It was a surreal session at the Roundhouse.

The 2021 New Mexico legislative session was largely virtual, so a large part of what anyone saw of the session was not at the Roundhouse at all, but rather images of legislators sitting in their home offices and participating via Zoom sessions.

But the virtual session also had a bitter reality. A new, more progressive group of legislators held sway – made possible by progressives’ defeat of moderate Democrats in last year’s primary election. The fact that elections have consequences was very evident this year.

The results then were not all that surprising, but they were jolting nonetheless. Here’s a look at key outcomes.

Limitless Abortion. After years of pushing for it, the progressives finally got what they wanted – a law repealing restrictions on abortion in New Mexico. While some of those restrictions weren’t in effect because of court rulings, others were. Here are a few immediate, practical changes of the new law: ·

State law no longer includes conscience protections for medical professionals who are unwilling to do abortions.

There is no justification for these outcomes; it is as bad as it sounds. See how your state senator and representative voted.

Assisted Suicide. Near the end of the session, progressives succeeded in checking off another longtime goal, legalizing assisted suicide. When Gov. Lujan Grisham signed the bill, she made New Mexico just the ninth state to take that life-devaluing step.

Suicide is already a major problem in New Mexico. According to the Centers for Disease Control, our state has the fourth-highest suicide rate in the nation, with suicide ranking as the ninth-leading cause of death. Suicide contagion is real, and the state’s legitimization of some suicides will likely only add to the problem.

There has also been strong concern in recent years over elder abuse in our state. Assisted suicide laws compound that problem. In 2019 in Oregon, 54 percent of people who requested assisted suicide did so because they feared being a burden on their family. This new law enables financial predators in the family who would seek to reduce the burden of care and get access to wealth.

On the positive side, your strong responses to our action alerts created pressure on legislators, and the bill was amended with some limited improvements. However, even these safeguards are unenforceable and able to be avoided. See how your state senator and representative voted.

Recreational Marijuana. When the legislature couldn’t finish up the marijuana bill before the regular session ended, Gov. Lujan Grisham wasted no time in calling a special session, where the era of Big Marijuana in New Mexico was quickly ushered in.

Now our state will have to grapple with many of the same challenges as our neighbor to the north. Since Colorado legalized recreational weed, it has seen a dramatic increase in violent crime, traffic fatalities, and marijuana hospitalizations. And usage by minors – sometimes fatal, from eating poorly regulated marijuana “candies” – has soared. See how your state senator and representative voted.

A Ray of Hope? Yes, this legislative session produced a sharp, leftward lurch for New Mexico. But now the Left has to own it – their voting records and the unpopular consequences of their policies. As we’ve seen, elections have consequences. And sometimes, so do legislative sessions.

Thanks for your faithful support and action. Let’s keep at it!

The Family Policy Alliance of New Mexico Team

It’s the last week of the session, and things are happening quickly. Thanks for staying engaged and taking action!

On Sunday, there were two big developments on bills that we’ve been telling you about.

ASSISTED SUICIDE. First, the Senate Judiciary Committee met for several hours on Sunday and heard House Bill 47, which would legalize assisted suicide in New Mexico. Family Policy Alliance was one of four groups allowed to testify against the bill in the minimal time allowed.

It was clear that the hundreds of emails you sent through our Action Center – plus countless phone calls to key senators – made a difference. For a time, it appeared that the bill might be defeated in the committee. But one of the senators with strong concerns about the bill ultimately voted to allow the bill to go to the Senate floor, where he will attempt to address some of its major problems. With his vote, the bill passed committee, 5-3.

Despite the fact that it only passed committee last night, it could be voted on by the full Senate as early as today!

Your action is needed!

RECREATIONAL POT. Thank you to the hundreds of you who also reached out to the Senate committee that was scheduled to hear the bill to fully legalize Big Marijuana in New Mexico. Yesterday, at the last minute, that bill (House Bill 12) was moved to the Senate Judiciary Committee, where it may be considered today or tomorrow.

