WE HAVE THREE REPORTS: NM Gov. Lujan Grisham Announces Pre-Filing of the Clean Future Act: HB 6 Governor’s Priority for 2022 Legislative Session

Will much get done in this upcoming session? I want to share three reports we have received on the upcoming session to keep you informed the best we can here at FGGAM. It is very important that you stay informed and in touch with your Representatives. I am deeply sadden that I do not see anything being mentioned by the GOP about ending abortion. Abortion is the greatest barrier between God and New Mexico.

Gov. Lujan Grisham, EMNRD announce
pre-filing of the Clean Future Act

House Bill 6 governor priority for 2022 legislative session

SANTA FE – The Energy, Minerals and Natural Resources Department (EMNRD) on Friday announced that House Bill 6, the Clean Future Act has been pre-filed by Representative Nathan Small. The bill will be sponsored in the Senate by Senator Siah Correa Hemphill. This bill requires New Mexico to have net-zero emissions by 2050, among other things, and is a governor’s priority bill.

Led by the Energy, Minerals and Natural Resources Department, the Clean Future Act (CFA) would establish New Mexico’s emissions reductions targets in statute. Specifically, the CFA establishes the following targets:

• By 2030, statewide direct greenhouse gas emissions must be 50% below 2005 levels;
• By 2050, all statewide greenhouse gas emissions must be fully offset (“net zero”); and
• In 2050 and beyond, direct greenhouse gas emissions will also be capped at 10% of 2005 levels, ensuring a further reduction of absolute emissions from the 2030 goal. This cap ensures emissions do not rebound just because they can be offset.

“Codifying this administration’s aggressive climate goals makes sure that New Mexico stays on a clear and continuous path toward net zero, no matter who is in the Roundhouse,” said Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham. “There is truly no time to lose in mitigating the impacts of climate change, and this legislation builds upon our significant progress to continue to meaningfully address this challenge.”

The bill also lays out:

• A requirement that the New Mexico Environment Department (NMED) petition the Environmental Improvement Board no later than June 30, 2025, to promulgate rules to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from sources subject to the Air Quality Control Act.
• Annual reporting requirements for state government on emissions and emission reduction activities, including the impacts of climate change on disproportionately impacted communities.
• Annual reporting from EMNRD and NMED on the state’s progress toward meeting the greenhouse gas emissions limits established in the act. These reports, and the actions described in them, will prioritize coordination with and consideration of environmental and economic progress for disproportionately impacted communities.
• Requirements for agencies to evaluate and identify annual additional policies and strategies to reduce emissions, such as energy efficiency opportunities for low-income households.

“The Clean Future Act is an important starting point for additional climate action in New Mexico,” said EMNRD Secretary Sarah Cottrell Propst. “We look forward to incorporating the public’s feedback and advancing this bill during the legislative session.”

“We are entering the race to net zero carbon emissions with the draft Clean Future Act,” said NMED Secretary James Kenney. “Once signed into law, reducing greenhouse gas emissions will remain a top priority for New Mexico for years to come.”

“I’m proud to sponsor the Clean Future Act which once again shows New Mexico’s commitment to greenhouse gas reductions,” said Representative Nathan Small. “By reducing emissions we can ensure a healthier environment for all New Mexicans.”

Members of the public are encouraged to submit comments on the bill to 2022act@state.nm.us by noon, Tuesday, January 18, 2022.

