Latest news with #R-TruthorConsequences
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
12-02-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
New Mexico legislators look to dedicate entire month to green and red chile
SANTA FE, N.M. (KRQE) – It's a beloved vegetable that has many New Mexicans asking; red, green, or Christmas? Now, legislators are trying to recognize red and green chile once a month every year. 'People need to know why New Mexico chile is the best,' said Representative Rebecca Dow (R-Truth or Consequences), who helped introduce the bill. Story continues below Breaking: Deb Haaland formally announces campaign for governor of New Mexico Don't Miss: Injured pelican found in Santa Fe brought back to health, released into the wild National: New Mexico Attorney General sues Trump Administration over NIH funding cut Following years of legislation honoring green and red chile, lawmakers are now looking to dedicate an entire month to the spicy treat. 'It's been very positive so far, the bill has had enormous support. Half the members in the House of Representatives have signed on,' said Rep. Dow. The bill would name August the official, 'New Mexico Red and Green Chile Month' lining up with not only harvest season but the Hatch Chile Festival. 'It's really put Hatch on the map. It has definitely made our chile famous,' said festival organizer, Lisa Neal. Down in Hatch, community members celebrate chile every day of the year but Neal is excited by the idea of making it official. 'During that whole month when chile is being harvested, it has the greatest economic impact on our valley and I'm sure it has a really good impact on economic impact on New Mexico as well,' said Neal. Rep. Dow whose district covers Hatch, is just one of many lawmakers introducing the bill. She believes chile is a culinary superstar and major economic driver, worthy of recognition. 'You can't have agriculture in New Mexico without promoting chile,' said Rep. Dow. 'New Mexico is really getting involved in chile and chile production in New Mexico because chile that is grown in New Mexico has a distinct flavor,' said Neal. The bill is currently in the House Government, Elections, and Indian Affairs committee. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
09-02-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Turning up the heat at the Leg: Lawmakers mull making August "Red or Green Chile Month'
Feb. 9—SANTA FE — Reaffirming New Mexico's position as the prime location to grow and get chile, legislators are looking to permanently mark August as Red and Green Chile Month. House Bill 172 passed its first committee, the House Rural Development, Land Grants And Cultural Affairs, Tuesday morning. The two-page-long bipartisan bill is sponsored by a quarter of all state legislators. "We are trying to build an agricultural tourism industry in New Mexico, and this has to be part of it," sponsor Rep. Rebecca Dow, R-Truth or Consequences, told the committee on Tuesday. Naturally, Colorado was roasted at the hearing. "Is there a tagline, like we're the best and Colorado sucks?" Rep. Stefani Lord, R-Sandia Park, asked jokingly. Rep. Catherine Cullen, R-Rio Rancho, who's from Colorado, said she supports the bill, too, and didn't even know Pueblo, Colorado, grew chile until she moved to New Mexico. When asked "Why August?," bill expert Travis Day explained the summer month is usually when harvest is happening, in both northern and southern New Mexico. Day is the executive director of the New Mexico Chile Association. Measures like this are usually introduced in the form of memorials, which pass more quickly through the Legislature, but Dow told the Journal after the committee meeting she wanted the celebratory month to be permanent. "We really are trying to be intentional about highlighting the season and working with New Mexico True and New Mexico Grown and farm-to-table and all these different issues around hunger," she said. And, she told the committee, the bill unites everyone regardless of how they answer the question, "Red or green?" "We didn't leave out jalapeños. We didn't leave out habaneros," Dow said. "We're going to celebrate at all."
