Dear Friends:

The sun is beginning to set on the 2020 Legislative Session which concludes Thursday at noon. While we continue to keep a close eye on things, here is a brief recap of some things that took place last week—the good, the bad, and the ugly.

The GOOD – Recreational pot stalls, Pregnant worker protection advances

After weeks of public debate and objections from concerned New Mexicans, efforts to legalize recreational marijuana stalled in the Senate Judiciary Committee last week. Although the tabled bill, SB115, can be revived, the time is quickly running out and most people agree that the bill is now dead for the remainder of this Legislative Session. On the day of the hearing, the bill’s sponsors introduced a troubling committee substitute bill which would have, among other things, granted licensing authority to labor unions and allowed convicted drug dealers to qualify for licenses. Ultimately, two Democrats joined the four Republicans on the committee to table the bill. Special thanks to all of you who responded to our Action Alerts by sending messages and making phone calls!

In the meantime, HB25—a pregnant worker accommodation bill—is just one step away from heading to the Governor’s desk. This legislation protects pregnant women from being terminated solely because of their pregnancy and requires employers to provide “reasonable accommodations” for them during the pregnancy. HB25 passed the House 65-0 and is now awaiting a full vote in the Senate.

The BAD – Governor maintains radical abortion talk

In spite of experiencing the biggest setback of her administration just 11 months ago—the defeat of HB51–Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham continues to make it clear that codifying abortion up-to-birth remains one of her top priorities. As reported by the Albuquerque Journal, the Governor recently spoke at a Planned Parenthood event and stated, “The second we have the votes in the Senate, that antiquated, absolutely outrageous law is gone.” The Governor’s remark demonstrates the growing division and tension between progressive and traditional Democrats in Santa Fe. Whether the Governor gets her wish will depend on the outcome of the 2020 Election.

The UGLY – Planned Parenthood planning to expand in New Mexico

While other states are passing pro-life legislation at a record pace, New Mexico remains a primary target of the abortion industry. NM Political Report has reported that Planned Parenthood considers New Mexico to be a key state for abortion access moving forward and they are already raising money to build a new abortion clinic in Albuquerque. According to the CEO of Planned Parenthood of the Rocky Mountains, New Mexico and Colorado serve as “a little island” where women can travel to obtain late-term abortions. Should other states continue to enact pro-life laws, expect New Mexico’s reputation as an abortion tourism destination to grow.

The Final Countdown

The Legislative Session concludes Thursday at noon and we will be at the Capitol until the final gavel drops. That said, if you appreciate the work we are doing and if you would like to see it continue, would you consider sending us a gift today? Click here to send your gift now and help us continue to fight for a New Mexico where religious freedom flourishes, families thrive, and life is cherished!

Thank you for your prayers and support.

The Family Policy Alliance of New Mexico Team

 

“Speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves; ensure justice for those being crushed.” (Psalm 31:8)

Dear Friends,

Earlier this year, thousands of pro-life New Mexicans rallied together to defeat one of the most radical pro-abortion bills in the country—House Bill 51. Our victory sent shockwaves through the State Capitol and in the days that followed, my phone was flooded with calls from people all over the country asking, “How did you do that?” My response was always the same. We prayed, we spoke up, and we showed up.

 And friends—the time has come for us to do it again!

The fight for life in New Mexico is far from over and today, we begin a new effort to thwart the agenda of the radical abortion industry with the release of our 2020 “New Mexicans for Life” Pro-Life Petition. House Bill 51 will be back during the upcoming Legislative Session in January and we must again send a clear message to the Governor and the members of the Legislature—that we oppose abortion up-to-birth and infanticide, and any effort to repeal important conscience protections for our medical professionals.

Family Policy Alliance of New Mexico is proud to be partnering with Right to Life Committee of New Mexico and New Mexico Alliance for Life on this important project and we are depending on you to make it a success.

Will you help us today by doing 3 things?