That move to a new committee is likely an indication that your messages were making a difference! But now Senate Judiciary needs to hear from New Mexicans who are concerned about the Colorado-style damage that this bill will inflict on our state!

Please take a moment to urge the Senate Judiciary Committee to oppose recreational marijuana (HB12). When you send a message, it will also include your own senator, even if they aren’t on the committee.

From the elderly and infirm (assisted suicide) to vulnerable young people (Big Marijuana), these attacks devalue life and must be fought. Thanks again for standing firm and taking action!

The Family Policy Alliance of New Mexico Team

The sprint that is otherwise known as the New Mexico legislative session is now two-thirds done. Thank you for continuing to speak up to legislators.

Despite the Governor signing the radical abortion bill, there are critical issues that remain! Here are some of the most important – and what you can do about them:

Assisted Suicide

This dangerous bill would give the state’s approval to some suicides and, for the first time, turn our doctors into life-takers. But despite its radical nature, it has passed the House and the first Senate committee. Now it is on its way to perhaps its most critical vote – in the Senate Judiciary Committee.

Will you take action to stop it?

Recreational Pot 

 On Friday, the Recreational Marijuana bill passed the House, 39-31. Now, it is headed to the Senate Tax, Business, and Transportation Committee.

Consider these facts:

Take Action Now: Take a few moments to send a message to the entire Senate committee that is about to hear this bill.

Human Trafficking

Here is some good news: Last Friday, the Sex Offender & Human Trafficking Changes Bill passed the House nearly unanimously and will soon be heard in Senate committees. This bill makes needed changes to clamp down on the major problem of sex trafficking in New Mexico.

For our kids and grandkids,

The Family Policy Alliance of New Mexico Team

Callousness and disrespect for life takes many forms, and this year at the Roundhouse, we’re seeing it at both ends of life.

In regard to life in the womb, hundreds of you have used our Action Center to send messages urging the Governor to veto the radical abortion bill. Thank you.

Today, we’re appealing to you to speak out about a bill that disrespects the lives of the sick and the elderly.

House Bill 47 legalizes assisted suicide in New Mexico. Virtually identical bills have been defeated in the past here, but after last fall’s elections, the outcome of this bill could go either way.

After passing the House last week, HB47 is now headed for a hearing in the Senate Judiciary Committee – and it’s URGENT that we prevent this bill from going any further.

Here is what you can do to make the biggest difference in stopping this deadly bill:

There are many reasons why assisted suicide is a tragic mistake. Here are three:

In addition, New Mexico is home to one of the largest Hispanic populations, as well as one of the largest indigenous populations in the nation. Physician-assisted suicide contributes to the continued unfair access to equal healthcare for disadvantaged and vulnerable populations.

That’s why the League of United Latin American Citizens states:

“The practice of distributing a pharmaceutical poison to the medically dependent and emotionally vulnerable, particularly where individuals and families are financially burdened by severe illness and not provided access to appropriate palliative care and caregiver supports, is unconscionable.”

The assisted suicide bill will soon be heard by the Senate Judiciary Committee. Please call and leave messages at the numbers above as soon as possible – and then spread the word to other New Mexicans who care about upholding life.

Thanks for speaking up and making a difference!

The Family Policy Alliance of New Mexico Team

On Friday, the Senate passed the radical abortion bill that we had worked together to stop in recent years. While that battle is not over, it will go to the House floor soon for a vote that will be challenging to win. More on that – and what you can still do – in just a bit.

In the meantime, another life issue – assisted suicide – has taken center stage. This year’s version (House Bill 47) passed out of a second committee on Saturday afternoon and is also heading to the House floor for a vote that could happen this week.

This bill is very similar to other assisted-suicide bills that have been defeated in recent years. But as we saw with the abortion vote, elections have consequences. Because of the new makeup of the legislature, it will take a strong outpouring from pro-life New Mexicans to once again stop this dangerous assisted-suicide legislation.

The good news is that the concept of encouraging and allowing suicides remains controversial, even in the newly elected legislature. Your voice can make a difference!