Gov. Lujan Grisham announces agenda for 2022 session Priorities for budget surplus include teacher raises, tax cuts, public safety, voting rights protections and more SANTA FE – Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham on Friday announced her legislative priorities for the 2022 regular session of the New Mexico Legislature, centered on investing in policies and programs that will benefit students, workers, families, businesses and communities large and small across the state. Highlights of the agenda include raises for educators, tax cuts for New Mexico businesses, legislative proposals targeted at violent crime, and initiatives to support New Mexico businesses and diversify the state’s economy.Accompanying the Executive Budget Recommendation for Fiscal Year 23, the governor’s investment and policy plan for the 2022 legislative session encompasses a diverse array of issue areas and policies all aimed at improving the well-being and opportunity of New Mexicans. “This is a critical opportunity to strategically and responsibly invest in transformative programs that support New Mexicans in building stronger, brighter futures,” said Gov. Lujan Grisham. “This agenda supports a thriving New Mexico, one where we choose to proactively invest in families, communities, workers and businesses.” In her first three years in office, the governor has achieved every legislative priority set out when she took office in 2019, including an increase in the state’s minimum wage; the establishment and funding of an Early Childhood Education and Care Department; legislative approval of a proposed constitutional amendment to further invest in early childhood education; expanding access to free higher education; the establishment of an aggressive carbon-free energy transition framework; the legalization of recreational cannabis; the growth of a thriving film and television industry; the establishment of a state office of outdoor recreation; expanding access to affordable high-quality health care and protecting provisions of the Affordable Care Act relied on by New Mexicans; capping insulin costs; eliminating copays for behavioral health services; providing humane end-of-life options to the terminally ill; the protection of access to reproductive health care; an expansion of common-sense gun safety laws; fixing the state’s pension system; and more. The governor’s priorities for the legislative session, scheduled to begin Tuesday, January 18, include: EDUCATION Providing raises for educators: The governor has proposed and is advocating for 7 percent raises for all public school education personnel, as well as increases to base educator salary levels in the state’s three-tier licensure system, raising minimum teacher salary levels to $50,000, $60,000, and $70,000, representing an average 35% total increase in base salary levels since the Lujan Grisham administration came into office. These raises would follow a 6 percent raise for public school staff authorized by the Lujan Grisham administration and Legislature in 2019 and a 2 percent increase authorized in 2020. Making free college a reality: Through expansion of the Opportunity Scholarship created in 2020, the governor proposes to permanently remove financial barriers to higher education for New Mexico students, ensuring that New Mexicans are not forced to choose between financial security and furthering their education. The proposed $85.5 million increase in the Opportunity Scholarship program will cover tuition costs for all New Mexico students of higher education, including non-traditional students and those seeking credit-bearing certificates. An estimated 22,000 additional New Mexicans will be able to achieve their educational goals because of this funding. CRIME AND CRIMINAL JUSTICE REFORM Creating a fund to hire and train more public safety officers: Investing $100 million in a new law enforcement recruitment fund with the goal of hiring and training 1,000 new police officers statewide in coming years will reduce the competition between local agencies for personnel and support new recruiting  initiatives. Public safety agencies at the state, municipal and county level will be able to access the funding to support hiring and retention and will be required to train new hires supported by the fund in community policing and de-escalation techniques. Keeping violent offenders off New Mexico streets: Imposing a “rebuttable presumption” will help to ensure that those accused of murder, gun crimes, rape or other sex crimes do not pose a danger to the community before being released pending trial. Increasing penalties for violent offenders: Increasing penalties for second degree murder from 15 years to 18 years and removing the statute of limitations for that charge, in addition to increasing penalties for gun crimes, including increasing the penalty for unlawful possession of a handgun from misdemeanor to fourth degree felony; creating a crime of “criminal threat” as a fourth degree felony; adding penalty of third degree felony for fleeing law enforcement that results in injury and second degree felony for fleeing that results in great bodily harm; enhancing penalties for brandishing a firearm in the commission of a drug transaction. ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT Cutting gross receipts taxes for all New Mexicans: The governor has proposed a statewide 0.25 percent reduction in the gross receipts tax rate, saving New Mexicans an estimated $170 million annually. The statewide rate is currently 5.125 percent; the governor’s proposal would reduce the statewide rate to 4.875 percent. This would be the first decrease of the state’s gross receipts tax rate in 40 years. A gross receipts tax is levied on all persons engaged in business in New Mexico and is akin to a retail sales tax. Expanding the Buy New Mexico Initiative: The expansion of this initiative will support New Mexico businesses by increasing the business preference for in-state businesses in the state’s procurement code from 5 percent to 8 percent. The legislation would also make tribal businesses eligible to receive in-state preference, which is not allowed under current law. The proposal will also further support state procurement preference for New Mexico veteran-owned businesses, removing a current sunset on 10% resident-veteran preference and removing the $3 million revenue cap per veteran business. Establishing New Mexico as a national hydrogen hub: The Hydrogen Hub Act will implement state economic and tax  incentives, create a clean hydrogen workforce, foster research and studies into potential applications of clean hydrogen and establish legal and technical pathways for carbon sequestration and storage that will make New Mexico a regional and national “hub” for clean hydrogen production, storage, use and export – boosting the economy and moving the state’s energy in a greener direction. Establishing a state Media Academy: In collaboration with the Higher Education Department and Economic Development Department, the governor proposes dedicating $50 million in capital outlay to create a Media Academy that better serves New Mexico students in the transition from education to employment in the state’s thriving film and media industry, providing training, internships and other resources. Expanding job training and economic development programs: To continue building on the state’s positive economic momentum, sustained despite the pandemic, the governor proposes increasing resources to the Job Training Incentive Program (JTIP) and the Local Economic Development Act (LEDA). New Mexico’s JTIP and LEDA initiatives have collectively brought $5 billion in new capital investment to New Mexico with a projected economic impact of $30 billion since the governor took office. ENVIRONMENT Creating the Land of Enchantment Bond: The governor has proposed a new conservation fund, to be seeded by a $50 million general obligation bond that will be placed on the 2022 ballot and administered by the Energy, Minerals and Natural Resources Department, which will allow the state of New Mexico to acquire land and conservation easements; manage natural and cultural resources; and enhance equitable access to outdoor recreation. An effort to sustain and support New Mexico’s pristine natural beauty and world-renowned outdoors, the Land of Enchantment Bond will supplement ongoing administrative conservation and preservation efforts, including Gov. Lujan Grisham’s 30×30 executive order. Reaching net-zero by 2050: The Clean Future Act will establish the governor’s ambitious climate goals in statute, ensuring the state continues its progress across administrations. The legislation also directs the Environment Department to implement further regulations to curb emissions across sectors. Setting a clean fuel standard: The Clean Fuel Standard Act will reduce the carbon footprint of New Mexico’s transportation sector while contributing $470 million in capital investments to New Mexico’s economy and creating more than 1,600 permanent jobs and 4,100 construction jobs by 2030. By 2030, the Act will result in the cumulative reduction of transportation emissions by an estimated 18.5 million metric tons of CO2 equivalent – the equivalent of taking over 570,000 gas powered cars off the road for one year. HEALTH, WELL-BEING AND QUALITY OF LIFE Improving the New Mexico Veterans Home: The state will seek to invest some $60 million to build brand new living quarters and improve existing facilities, supporting the health and well-being of those that served our country. The current main facility in Truth or Consequences is over 80 years old. Significantly expanding ballot access and support for the right to vote: Amid a wave of anti-democratic sentiment nationwide, including the implementation of restrictive and discriminatory ballot access policies in certain other states, New Mexico will take action to protect and expand voting rights, including by expanding online voter registration, providing further protections for Native voters, and creating a permanent, voluntary absentee ballot request list. Supporting rural health care delivery: The governor will seek to create a Rural Hospital Services Fund, supporting hospitals in counties with fewer than 100,000 residents by providing matching funds to cover a percentage of operating losses in the first few years of a hospital’s operation or to support expanded services at an existing hospital. This initiative would provide critical support for rural health care delivery in parts of the state too often underserved by available health care options.