  1. Please ADD YOUR NAME by clicking here. It only takes 30 seconds and in addition to your name being added to the petition, a message will immediately be sent to the Governor and your State Senator and Representative.
  2. Please SHARE THIS EMAIL by forwarding it to your family members, friends, and pastors.
  3. Please SHARE OUR PETITION LINK on Facebook, Twitter, and/or Instagram – newmexicansforlife.com.

Thank you for making your voice heard and for speaking for those who cannot speak for themselves.

Standing together for life,

Vince Torres
Executive Director

Dear Friends:

Every week, social media users use the hashtags #ThrowbackThursday or #TBT to share some of their favorite memories. This week, I took some time to reflect on some of the best memories I have had since launching Family Policy Alliance of New Mexico®. Fortunately for me and my memory, I did not have to think that far back for an all-time favorite!

#ThrowbackThursday this week takes us back just 3 months to March 14, 2019—the night when 8 Democrats joined 16 Republicans in the New Mexico Senate to defeat the radical abortion bill, HB 51. This was the night when the pro-life community of New Mexico went up against the abortion industry giant…and won!

Three months later, I am still reflecting on what we learned from that historic night.

We learned that the good Lord still answers our prayers.

 We learned that people of faith can be a powerful force in New Mexico politics.

 And we learned the importance of having pro-life men and women serving in our State Legislature.

 Come January 2020, we need history to repeat itself. The Governor has already made public her intentions to bring back this legislation in order to maintain the status quo in New Mexico—which is abortion up-to-birth, for any reason.

 My question is, are you ready to do this all over again?

 We are! The 2020 Legislative Session may be seven months away, but our preparation begins now.

Our vision is a New Mexico where life is cherished. Together, let’s make it happen.

Standing for Life,

Vince Torres
President and Executive Director

 

P.S. If you want to help us train and support pro-life, Christian legislators and candidates, please consider making a tax-deductible donation to our Family Policy Foundation® Statesmen Academy℠ today! Because of the unique and powerful nature of this program, generous supporters have stepped forward with a matching grant to DOUBLE your support. This doubled investment will yield results for YEARS to come, so please consider partnering with us today!

Dear Friends:

1, 271—This is the number of pro-life laws enacted in the states since the infamous ruling in Roe v. Wade in 1973. (according to the Guttmacher Institute, a national pro-abortion research and policy organization)

33—The number of states who have enacted pro-life laws since 1973.

 27—The number of pro-life laws enacted this year alone.

Perhaps most encouraging is that fact that more than one-third of all pro-life laws enacted since 1973 have occurred within the last ten years. How do we explain this growing momentum? I suggest we look to the court—the court of public opinion that is.

In the words of Bob Dylan, “The times, they are a-changin.” There is no arguing the fact that public sentiment regarding abortion has changed and continues to shift in our favor. Advancements in ultrasound technology have exposed the barbaric nature of abortion procedures—including dismemberment and dilation/evacuation abortions—leading many self-proclaimed pro-choice Americans to rethink their position.

Consider these statistics:

66%—The number of “pro-choice” Americans who now oppose third trimester abortion.
(February 2019 Poll—YouGov & AUL)

55%—The number of voters who believe six-week abortion bans (fetal heartbeat) are “too lenient” or “just right.
(May 2019 Poll—Hill/HarrisX)

54%—The number of Americans who believe the U.S. Supreme Court should “overturn” or “modify” Roe v. Wade.
(May 2019 Poll—Harvard Caps/Harris)

Friends—we are winning in other states and in the court of public opinion, and with your continued support, we can bring this success to New Mexico. This past Legislative Session, we shocked the abortion industry and the nation when we defeated the radical abortion bill, HB 51. In doing so, we proved that the people still have the power to influence public policy and the direction of our state.

Do you want us to continue to fight for a state where life is cherished? Do you want to see New Mexico join the other 33 states who have enacted life-affirming laws? If so, would you consider making a donation today? Thanks to your support, we are close to meeting our fundraising goal for the current fiscal year, and your gift today will get us that much closer.

As always, thank you for your continued prayers and support!

