New Mexico State Legislature: A Mid-Term Report
February 15, 2013
The New Mexico State Legislature is halfway through the 2013 session. At the halfway point, three major impressions are to be made:
- All legislation is moving at a remarkably slow pace
- All legislation espousing conservative values has been tabled
- The homosexual agenda is pervasive and is moving*
Here is a report:
PASSED COMMITTEE
HJR 3 Brian Egolf (D-Santa Fe) SAME-SEX MARRIAGE LICENSES
The committee heard in detail from a “groom” about his “wedding” to another man that took place in Boston. The testimony included such things as the cost of the “marriage” dinner. When testimony in defense of traditional marriage was given, Rep. Egolf apologized to bill supporters for subjecting them to “what they had to hear.”
SB 313 Bill O’Neill (D-Albuquerque) BIOMEDICAL RESEARCH ACT
This bill allows human life – embryos – to be used use for experimentation. The expressed purpose of the bill is to allow UNM to bid for federal funds that would create laboratories to conduct embryonic stem cell research. To date, embryonic stem cell research has proven unsuccessful, whereas enormous health benefits have been realized from adult stem cell research.
PASSED COMMITTEE
HM 7 Gail Chasey (D-Albuquerque) (WOMEN’S) EQUAL RIGHTS AMENDMENT
The Equal Rights Amendment passed the US Congress in 1972 and allowed a 10-year time limit for passage by 38 states. The New Mexico Joint Memorial calls on Congress to extend the deadline so that the additional 3 states needed can be lobbied to pass the amendment. The Memorial states the rights of women to have “access to the reproductive health care services of their choice…(that) are daily being questioned and restricted.” The memorial has passed the House and is on its way to the Senate.
HM 30 Bill McCamley (D-Las Cruses) UNITING AMERICAN FAMILIES ACT
Rep. McCamley is proposing urging members of Congress to allow “gays” and lesbians (but not heterosexuals) to sponsor their foreign partners in comprehensive immigration reform. This Memorial does not require proof of a permanent relationship, and thus not only gives preference to homosexuals but is open to considerable exploitation.
TABLED
HB 177 Alonzo Baldonado (R-Los Lunas) PARENTAL NOTIFICATION OF ABORTION
A 13 and a 16-year-old girl testified that they were mature enough to have abortions and implied these services had been provided. The House Consumer and Public Affairs Committee agreed and tabled the bill that would have required timely parental notification when a pregnant child under sixteen years of age is about to abort her baby.
TABLED
HB 98 Dennis Roch (R-Tucumcari) CREATING A RELIGIOUS BELIEF EXEMPTION
Christians can be sued for refusing services to homosexuals for reasons of conscience. Elane Photography, an Albuquerque studio, was fined $6,637.00 for refusing to photograph a lesbian “commitment” ceremony. The House Consumer and Public Affairs Committee saw no reason for this bill to alter the circumstances facing Christians.
TABLED
HB 122, Nora Espinoza (R-Roswell) WOMAN’S RIGHT TO KNOW
The bill, modeled after laws in other states, would have required that an ultrasound and an audible heartbeat be provided to women seeking an abortion. Testimony was presented that “women are made in God’s image…” and so deserved the right to abort their children without such barriors. Rep. Thomas Anderson pointed out that the fetus is also made in the image of God. The vote was along party lines.
NOT SCHEDULED
HB 206 Cathrynn Brown (D-Carlsbad) ABORTION AS EVIDENCE TAMPERING
This bill received nation wide attention when it was thought Rep. Brown was proposing disallowing abortions in cases of rape and incest. The bill states: “Relating to criminal law; specifying procuring an abortion as tampering with evidence in cases of criminal sexual penetration or incest.” Rep Brown’s intention was to persecute the perpetrator of a crime if he forced an abortion of a child.
NOT HEARD
Some legislation is introduced for the purpose of marking a beginning or assuring a constituency. Senator McSorley introduced SM 39 on February 11 to create a “Gay Day” two days later on February 13. The Memorial received no activity, but Sen. McSorley can always say he tried.
*Note that the homosexual agenda is advanced in HJR 3, SM 39 and HM 30 above. Domestic Partners language was temporarily inserted into HB 77 the Gun Transfer Bill, but removed. In addition, the newly elected openly homosexual, Senator Jacob Candelaria, was made chair of the Democratic Caucus.
Please pray for our New Mexico Legislators and, as bills arise, please be in contact with your Legislators and the committee members.
Yours in Christ,
Jose Vasquez
How good and pleasant it is when brothers live together in unity! -Psalm 133:1
