Elections have consequences. Unfortunately, so-called “progressive” Democrats continue to hold a commanding majority in our state’s House of Representatives and Senate. Representation from both sides of the aisle and diversity of thought are pillars of a functioning and balanced government, but our reality in New Mexico is of one-party rule. This stranglehold on our institutions continues to halt progress and miss the mark when it comes to truly addressing our state’s out-of-control crime rate.
Earlier this year, my fellow Senate Republicans collaborated across the aisle with Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham during her special legislative session to make strides in addressing public safety. Included were measures to expand criminal competency protocols and increase penalties for felons in possession of firearms, distributing fentanyl, and murdering law enforcement officers. We also introduced proposals to secure our open southern border, an issue New Mexicans and Americans at large support, in order to combat the cartel’s trafficking of drugs, humans, and contraband. An additional measure we introduced would have strengthened our state’s lackluster Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act (RICO) statute in order to pursue organized criminal activity more effectively and expand the capabilities of prosecutors, specifically, expanding human trafficking sentencing. This measure, along with several of the aforementioned proposals were created with and supported by District Attorneys and law enforcement leaders from around the state and from both sides of the aisle.
Unfortunately, as we all know, each and every one of these measures never saw the light of day. Progressive Democrat lawmakers killed the Governor’s Special Session focused on public safety, ending the session almost immediately and refusing to hear ANY legislation addressing crime and safety…