Crime is the #1 issue on the minds of many New Mexicans and should also be on the minds of elected officials. Yet, we’re seeing the opposite from some majority party legislators via their committee votes.
What’s happening is that good bills that could reduce crime and improve public safety are getting killed with party line votes in committee meetings. What’s really troubling is that many of these legislators said only months ago that they’d be tough on crime and work to improve public safety.
Here are examples of public safety bills killed by Democrats this past week:
- HJR 9 Denial of Bail, CA, sponsored by Andrea Reeb, Bill Rehm, and Stefani Lord. This bill, which would have helped to address the ‘catch and release’ bail system we currently have was killed in the House Judiciary Committee by Reps Christine Chandler, Gail Chasey, Eliseo Alcon, Matthew McQueen, and Reena Szczepanski. NMBC thanks Reps. T. Ryan Lane, Andrea Reeb, Bill Rehm, and Greg Nibert for voting in favor of HJR 9.
- HB 458 Felon and Firearm Penalties, sponsored by Bill Rehm and Luis Terrazas. This would have increased penalties for felons that have firearms or destructive devices. This bill was killed in the House Consumer and Public Affairs Committee by Reps Joanne Ferrary, Andrea Romero, Angelica Rubio and Elizabeth Thompson. NMBC thanks Rep John Block, the only person on the committee who voted in support of this bill.