Sincerely,

Vince Torres
President and Executive Director


Sanctity of Human Life Awareness and Unity Day 2019, New Mexico State Capitol

Dear Friends—

On Saturday, at noon, the New Mexico Legislature adjourned “sine die,” concluding a Legislative Session unlike any other in recent memory. On the heels of the November “blue wave,” progressive legislators partnered with Governor Michelle Lujan-Grisham to propose one of the most liberal agendas in state history. However, when the final gavel fell Saturday in both the House and the Senate, it became apparent that New Mexico was not quite ready to follow in the footsteps of California and become the next bastion for all things “progressive.” In fact, much of the progressive agenda faced harsh pushback from both the public and legislators on both sides of the aisle, leading to some unexpected victories and encouraging moments.

Today, we recap our “Top 5 Moments of the 2019 Legislative Session.”

  1. Radical Abortion Bill—House Bill 51—Defeated by the Senate. After passing the House of Representatives, the radical abortion bill, House Bill 51, was defeated in the Senate by a vote of 18-24. During the debate, Senator Gabriel Ramos (D) admonished the legislature for prioritizing the lives of coyotes, prairie dogs, and chickens over the lives of unborn children. When the final vote was tallied, 8 Democrats joined the 16 Senate Republicans to oppose the bill.
  1. Local Family Leads Effort to Pass “Simon’s Law.” In February, a local family from Albuquerque partnered with Representative Gregg Schmedes (R) to introduce legislation aimed at preventing doctors from instituting “do not resuscitate” (DNR) orders on a child without parental/guardian knowledge. Seven-year-old, Twila, was born with a genetic condition, and unbeknownst to her parents, doctors at UNMH repeatedly placed a DNR order on Twila’s chart. Although this legislation was tabled by the Democrats in a House Committee, the opportunity to advocate on behalf of Twila and her family was a highlight of the entire Session.
  1. Assisted Suicide Bill–House Bill 90—Tabled in the House. After clearing two House Committees, House Bill 90, which would have legalized assisted suicide in the state, was tabled in the House due to a lack of support. When the bill was originally introduced, it was considered by many to be the most extreme assisted suicide legislation ever proposed in any state. In addition to lacking many “safeguards” found in other states, the bill would have allowed non-physicians, including physician assistants, to prescribe lethal medication—leading Representative Rod Montoya (R) to refer to the bill as “Physician Assistant Assisted Suicide.”
  1. Thousands of New Mexicans Rally for Life. According to many people, the public engagement during this Session was stronger than ever. Family Policy Alliance of New Mexico® was proud to participate in four pro-life events, including “Sanctity of Life Awareness and Unity Day,” “Pastors’ Day,” “A Prayer Vigil for Life,” and the final “Rally for Life.” Thousands of New Mexicans participated in these events and brought a spirit of prayer into a building that desperately needed it.
  1. Charter School Moratorium and Enrollment Cap Efforts Fail. In a victory for parental rights and school choice, efforts to halt the opening of new charter schools and cap charter school enrollment failed to advance.

The 2019 Legislative Session will not be soon forgotten, and these moments represent just a few of the highlights. Ultimately, we hope these victories help people of faith recognize that when we speak up and engage, we have the power to change outcomes and change our state. This Session was just the beginning and we believe much greater things lie ahead.

Thank you for your prayers and continued support!

The Family Policy Alliance of New Mexico Team

Dear Friends—

I am sure you have already heard, but last night we defeated the radical abortion bill, HB 51, in the New Mexico Senate by a vote of 24-18 after 8 democrats joined 16 Republicans in opposition!

After the final vote was announced, we found ourselves silenced in disbelief at what had just transpired—the people of New Mexico had gone up against the abortion industry giant, and the people had won!

How did we do it?

