Round Up from The Roundhouse from the New Mexico House Republican Caucus:
House Approves Legislation to Honor and Protect Law Enforcement Officers
Santa Fe, NM – A bill to amend the New Mexico Hate Crimes Act to include law enforcement officers passed the House of Representatives today by a vote of 58 to 4. The bill, HB 95, is sponsored by Reps. Nate Gentry and Paul Pacheco.
“This bill will give our law enforcement officers an extra measure of protection from violent criminals intent on targeting them just because they wear a badge,” Gentry said. “Passing this bill to protect our selfless law enforcement officers is the right thing to do, and I hope my colleagues in the Senate will agree with us.”
HB 95 would add law enforcement officers to the list of protected classes included in the Hate Crimes Act. The bill would add more time to the sentences of individuals convicted of committing violent crimes against law enforcement officers if the crime was proven to be motivated by hate. The first conviction would result in one additional year added to the person’s sentence, and individuals could see an additional two years added to their sentences for a second offense.
The House also unanimously passed House Memorial 5, a memorial honoring and recognizing the sacrifices law enforcement officers have made in the line of duty. The memorial acknowledges the unselfish dedication of the men and women in law enforcement to serve and protect New Mexicans despite the danger they encounter every day.
The memorial pays tribute to Officer Lou Golson, an Albuquerque officer who was severely wounded in during a traffic stop last year. It also remembers Officers Gregg Benner and Daniel Webster who lost their lives in the line of duty in 2015, and Sergeant Robert Baron who died in 2013 after being struck by a vehicle while investigating a crash during a snow storm.
More than 40 law enforcement officials from across the state attended this evening’s session. The families Officer Benner and Sergeant Baron were also present to witness the passage of the memorial.
In Case You Missed It
Senate Boss Michael Sanchez Dismisses Grieving Families
Santa Fe, NM – Last night, TV news reported Senate Boss Michael Sanchez dismissing pleas for help from mothers who lost their children to violent crimes. Senator Sanchez has proven he cares more about his own interests than New Mexico as his law firm represents the kind of people New Mexico needs protection from.
Women tasked with pushing ‘tough on crime’ bills decry Senate; Sen. Sanchez says they’re being played by GOP
KOB
Chris Ramirez
February 5, 2016
https://www.kob.com/article/stories/S4038910.shtml?cat=500#.VrS7uPkrLIX
The mothers of two children who lost their lives to violence in Albuquerque over the summer expressed their frustration with how slowly things are moving at the State Capitol this session on Thursday, saying the feel like one lawmaker may be putting his own interests ahead of our state’s.
Veronica Garcia and Nicole Chavez are fighting for tougher penalties for repeat offenders.
“I do not want another family member to go through this and live the nightmare we do every single day,” said Nicole Chavez, whose son Jaydon Chavez-Silver was killed in a drive-by shooting. “I am trying to fight for legislation this session to prevent this horrible nightmare from happening to another family.”
The criminal defendants on the poster Garcia and Chavez held Thursday were at one point represented by Joshua Sanchez, Sen. Michael Sanchez’s son and also a lawyer.
Garcia and Chavez say Sen. Sanchez, the Senate Majority Leader, is playing political games to intentionally kill the bills the two women have put their support behind.
“Even though he is no longer practicing criminal defense, he has represented the type of people we need protection from,” Garcia said. “I understand Sen. Sanchez has chosen this profession outside of the Roundhouse, but while in Santa Fe, he should do the people’s work for the people who voted for him.”
“I really would urge Sen. Sanchez to please pay attention to these bills. Please help get them through the committees,” Chavez said. “If they do get through the committees, call them up for a vote. We are tired of hearing year after year that you ran out of time during the legislative session.”
But Sanchez responded to their attacks and pleas after the women’s news conference, saying he disagreed with their stances.
“I’m sorry that they are grieving the way they are, they’re just incorrect,” he said.
Sen. Sanchez believes the two women are being used by political insiders to carry the “tough on crime” Republican Mantra.
“To be honest with you, this sounds like it was scripted from the Jay McCleskys of the world to try to put pressure on me,” Sanchez said. “The Senate is a very responsible body and we’re going to do what’s best for the people of New Mexico.”
The House has passed most of the bills the women are backing. They now sit in the Senate, waiting to be heard in Senate committees.
Flashback Friday!
Senate Dems Voted For Fingerprint Requirement in 2011
Santa Fe, NM –Senate Democrats continue to play political games and flip-flop on security provisions for driver’s licenses. During the 2011 Legislative Session, all but four Senate Democrats voted in support of a floor amendment which would have required illegal immigrants applying for a New Mexico driver’s license “to be fingerprinted and to provide two fingerprint cards or the equivalent electronic finger prints to the department.”
House Republicans Paul Pacheco and Andy Nuñez have proposed a compromise, House Bill 99, to make New Mexico driver’s licenses REAL ID compliant and give illegal immigrants driving privilege cards instead of driver’s licenses. But earlier this week, Senate Democrats amended the bill and stripped important security measures, including a provision requiring fingerprints for illegal immigrants applying for a driving privilege card.
Twenty-three Senate Democrats voted for an amendment, proposed by then-Senator Tim Jennings, which contained the fingerprinting requirement. Senators endorsing the proposal included John Arthur Smith, John Sapien, Cisco McSorely, Mary Kay Papen, and Senate Majority Leader Michael Sanchez.
In addition, Senator Sanchez and other Democrat leaders sent a letter to House Speaker Don Tripp earlier this year in which said they would support the fingerprint measure.