NM House GOP calls on Governor to address concerns and issues facing New Mexicans in upcoming session

Santa Fe – Today the NM House Republican Caucus requested that the Governor support important legislation in the 2^nd Session of the 54^th Legislature. Per the Constitution, the office of Governor is granted authority to determine the agenda for the 30-day regular session in which the Legislature is required to appropriate the state budget.

House Republicans are appealing to the Governor to address several key areas of concern in the state. The Republican caucus is concerned that with an upcoming election, the Governor and her administration will seek to tailor a hyper-partisan agenda instead of allowing lawmakers to work across the aisle to address the many serious and concerning needs of New Mexicans that have boiled over during the Governor’s two-years of unabated use of the Emergency Powers Act.

House Republicans request that the following list of legislative topics be deemed germane, in order to foster a less partisan and more New Mexico focused legislative session:

• Any and all legislation designed to reduce the growing number of violent crimes within the state, improve the ability of law enforcement officers to fulfill their sworn duties, and ensuring convicted criminals are held accountable for their actions.
• Any and all legislation designed to improve the ability of law enforcement and the judicial system to ensure multiple DWI offenders are prohibited from driving on our streets and highways.

• Any and all legislation to address the long-term negative impacts of HB 75, the medical malpractice bill enacted during the 2021 regular session, to ensure doctors and other medical professionals will be able to purchase sufficient insurance coverage so they can continue serving their patients and not be forced to leave the state.