Yahoo
05-02-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
‘Red or Green Chile Month' proposal advances
Ristras hang at a roadside chile stand just outside of the 'Green Chile Capital,' Hatch, New Mexico. (Danielle Prokop / Source New Mexico) What's your preference – red, green or Christmas? You may soon have the whole month of August to decide as another legislative proposal dedicated to the beloved chile pepper moves forward in the Roundhouse. Rep. Rebecca Dow (R-Truth or Consequences) presented House Bill 172 to lawmakers in the House Rural Development, Land Grants and Cultural Affairs Committee Tuesday morning and received a unanimous do-pass vote. The bill proposes proclaiming August 'Red and Green Chile Month' annually. The proclamation is intended to give a nod to the state's status as the 'Chile Capital of the World,' as well as the economic and cultural impacts the peppers bring to the state. 'It'll provide us the opportunity (in) all four corners of the state, all 33 counties, to celebrate chile and New Mexico,' Dow said during the meeting. 'We really want to have an opportunity to elevate awareness and celebrate our producers and what's unique to our state.' Dow said the plan is to work with New Mexico True, a campaign of the Tourism Department, to create tours across the state. In 1996 the New Mexico State Legislature passed a House Joint Memorial declaring 'Red or Green?' as the official state question. In 2023, Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham signed a bill into law declaring the smell of roasting green chile the state's official aroma. Chile is also one of the state's official vegetables. Travis Day, executive director of the New Mexico Chile Association, joined Dow as her expert witness and noted for lawmakers that 8,800 acres of chile were harvested in the state in 2023, equating to about $41.5 million in value. 'I think as a state, we need to take advantage of every opportunity to promote and advocate for our New Mexico chile product, because we are a declining crop, unfortunately, and we want to do anything we can to help build that industry back up,' Day told committee members, noting that labor shortages Lisa Franzoy, a 'lifelong' resident of Hatch and organizer of the annual Hatch Chile Festival, which is celebrated over Labor Day weekend, said she is proud that her family has long been involved in chile production in the valley and said she supports the bill. 'We've already got our license plates, we already have our billboards,' Franzoy told lawmakers, 'and chile is an important industry to New Mexico, to every New Mexican.' Joe Wellborn, a member of the New Mexico Chile Association board, also voiced his support for the bill saying a month-long celebration of the crop might attract more people from out of state to take advantage of what New Mexico has to offer. 'We are trying to build an agricultural tourism industry in New Mexico, and this has to be part of it,' Dow said during the meeting. Committee Chair Rep. Linda Serrato (D-Santa Fe) added that northern New Mexico has an old tradition of producing red chile while southern New Mexico claims green chile. 'I love how we mix it together,' she said. HB 172 will be heard in the House Government, Elections & Indian Affairs Committee. It has yet to be scheduled for a hearing. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX
Yahoo
05-02-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
‘Red or Green Chile Month' proposal advances
Ristras hang at a roadside chile stand just outside of the 'Green Chile Capital,' Hatch, New Mexico. (Danielle Prokop / Source New Mexico) What's your preference – red, green or Christmas? You may soon have the whole month of August to decide as another legislative proposal dedicated to the beloved chile pepper moves forward in the Roundhouse. Rep. Rebecca Dow (R-Truth or Consequences) presented House Bill 172 to lawmakers in the House Rural Development, Land Grants and Cultural Affairs Committee Tuesday morning and received a unanimous do-pass vote. The bill proposes proclaiming August 'Red and Green Chile Month' annually. The proclamation is intended to give a nod to the state's status as the 'Chile Capital of the World,' as well as the economic and cultural impacts the peppers bring to the state. 'It'll provide us the opportunity (in) all four corners of the state, all 33 counties, to celebrate chile and New Mexico,' Dow said during the meeting. 'We really want to have an opportunity to elevate awareness and celebrate our producers and what's unique to our state.' Dow said the plan is to work with New Mexico True, a campaign of the Tourism Department, to create tours across the state. In 1996 the New Mexico State Legislature passed a House Joint Memorial declaring 'Red or Green?' as the official state question. In 2023, Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham signed a bill into law declaring the smell of roasting green chile the state's official aroma. Chile is also one of the state's official vegetables. Travis Day, executive director of the New Mexico Chile Association, joined Dow as her expert witness and noted for lawmakers that 8,800 acres of chile were harvested in the state in 2023, equating to about $41.5 million in value. 'I think as a state, we need to take advantage of every opportunity to promote and advocate for our New Mexico chile product, because we are a declining crop, unfortunately, and we want to do anything we can to help build that industry back up,' Day told committee members, noting that labor shortages Lisa Franzoy, a 'lifelong' resident of Hatch and organizer of the annual Hatch Chile Festival, which is celebrated over Labor Day weekend, said she is proud that her family has long been involved in chile production in the valley and said she supports the bill. 'We've already got our license plates, we already have our billboards,' Franzoy told lawmakers, 'and chile is an important industry to New Mexico, to every New Mexican.' Joe Wellborn, a member of the New Mexico Chile Association board, also voiced his support for the bill saying a month-long celebration of the crop might attract more people from out of state to take advantage of what New Mexico has to offer. 'We are trying to build an agricultural tourism industry in New Mexico, and this has to be part of it,' Dow said during the meeting. Committee Chair Rep. Linda Serrato (D-Santa Fe) added that northern New Mexico has an old tradition of producing red chile while southern New Mexico claims green chile. 'I love how we mix it together,' she said. HB 172 will be heard in the House Government, Elections & Indian Affairs Committee. It has yet to be scheduled for a hearing. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX
