Roundhouse Recap – Week 2 at the New Mexico Legislature

January 29

PRO-LIFE LEGISLATIVE FORUM & TRAINING

Last week, Family Policy Alliance of New Mexico partnered with New Mexico Alliance for Life and Right to Life of New Mexico for a “Pro-Life Legislative Forum & Training.” The event featured state Senator Bill Sharer (R-San Juan) and state Representative Rebecca Dow (R-Grant, Hidalgo & Sierra) who discussed challenges and opportunities facing the pro-life movement during the current Legislative Session. Most notably, the legislators spoke about the growing concerns with House Bill 51 which seeks to repeals one of New Mexico’s only abortion laws. If passed and signed into law by the Governor, this bill would remove an important consent requirement for women; strip the law requiring licensed physicians to perform abortions; and completely remove conscience protections for faith-based hospitals and medical professionals who choose not to participate in abortions.

HOUSE BILL 51 COMMITTEE HEARING

On Saturday, House Bill 51, which would repeal one of only two state laws regarding abortion, received its first committee hearing in the House Consumer and Public Affairs Committee. More than 100 pro-life citizens gathered to provide public testimony in opposition to the bill. Among those who provided testimony was Catherine Glenn Foster, President of Americans United for Life, and Family Policy Alliance Board Member. Catherine explained to the Committee members that, “Without the current criminal abortion statute…abortion providers will no longer be held criminally accountable for coerced abortions, which are particularly prevalent in cases of domestic violence or sex trafficking.” In spite of the compelling testimony from Catherine and many others, none of the Democratic members of the Committee asked any questions about the bill and a swift 3-2 vote advanced the bill to its next committee—the House Judiciary Committee. Supporting the bill were Rep. Elizabeth “Liz” Thomson (D-Bernalillo), Rep. Andrea Romero (D-Santa Fe), and Rep. Angelica Rubio (D-Doña Ana). Rep. Candy Spence Ezzell (R-Chavez) and Rep. Gregg Schmedes (R-Bernalillo, Sandoval, & Santa Fe) opposed the measure.

QUOTE OF THE WEEK

“This bill would place the licenses of nurses like myself and doctors in jeopardy, leaving us unprotected. By passing this bill forward, you would leave the other 46 states that protect their medical professionals. And let me tell you, with the multi-state licensure compact, nurses and doctors will leave this state for states that do not compromise their legal protection.” -Christina, a local nurse, speaking against House Bill 51

LEGISLATOR OF THE WEEK

State Representative Rebecca Dow (R-Grant, Hidalgo, & Sierra)

State Representative Rebecca Dow was elected to the New Mexico House of Representatives in 2016 to represent District 38 (Grant, Hidalgo, and Sierra Counties). Rebecca is a graduate of Oral Roberts University and the founder of AppleTree Educational Center, a faith-based, non-profit, and one of Sierra County’s largest employers. Rebecca and her husband, Aaron, live in Truth or Consequences and have two children. In 2018, Rebecca attended our Family Policy Foundation Statesmen Academy, a summer conference for on-the-rise Christian legislators and aspiring policymakers.