• Any and all legislation to reform the management and delivery of services by the Children, Youth and Families Department to help protect the well-being of our state’s most vulnerable children.
• Any and all legislation to require state employees to return to their offices in a safe and healthy manner in order to restore a responsive state government and require state departments and agencies to act in a more consumer friendly manner.
• Any and all legislation which improves our state’s public education system by expanding the choices New Mexico families have in selecting the best school for their children and require state dollars for education assistance follow the student rather than being tied to an specific public school.  
• Any and all legislation that would prohibit the teaching of any component of critical race theory in our public schools. 
• Any and all legislation to prohibit vaccine mandates and protect the privacy of any employee who has decided not to be vaccinated by prohibiting any governmental agency from requesting vaccination records from employers.
• Any and all legislation to codify past and current executive orders to lessen the regulatory burden on small businesses and require state departments and agencies to grant reciprocity rights for licenses and certificates of trained professionals and trades people issued by other states.
• Any and all legislation to place a time limit on any public health emergency declared by the Governor and require the Governor to call the Legislature into a special session so that the circumstances of the emergency may be considered before the Governor’s declaration can be extended.   

House Republicans also request that the Governor and Secretary of State cease pushing their Election Code legislation that is designed to benefit Democrat candidates on the 2022 general election ballot. In their letter, House Republican leadership asserted that the out-of-touch proposal will reduce the public’s faith in the electoral process. Until honest bipartisan discussions on changes to the Election Code occur, House Republicans cannot support or request that the Governor add this topic to the call of the Legislature. 

The House Republican Caucus Leadership is hopeful that in an election year, and with the eyes of voters watching, that the Governor will adhere to a fair and transparent legislative session that includes vigorous bipartisan debate on the failures and missed opportunities from the past three years.

FROM FRIDAY MORNING!

J.D. Greear: Most Christians don’t intend to become Sodom and Gomorrah. Lot never intended to make Sodom his home, and he certainly didn’t intend to be included in its judgment. But many Christians, like Lot, are so attracted to the world that they make their home as close to it as possible. They end up identifying as much with the world as they do with the people of God.

The Governor and the Mayor of Albuquerque have been very silent on all the Satanic crime going on in our state! Did you ever hear a word out of the Mayor on crime after he was reelected??? Did you ever hear a word from Mayor Keller after the 7-year-old boy was run down and killed by that crazy driver of the all-terrain vehicle at River of Lights? Why was the Mayor and Police Chief allowing these thugs to drive those machines on our roads in the first place??? Racing cars, reckless motorcycles and All-terrain vehicle have been raising hell in the City. Street racers face few consequences when caught in Albuquerque Albuquerque is the modern day ‘wild west city.’ I wonder if the Mayor ever called the parents of the little boy or went to visit them? I wonder if the Governor did? I just hear crickets from the Mayor and Governor on the issues of WE THE PEOPLE! Children are dying in this state! CYFD needs to be torn down…..start over, cut all the fat and ugly out! It continues to fail the children of New Mexico! And we let this continue???????? How dysfunctional is that?????!!!!!!!! Don’t get me started on abortion in New Mexico! Satanic! Oh! Yea! Legalized pot will do great harm to our children…watch out the oncoming destruction! Look at what we are going to do to our children: How Pot Affects Your Mind and Body 

In New Mexico you can now get home delivery of BOOZE! BOY! New Mexico loves to FEED ADDICTIONS! Affects of Booze, New Mexico loves its Booze! NOT GOOD!

How can anyone be happy with the situation here in New Mexico? Horrible!

As the adults argue, our children die.

KOB TV quoted Attorney General Hector Balderas: “I’ll be blunt to you,” Balderas said. “Some of New Mexico’s criminal laws are drastically behind the times. For far too long, New Mexico has ranked below the national average in keeping our children safe and our families safe due to stunningly low and ineffective penalties.”

Where have you been Mr. AG? Your finally realizing this??????? How long have you been AG? My goodness! New Mexico is so good at allowing dysfunction to grow and grow! Fault is not only on the Dems but also on they GOP, they had their opportunity to really change the state with 8 years of Governor Martinez. The GOP wasted those years! 8 YEARS!!!!

Will New Mexico ever change? The real problem is that many in New Mexico need JESUS! All this comes down to. is hearts for JESUS. This is Spiritual Warfare. I have lived here since 1995 and the dysfunction of New Mexico only gets worse. Too many high school pep rally’s and not enough action! Tougher laws can help, but JESUS is the only true answer. New Mexico, like all of America has become very lawless. JESUS! JESUS! Politics is the playground of Satan. We are a very divided nation that is falling apart everyday. We all are failing our children. If God handed out report cards, I think we all would get an F.

