Monday, February 14, 2022
WHAT'S HAPPENING
VOTING RIGHTS BILL HEADS TO FULL SENATE
That voting rights bill which could lead to fraud and other problems is moving forward. The Senate Finance Committee has cleared a substitute of SB 8, known as the New Mexico Voting Rights Act. The legislation passed by a vote of 6-5. All the Republicans on the committee voted against it. Among the problems: the bill would allow voters to receive an absentee ballot for every election without having to request one each time, immediately reinstate voting rights for felons when they get out of prison and automatically register qualified people to vote after they complete a transaction at the Motor Vehicle Division or another "authorized" state agency.
This bill will lead to fraud and ballot harvesting. It is being touted as one to provide more voter access, but it will seriously lessen election security and impair ballot integrity.
SENATE COMMITTEE PUSHES THROUGH TAX PACKAGE WITH SOCIAL SECURITY INCOME EXEMPTION
Republicans fought hard in a committee to ensure that a tax on social security income would be exempt for New Mexicans. The provision was part of a tax package moving through the legislature. The panel approved the bill 9-1. The social security tax exemption is important because it will provide financial relief to retirees. It will also be an incentive to keep social security recipients in New Mexico.
CHOP SHOP CRIME BILL HEADING TO SENATE—DEMOCRATS CONTINUE TO BE SOFT ON CRIME
The Senate will be taking up a chop shop bill just passed by the House. That Chamber approved HB 69 which creates a new 3rd degree felony for anyone running a chop shop. This bill doesn't go far enough, and it exemplifies the soft-on-crime approach Democrats are demonstrating throughout this important session. Progressives continue to stall, table or water down legislation that would create good laws to combat the state's out-of-control crime crisis. It's obvious Democrats don't want to stop the rising tide of crimes in New Mexico.
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