutional amendment compromise clears House,” KRQE, 2/15/2016)
Proposal to create an independent ethic commission passes House on bipartisan vote. “Rep. Jim Dines, R-Albuquerque, the measure’s sponsor, said the state’s current system is not working, while adding an ethics commission could provide guidance to lawmakers and other elected officials. ‘The idea here is to get away from the secrecy,’ Dines said during Tuesday’s debate.” (“House passes measure to create ethics commission,” Albuquerque Journal, 2/10/2016)
House approves bill to allow law enforcement officers to return to duty after retirement. “Backers of the legislation, House Bill 171, say the measure was carefully crafted so as not to financially affect the state’s public retirement system and is urgently needed to address officer shortages and, in turn, reduce violent crime rates.” (“House passes police return-to-work bill,” Albuquerque Journal, 1/10/2016)
In the Senate:
Bills to strengthen New Mexico’s child abuse laws blocked by Senate committee. “That left the bill’s sponsor, Rep. Conrad James, R-Albuquerque, frustrated by what he claimed were “parliamentary” tricks aimed at killing the legislation. ‘If the legislators don’t like it, just vote it down,’ James said in an interview after today’s hearing.” (“Child abuse, DWI bills stall in Senate committee,” Albuquerque Journal, 2/14/2016)
Effort to fix Habitual Offender Law to include DWI felons dies in Senate committee. “The bill sponsored by Albuquerque Republicans Jim Dines and Bill Rehm called for amending the habitual offender section of the state’s Criminal Sentencing Act to include conviction of a felony. Currently, a judge cannot enhance a DWI offender’s sentence on top of their basic sentence, according to the bill’s fiscal impact report.” (“DWI, other crime bills fail to advance in Senate committee,” Santa Fe New Mexican, 2/14/2016)
Senate kills bill to protect law enforcement officers. “’To say I’m disappointed would be an understatement,’ House Majority Leader Nate Gentry, R-Albuquerque, the bill’s sponsor, said after Friday’s vote. ‘I was hopeful we could provide an extra layer of protection to our law enforcement.’” (“Senate panel votes down hate crimes for police bill,” Albuquerque Journal, (2/13/2016)