You need to read this:

Governor, state and city leaders announce public safety legislation

Governor considers recruiting New Mexico National Guardsmen for teaching positions

FGGAM received this news release yesterday from the New Mexico GOP:

STATEMENT: House GOP on current crime crisis and Governor’s new respect for GOP initiatives

House Speaker Brian Egolf and House Democrats have, since 2016, decried so-called Republican “all crime, all the time” priorities. Unfortunately since 2016, so many New Mexicans have been murdered or been affected by violent crime.

Governor Lujan Grisham has held office for three years, and despite having to send State Police into Albuquerque due to high crime in 2019, her administration has avoided seriously addressing violent crimes and providing justice for victims’ families while so many are dying because of homicide.

Mayor Keller avoided talking about crime during his first election, and spent the past year campaigning while at least 117 people were murdered in Albuquerque.

There is a disturbing pattern here, and hopefully with the Governor now taking Republican crime proposals seriously, maybe we can honor and provide justice to the many families and victims of violent crime that has thus far been ignored and sidelined by progressive politicians.

FGGAM received this news release last night:

Santa Fe – Today the NM House Republican Caucus requested that the Governor support important legislation in the 2^nd Session of the 54^th Legislature. Per the Constitution, the office of Governor is granted authority to determine the agenda for the 30-day regular session in which the Legislature is required to appropriate the state budget.

House Republicans are appealing to the Governor to address several key areas of concern in the state. The Republican caucus is concerned that with an upcoming election, the Governor and her administration will seek to tailor a hyper-partisan agenda instead of allowing lawmakers to work across the aisle to address the many serious and concerning needs of New Mexicans that have boiled over during the Governor’s two-years of unabated use of the Emergency Powers Act.

House Republicans request that the following list of legislative topics be deemed germane, in order to foster a less partisan and more New Mexico focused legislative session:

• Any and all legislation designed to reduce the growing number of violent crimes within the state, improve the ability of law enforcement officers to fulfill their sworn duties, and ensuring convicted criminals are held accountable for their actions.
• Any and all legislation designed to improve the ability of law enforcement and the judicial system to ensure multiple DWI offenders are prohibited from driving on our streets and highways.

• Any and all legislation to address the long-term negative impacts of HB 75, the medical malpractice bill enacted during the 2021 regular session, to ensure doctors and other medical professionals will be able to purchase sufficient insurance coverage so they can continue serving their patients and not be forced to leave the state.

• Any and all legislation to reform the management and delivery of services by the Children, Youth and Families Department to help protect the well-being of our state’s most vulnerable children.
• Any and all legislation to require state employees to return to their offices in a safe and healthy manner in order to restore a responsive state government and require state departments and agencies to act in a more consumer friendly manner.
• Any and all legislation which improves our state’s public education system by expanding the choices New Mexico families have in selecting the best school for their children and require state dollars for education assistance follow the student rather than being tied to an specific public school.  
• Any and all legislation that would prohibit the teaching of any component of critical race theory in our public schools. 
• Any and all legislation to prohibit vaccine mandates and protect the privacy of any employee who has decided not to be vaccinated by prohibiting any governmental agency from requesting vaccination records from employers.
• Any and all legislation to codify past and current executive orders to lessen the regulatory burden on small businesses and require state departments and agencies to grant reciprocity rights for licenses and certificates of trained professionals and trades people issued by other states.
• Any and all legislation to place a time limit on any public health emergency declared by the Governor and require the Governor to call the Legislature into a special session so that the circumstances of the emergency may be considered before the Governor’s declaration can be extended.   

House Republicans also request that the Governor and Secretary of State cease pushing their Election Code legislation that is designed to benefit Democrat candidates on the 2022 general election ballot. In their letter, House Republican leadership asserted that the out-of-touch proposal will reduce the public’s faith in the electoral process. Until honest bipartisan discussions on changes to the Election Code occur, House Republicans cannot support or request that the Governor add this topic to the call of the Legislature. 

The House Republican Caucus Leadership is hopeful that in an election year, and with the eyes of voters watching, that the Governor will adhere to a fair and transparent legislative session that includes vigorous bipartisan debate on the failures and missed opportunities from the past three years.