Latest news with #AndreaReeb
Yahoo
11-03-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
With clock ticking at Roundhouse, Republicans accuse Democrats of blocking key bills
Mar. 10—SANTA FE — With the 60-day legislative session entering its final two-week push to adjournment, Republican lawmakers on Monday accused majority Democrats of blocking bills dealing with crime and health care from advancing. One GOP lawmaker, Rep. Andrea Reeb of Clovis, claimed Democrats have done "nothing significant" to keep New Mexicans safer. But House Speaker Javier Martínez, D-Albuquerque, said the session has been largely successful, even with hundreds of bills still in limbo at the Roundhouse. "I respectfully disagree," Martínez told reporters. "I think we've done a lot and we will continue to do more." He said a tax package the House could take up later this week would extend a personal income tax credit for families making up to roughly $65,000 per year, while also citing the chamber's approval Monday of several bills dealing with housing access and affordability issues. Entering Tuedsay, only four bills have passed both legislative chambers and made it to Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham's desk for final approval. But that number is likely to increase to at least a hundred or so bills — if not more — before the session ends March 22. During their Monday news conference, House Republicans expressed frustration that Democrats have blocked GOP-backed bills from advancing by bottling them up in committee, either by votes or inaction. Rep. Rebecca Dow, R-Truth or Consequences, described the session as the "unaffordability session." "Democrats seem to have not gotten the message that New Mexicans want relief," Dow said. Republicans also insisted they've proposed solutions to some hot-button issues, including a longstanding state health care provider shortage. Rep. Jenifer Jones, R-Deming, a registered nurse, cited legislation she's working on that would give a tax credit to rural practitioners and a $50,000 tax break to new physicians with student loan debt. That bill, House Bill 593, would also limit punitive damages under the state's medical malpractice laws. A separate proposed medical malpractice overhaul was still awaiting its first hearing Monday in a Senate committee. Crime bills in focus as session nears end Much of Republicans' criticism has focused on crime-related legislation, after leading Democrats indicated following passage of a high-profile crime package that additional public safety measures could be advanced. In particular, GOP lawmakers on Monday renewed their frustration about a juvenile criminal offender bill stalling in a House committee last week. In response, Martínez cited a bill approved by the House on Saturday, House Bill 255, that's intended to improve the state's juvenile rehabilitation system. "The notion that there's been inactivity on that front is baseless," he said. "Juvenile crime has to be attacked through different strategies," Martínez added, while also citing bills aimed at overhauling the state's Children, Youth and Families Department that are awaiting action in the Senate after passing the House. Stall ball at the Roundhouse? Given the Democrats' 44-26 majority in the House, Republicans also acknowledged they've used to their advantage chamber rules that allow floor debates to last for up to three hours in an attempt to slow the progress of some Democratic-backed proposals. Debate on multiple bills have hit the three-hour limit in recent days, causing some committee meetings to last until late in the evening. "Ultimately, being in the minority, all we have is time," House Minority Leader Gail Armstrong, R-Magdalena, said during Monday's news conference at the Capitol. "The strategy is not to stop Democrat bills, the strategy is to stop bad bills from moving forward," Armstrong added. But she also said Republicans remained willing to work with top House Democrats on compromise solutions to hot-button issues. For his part, Martínez described his relationship with Armstrong and other top House Republicans as positive, saying he understands their position. "They are the minority party and they have to use every tool at their disposal," he said, saying Democrats used similar tactics when Republicans held a majority in the chamber for two years ending in 2016. The Speaker of the House also said this year's session has been busy from the start, unlike some past 60-day sessions in which most key bills did not advance until the final weeks. "This has felt like a marathon in which we are sprinting," said Martínez.