  1. We prayed, and God honored and answered our prayers! What took place last night was nothing short of a miracle. To say the odds were against us is an understatement. In fact, throughout this process, we were constantly told that there was no way to stop HB 51; and to be honest, at times, we believed it. But God had other plans, and last night, we all reaped the reward of our labor.
  1. We worked together, and the church engaged! We want to thank our coalition partners—New Mexico Alliance for Life, Right to Life Committee of New Mexico, and the New Mexico Conference of Catholic Bishops—and the thousands of New Mexicans who prayed, made phone calls, sent emails, attended our rallies, and visited their legislators. Let this be a lesson for all of us—when we work together and when the church engages, we can move New Mexico.
  1. We had bipartisan support from pro-life men and women in the Legislature! We worked hard, but at the end of the day, it was our pro-life legislators who pushed us over the top. We want to thank the House and Senate Republican Caucuses, as well as the 6 Democratic Representatives and 8 Democratic Senators who voted for life. Because of your support, we are on our way to restoring a culture of life in our state.
  1. We had support from ministry partners like you! Our work during this Legislative Session would not have been possible without financial support from our ministry partners, so thank you for your contributions to this significant victory.

Friends—the need for our work moving forward is apparent and we now have a proven track record of success. Therefore, if you would like to see us continue these efforts, please consider sending a financial gift today so we can continue the fight for life in New Mexico. The battle is far from over, but with your prayers and support, we are convinced that New Mexico can become a state where families thrive and life is cherished. So please, give today and let’s do this together.

Together in His Service,

The Family Policy Alliance of New Mexico Team

Vince Torres, Executive Director

 “I think it’s probably the most input I’ve had from constituents on any bill that I’ve ever encountered in my eight years in the Legislature. And overwhelmingly, my constituents are very much opposed to House Bill 51.”

This was the testimony provided by Representative Cathrynn Brown (R-Eddy) during her debate of the radical pro-abortion bill, House Bill 51, last week in the House of Representatives. And she is not the only one who feels this way. Many legislators have, in fact, shared similar experiences of constantly ringing phones, floods of emails, and even handwritten letters arriving by the dozens. Talk with the leaders of the pro-life organizations and they too will tell you this is the by far the greatest pro-life response they have ever witnessed.

So, what happened? My personal opinion—the church of New Mexico “woke” from its slumber and decided to confront the greatest present-day injustice in our state. Now, this is not to say that the engagement has been limited to people of faith; but as a pastor, I simply cannot recall a time in my life when the church was so engaged in the legislative process to defend life. I cannot recall a time when so many pastors were addressing this issue from their pulpits and encouraging their congregants to speak out and get involved. And I cannot recall a time when such great masses of Christians and Catholics determined that the abortion “status quo” was no longer acceptable.

In recent years, the barbaric actions and vile intentions of the abortion industry have come to light, and we are finally recognizing the abortion issue for what it truly is—a human rights issue. Locally, this is no longer a Republican versus a Democratic matter. Case in point—six Democrats joined the Republicans in the House last week to oppose House Bill 51, and bipartisan opposition is expected in the Senate as well. Add to this the growing opposition from pro-choice Americans to late-term abortions and infanticide, and it is safe to say that although we lost a vote in the New Mexico House last week, we are winning the hearts of people across the nation.

In Galatians 6, the Apostle Paul urges, “And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up.” Church—when it comes to life, I believe we are on the cusp of reaping the benefits of our efforts. I believe that “due season” may very well be just around the corner. So, with that in mind, let us continue to do the good work. Speak up. Engage. We cannot give up now. Victory lies ahead!

 ACTION ALERT: The Fight Continues! Click Here and Urge Your Senator to Oppose HB 51, the Most Radical Pro-Abortion Bill in the Country!

 

 

After being fast-tracked through two committees, HB 51—the most extreme pro-abortion bill in the country—is now headed to the full House of Representatives for a vote. This vote could happen as early as TODAY, so we need you to contact YOUR Representative NOW and urge them to vote “NO.”

Once again, we have made it simple to communicate this request. Simply click here and you can send a message to your Representative in 30 seconds!

After you have sent the message through our Action Center, please call your Representative and leave the same message.

And finally, please forward or share this message with friends. It is important that the Representatives hear from as many people as possible.

REMEMBER, HB 51:

HB 51 is wrong for New Mexico! So please contact your Representative now and tell them to vote “NO.”

Thank you for making your voice heard!

The Family Policy Alliance of New Mexico Team