Here’s what we’re asking you to do to keep New Mexico from going down this dangerous suicide road:

  1. Please take a moment to send a message to your state representative. As always, it’s quick and easy on our Action Center.
  2. After you’ve sent the message, you’ll get a confirmation that includes the name and phone number of your representative. Please do take a moment to call. Simply let them know that you are a constituent of theirs and ask them to OPPOSE House Bill 47. Just a few calls – combined with the email messages – can make a huge impact!

Update on the Abortion Bill. As we mentioned up top, the radical abortion bill passed the Senate, which is where it was defeated in recent years. Still, despite that difficult blow, the battle is not over. Please pray, and if you haven’t already contacted your state representative using our Action Center, please do so. It is likely that the abortion bill will come to a vote on the House floor this week, perhaps tomorrow.

We remain steadfast in both of these fights for life. And we are grateful for your committed support and willingness to speak up to your legislators.

The Family Policy Alliance of New Mexico Team

New Mexico’s 55th legislative session will be novel in some ways and familiar in others. The legislature has limited in-person public testimony at the Capitol due to ongoing health concerns, planning to conduct hearings via video conferencing. Though, many of our legislative priorities will be very familiar.

Assisted Suicide
Once again, physician-assisted suicide is on the table, filed as HB 47—The Elizabeth Whitfield End-of-Life-Options Act. It is currently in the House Committee on Health, & Human Services and is expected to have a hearing soon.

HB 47 would legalize assisted suicide in New Mexico by allowing patients to obtain lethal drugs from medical professionals who do not even have to be doctors – this is essentially Non-Physician assisted suicide. This legislation would also enable the same non-physicians to determine the mental capacity of patients requesting lethal drugs. It would take the extra step of forcing doctors and medical professionals to violate their conscience by mandating that they refer patients for assisted suicide when requested, regardless of the patient’s mental or medical condition.

HB 47 lacks many safeguards found in other states that protect patients from dangerous abuse and coercion from predatory family members and profit-driven insurance companies, putting the disabled and the elderly at particular risk.

Abortion
Although it has not yet been introduced, we expect another substantial effort to repeal abortion statute protections for women and doctors. Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham has reiterated her commitment to supporting legislative efforts to remove all abortion-related laws from New Mexico statutes, including those that provide doctors’ conscience protections and require a woman’s consent before having an abortion.

Marijuana
Lawmakers will likely introduce legislation to legalize recreational marijuana, again with support from the Governor’s office (a proposal 63% of New Mexicans opposed just a year ago). Supporters claim legalization will bring in tax revenue but dismiss the heavy cost legalization would have on our communities, particularly our children and communities of color, not to mention the health and safety risks that have become realities in other states which have legalized recreational marijuana.

Despite these radical efforts, we are proud we have strong allies in our state capitol we can stand alongside and support—Elected officials who are committed to representing your values.

Please join us in supporting these legislators by praying that God may bless their efforts and ensure our voices are heard.

With your support we will remain vigilant in standing for life, family and religious freedom and keep you updated on the movement of legislation and how you can get involved.

Sincerely,

Stephanie Curry
Policy Manager

 

The pro-death folks are at it again, and your voice is needed to stop them!

Once again, Maryland legislators have brought forward a bill to legalize assisted suicide. This bill (SB 701) will be heard in the Senate Judicial Proceedings Committee on Friday afternoon.

This assisted-suicide bill will allow doctors to prescribe a lethal dose of drugs to anyone who has been “qualified” to end their own life. The so-called “protections” in these bills are weak, leaving our most vulnerable people – the disabled, the mentally ill and our teens – at higher risk for abuse.

Sadly, suicide tends to generate copycats among the emotionally vulnerable via a phenomenon called suicide contagion, where one suicide leads to many. Suicide is already the second leading cause of death for teens, and suicides among veterans far outnumber combat fatalities.

This bill sends a very bad message to our most vulnerable teens and veterans – that suicide is okay in some instances.

We need your help to encourage the senators on the committee to vote NO on assisted suicide. In just 30 seconds, you can send a message to all of the committee members – that in Maryland every life is worth fighting for.