Yahoo
17-02-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Democrats, Republicans weigh in on Public Safety Package bills
NEW MEXICO (KRQE) – A package of crime bills is now headed to the Senate after a vote pushed it past the House floor. The Public Safety Package would provide resources for those in the criminal justice system suffering from mental illnesses and would enhance penalties for fentanyl traffickers, increase the penalty for shooting threats, and make it illegal to have an enhanced weapon. In addition, the set of bills would increase penalties for repeat and habitual offenders charged with theft, receiving, or transferring a stolen vehicle. 'Their cases are dismissed. We don't get them treatment, we don't work with them through the courts, and this will give the courts and the prosecutors a tool to address some of the mental health crises that they're seeing that's entering into the criminal justice system right now,' says Representative Christine Chandler (D- Los Alamos). New Mexico lawmakers look to change process to remove university regents However, the bill did see some opposition. Representative Andrea Reeb introduced an amendment that would have added changes to the Juvenile Delinquency Act, hoping to add it to the crime package. But those Republicans say this effort was killed by House Democrats who said the changes were unvetted and rushed. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
14-02-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Lawmakers propose bill to prohibit transgender athletes from playing in women's sports
SANTA FE, N.M. (KRQE) – Lawmakers are proposing a controversial bill to keep trans athletes from playing in women's sports. HB 185 was debated in its first committee on Thursday where it quickly faced strong opposition. The Republican lawmakers behind the bill say it's not a ban, but rather it's about women's safety and protecting their athletic opportunities. 'By requiring that women's sports remain exclusively for women female athletes this bill safeguards the integrity of women-only competitions,' said Representative Andrea Reeb, (R-Clovis). Story continues below Local: Bryan Cranston makes surprise visit to Albuquerque 'Breaking Bad' store Crime: 12 horses at All American Futurity had illicit drug in their system DWI Scandal: Prominent ABQ attorney admits to running 'DWI Enterprise' scandal Rep. Reeb is one of the lead sponsors for the 'Protection of Women's Sports Act.' The bill aims to keep trans athletes from being able to compete in women's sports. This would only permit athletes biologically born as women to compete, meaning athletes who legally changed their gender on their birth certificates would also be excluded. If an individual were to suffer harm due to a violation of the act, the bill would also allow those individuals to take legal action and seek damages. The bill drew mixed reactions from attendees. 'Biological differences matter. Studies show that male athletes on average have advantages in speed, and strength and in endurance, even after hormone therapy. This creates an unfair playing field,' said Jodi Hendricks with New Mexico Family Action Movement. 'Far from protecting women this bill would prohibit trans youth, many who are also young girls and young women from playing sports they most identify with and instead force them to play with the same designated sex regardless,' said Duke with the Transgender Resource Center of New Mexico. The White House also signed an executive order banning trans women from women's sports. Rep. Reeb said a state law is needed to make sure it doesn't get revoked after the current administration. Despite support from some committee members, the majority voted to table the bill, leaving it stalled for now. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
14-02-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Bill to ban transgender women from participating in female sports tabled
Feb. 13—SANTA FE — Once again in the Roundhouse, it's unlikely Democratic legislators will let a bill through that would ban transgender women from participating in female sports. The House Consumer and Public Affairs Committee on Thursday tabled House Bill 185 by a vote of 4-2, along party lines. Bill sponsor Rep. Andrea Reeb, R-Clovis, who also introduced the bill last year, said the move would codify similar actions by President Donald Trump, referring to the executive order he signed earlier this month, titled Keeping Men Out of Women's Sports. The bill hold-up wasn't entirely unexpected. Bill sponsor Rep. Rod Montoya, R-Farmington, said in a news conference before the committee meeting that House Speaker Javier Martínez sent the bill to a "kill committee," where it wouldn't have a chance to progress. Every seat in the House committee room was taken, with dozens supporting or opposing the bill. Security prefaced the meeting by asking audience members to be polite and respectful. The argument for the bill revolved around "fairness and safety," according to bill sponsor Rep. Rebecca Dow, R-Truth or Consequences. Proponents said, biologically, men are built differently than women, often giving them physical advantages. Many referenced the NCAA's new rules prohibiting transgender women from participating in women's sports, as well as when activists pushed the University of New Mexico not to play against San Jose State University because of an athlete on the California team who was alleged to be transgender. In November, a federal judge denied a motion to ban the player from the team. Rep. Liz Thomson, D-Albuquerque, asked how many transgender women are playing sports in high school or college in New Mexico, and Reeb said, "You know we don't collect that data." Thomson said the bill is discriminatory as it allows women to participate in men's sports, but not vice versa. She also questioned if there should be weight and height classes for every sport, as women come in many different shapes and sizes. "How do we say that this is the way to go when we allow tiny, tiny women to compete against other big women?" she asked. During public comment, Kristin Schultz, a pastor, said "transgender girls are girls." In many instances in the earlier news conference and the committee meeting, bill advocates referred to men, seemingly talking about transgender women. Gauge Burnett, a transgender man living in Las Cruces, said during public comment he chose to live in southern New Mexico for its acceptance. "New Mexico athletes do not need this committee or any other body to tell them how to play their sport or who to play it with, or what values to espouse," he said. "Let the teams live their truths and share their values and play in the way that they want to and that celebrates their communities." Bill sponsors said the legislation isn't meant to target anyone, which committee members Reps. John Block, R-Alamogordo, and Stefani Lord, R-Sandia Park, affirmed. "I'm not going to pretend that this is not a complex and extremely polarizing issue. ... The issue has become, how do we protect and keep our girls safe?" Lord said. Montoya, at the news conference, also brought up fears that schools could lose out on federal funding if not in compliance with Trump's executive order. "Really, all this legislation would do would bring us in line with Title IX again," Montoya said, referring to the federal policy that prohibits sex-based discrimination.
