GOP calls on Phelps Anderson to resign

The state Republican Party is calling for Rep. Phelps Anderson of Roswell to resign his District 66 seat after his decision to change his party affiliation from Republican to “declined to state.”

Anderson made the switch without any public announcement following his committee vote to remove a 1960s era law outlawing abortion that remained on the books after being rendered unconstitutional by the U.S. Supreme Court.

“Anderson was just re-elected in November to a seat that is heavily Republican,” state Republican Party Chair Steve Pearce said. “The principled action would have been to re-register before the election. Instead, voters got a bait and switch from someone they trusted with their vote.”

Anderson ran against Pearce in the 2002 Republican primary for the congressional seat that Pearce would go on to hold for seven terms. He is now the third independent member of the Legislature, following former member Andy Nuñez of Hatch and current member Brittney Barreras of Albuquerque, who won as an independent and has since switched to Democrat.

Help for restaurants

Three bills intended to provide targeted relief to restaurants and workers who have been most harmed by the COVID-19 public health restrictions passed the Senate on Wednesday, Feb.10, and will now move to the House.

Senate Bill 1 would provide a one-time $600 tax rebate to workers who earn less than $31,200 a year; and a four-month tax holiday for bars and restaurants, to run from March until June. Senate Bill 2 would waive liquor license fees for one year. And, Senate Bill 3 would make changes to a low-interest loan program that would allow more small businesses to qualify.

All three bills had strong bipartisan support, and SB 1 passed unanimously.

Money at risk

The state of New Mexico stands to lose $147.5 million in federal support if it does not bring its child support laws into compliance, lawmakers said in introducing bills in both the House and Senate.

Senate Bill 140, which passed without opposition Wednesday in the Health and Public Affairs Committee, and House Bill 190 would modernize and align state laws with federal regulations under the Temporary Assistance for Low-Income Families (TANF), preventing a potentially devastating loss of funding. And, it is estimated the changes could produce an additional $30.9 million a year for New Mexico children.

“This bill is long overdue and we must bring New Mexico into federal compliance or sacrifice $147.5 million in federal funding for TANF and child support,” said the bill’s sponsor, Sen. Gay Kernan, R-Hobbs. 

Walter Rubel can be reached at waltrubel@gmail.com.