Thank you for speaking up for life!

The Family Policy Alliance Team

P.S. Please spread the word and forward this information to family and friends using the share button below so they can make their voice heard, too!

One of the most common questions people ask is, “How did my legislator vote?”

I am pleased to share this report card for the 2018-2019 New Jersey state legislature. Here is a snapshot of how your representatives in the Assembly and the Senate voted on key social and moral legislation related to life, education, family, marijuana, marriage, and other issues.

Guided by our mission of building a state where God is honored, religious liberty flourishes, families thrive, and life is cherished, this report card shows the votes of your lawmakers on seven central bills heard and voted upon in the 2018-2019 Legislative Session. A bill is passed by a simple majority in the Senate (21 votes needed out of 40 senators) and the Assembly (41 votes needed out of 80 assembly members.)

Lawmakers earned letter grades ranging from A to F based on how they voted on these seven top bills. This report card is not an endorsement of any candidate or political party. It does not measure any lawmakers’ integrity, commitment to their faith, work ethic, or rapport with Family Policy Alliance of New Jersey®. It does, however, accurately report how your representatives voted on seven bills that harm or protect your family values.

The bills scored include:

A printed version of this informative scorecard will be sent to 1500 pastors across New Jersey who are part of our network. In addition, each legislator will receive the scorecard for their own purposes. Please pray for the 219th legislative session that started on Jan. 14th.

The best is yet to come!

Sincerely,

Shawn Hyland
Director of Advocacy


Len Deo
Director of Alliances, Family Policy Alliance
Founder & Past President, New Jersey Family Policy Council

 

Paid for by Family Policy Alliance of New Jersey, 1977 N. Olden Avenue, Suite 241, Trenton, New Jersey, 08618. This expenditure was not made with the cooperation or prior consent of, or in consultation with, or at the request or suggestion of, any candidate, or person or committee acting on behalf of the candidate.

 

Our Christian Civic League of Maine allies report that the battle over assisted suicide has been very active in Augusta recently.

Despite narrowly losing votes this week in the House and the Senate regarding Physician-Assisted Suicide (LD 1313), this battle is far from over.

CCL expects that on Monday, the House will again be voting on LD 1313. That is why it is critical this weekend that certain House members hear from Mainers who do not want to see doctor-prescribed death legalized.

Please take time to email or call folks from the lists below.

As you can see, there are two lists. The first list is individuals who did not vote last Tuesday. When contacting these Representatives, simply ask them to vote against LD 1313 when it returns to the House.

The second list is Democrats who stood strong opposing their party majority and voted against physician-assisted suicide last week. When contacting them, thank them for their vote and ask them to hold firm in their opposition when LD 1313 returns to the House.

If you are from the representative’s district, give their name, your name, town, and message (please vote against LD 1313 or thank you for voting against LD 1313).

Similarly, please consider contacting a number of these folks even if you are not in their district. When you reach out to them by phone or email, give their name, your name, and leave your message.

The phone number to reach all these representatives is the House switchboard: 800-423-2900. If possible, please email and call this weekend.

List One: (ask to oppose)

List Two: (thank and ask to continue opposition)

Thanks for making your voice heard!

The Family Policy Alliance Team

Our Christian Civic League of Maine allies report that the battle over assisted suicide has now moved to the Governor’s office as the House of Representatives approved it by one vote (73 to 72) on Monday.

We let you know late last week that this critical vote was going to happen and many of you took action over the weekend.  Now, Physician-Assisted Suicide (LD1313) is headed to the Governor’s desk and we need you to act once more asking her to veto the bill.

Here is that you need to know about this legislation

Physician-Assisted Suicide’s most profound injustice is that it violates human dignity and denies equality before the law. Our culture must believe all people have immeasurable worth and dignity.

Because LD1313 has been sent to Governor Mills for her signature, we need your quick help!

Please call Governor Mills at 207-287-3531 today to encourage her to veto this legislation and send the message that in Maine every life is worth fighting for.

Thanks for making your voice heard!

The Family Policy Alliance Team