Alex Ross
El Rito Media
aross@elritomedia.com

New Mexico House Republicans insisted they, not the Democratic-controlled state government, have solutions for affordability, health care and public safety in the 30-day legislative session.

The GOP lawmakers outlined their priorities for the session, and stances on several key issues facing New Mexico during a Tuesday, Jan. 20 news conference held in Santa Fe following Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham’s State of the State address on the first day of the session.

“The common thread here is accountability, common sense and real results, just not rhetoric,” said House Minority Floor Leader Gail Armstrong, R-Magdalena.

Armstrong, along with House Minority Floor Whip Alan Martinez, R-Bernalillo, and House Republican Caucus Chair Rebecca Dow of Truth or Consequences, blamed Democrats for the affordability crisis they said New Mexicans are experiencing.

The Democratic Party holds all statewide offices in New Mexico and control both legislative chambers — including a 44-26 majority in the New Mexico House of Representatives.

“Families in New Mexico are working harder than ever and still falling behind. And that’s not — it’s not — some mysterious economic force. It’s the result of years of bad policies and choices that have raised taxes, raised fees and raised the cost of energy, housing and transportation,” Dow said.

Health care has dominated the agenda for Lujan Grisham and lawmakers, including proposals to allow New Mexico to enter medical care licensure compacts. The compacts provide medical professionals qualified to work in one state with the ability to do so in other states that are compact members.

In all, 14 medical compact proposals have been introduced during the session.

Armstrong indicated while the compacts are high priorities, reforming the state’s medical malpractice system should be the central focus in addressing the state’s shortage of medical professionals.

“We can’t keep pretending that coverage equals care when there’s no providers available,” she said.

On affordability, House Republicans at the conference argued that the policies of the Democratic majority have failed households when it comes to keeping pace with the cost-of-living.

Policies that House Republicans are putting forth include eliminating or reducing state income taxes, offering options for people to purchase homes with zero-down payments and banning out-of-state corporations from purchasing single-family homes.

Dow added that Republicans will also introduce a tax package that will include tax exemptions on tipped and overtime income and expansions of earned income tax credits and credits for seniors.

“People want to be resilient. They want to be self-sufficient. The only way to survive in New Mexico is (to) depend on the government. That’s just simply anti-American,” Dow said.

‘We don’t want to throw everybody in jail.’

An area where Lujan Grisham has found herself more closely aligned with Republicans than with her fellow Democrats is on crime, especially revamping the state’s juvenile justice system and enacting stricter criminal penalties.

During Tuesday’s address, the governor directed lawmakers to advance her public safety priorities, saying that “people who are committing dangerous, violent crimes must be held accountable – without hesitation, and without exception.”

At the news conference, House Republicans struck a similar tone on juvenile justice reform.

“If these kids are old enough to do violent crime, they’re old enough to be held accountable, and that’s what we want to do—common sense. We don’t want to throw everybody in jail, walk away. We want the rehabilitation side of it also, but they need to be held accountable,” Martinez said.

He added that the House Republican Caucus backs a series of bills introduced by Rep. Andrea Reeb, R-Clovis, to, among other things, expand the number of offenses for which juvenile offenders could receive adult sentences.

Despite the common ground with the governor, leading House Republicans still differed with her on Lujan Grisham’s proposal for no-cost universal childcare. In November, the state expanded childcare access to all New Mexico families regardless of income.

Republicans and some Democrats in the Legislature have voiced doubts about the landmark initiative, citing its likely long-term cost to the state and doubts that New Mexico has enough qualified providers to meet the demands.

Armstrong also voiced frustration with how the governor has implemented the childcare initiative.

“Not a single legislator got to vote on a bill to bring this forward or not. And I think the majority of the legislature has a real issue with that,” she said.

Republicans at the news conference also signaled that they may oppose the $1.5 billion transportation bill, due to the inclusion of hikes on vehicle registration fees. Armstrong said she has not yet read the bill but warned those fee increases could be “a sticking point” in winning the support of House Republicans.

Legislative reporter Alex Ross can be followed on X @alexrosstweets.

Mike Smith
Artesia Daily Press
msmith@currentargus.com

Looking for a new place to get a pedicure and manicure, Artesia resident Laura Lujan was one of the first customers at the brand-new Lux Nails & Spa II on Tuesday.

Lujan enjoyed a break from the frigid temperatures as the salon held its grand opening at 313 W. Quay Ave. in downtown Artesia.

“I’m just trying a different place,” she said while her toenails were pampered with a pedicure.

The 32-year-old Artesia native and resident was already getting in the mood for Valentine’s Day (Feb. 14) as she chose red polish for her fingernails.

“It gets me in the spirit,” she said.

Lujan and other customers were greeted with dessert treats, hors d’oeuvres, drinks, gift bags and balloons during the grand opening.

Owner Jay Vo said he opened the Artesia location because the number of Artesians visiting his Carlsbad shop at 1302 S. Canal Street convinced him Artesia needed its own store. The Carlsbad location opened five years ago.

“It’s a good location for us,” Vo said as he geared up for Lux’s big day in Artesia.

Vo’s business occupies the former Artesia Medical Supply building, and Vo said work needed to be done to convert the retail space to a nail salon.

“We had to redo the floor, walls and install a new HVAC (heating and air conditioning system) and plumbing,” Vo said.

He said the shop, which has 12 pedicure salon chairs and 12 tables for manicures, offers eight types of pedicures along with classic and deluxe manicures, nail enhancements, polishes, and acrylic nails.

Vo said the nail spa is open from 9 a.m. until 7 p.m. Monday through Saturday and on Sundays from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Mike Smith can be reached at 575-628-5546 extension-2361.

Tim Keithley
For the Artesia Daily Press

Here we are in the middle of January again wondering when the next major winter storm will next appear–or not.

“Well, do you want the truth, or shall I try to keep it positive?” Meteorologist Ron Roberts quipped. He’s the weatherman for New Mexico-based MTD Radio’s group of local stations and KAMC-TV in Lubbock.

“Both,” I replied. “Is there even a hint of at least something down the road?”

“Frankly, no,” Ron said. The National Weather Service’s Climate Prediction Center has determined that we’re back in a ‘La Nina’ weather pattern that should keep this region basically dry through the spring.”

Ron said that doesn’t mean that it’s possible to get more snow this winter. However, the chances of a major snowstorm are remote based on the latest forecast models.

“It all has to do with the Pacific Ocean water temperatures and right now that remains cold,” Ron said. That means we’re not seeing a lift of warm water to become evaporation in the atmosphere and that’s keeping the precipitation chances down throughout the southwest region.”

Ron regularly studies weather-related documents historically dating back to when conditions were recorded even a hundred years ago for New Mexico and west Texas. He points to statistics that show this area is receiving about half of the snow accumulation it once received just a few decades ago.

“The Ruidoso area is getting about half of the snow accumulation it once received even fifty years ago. I know there are some locals who remember those major storms and wonder why we’re not seeing them anymore.”

It’s because the climate in New Mexico remains consistently warmer on average, he said. The area is likely to receive the same amount of precipitation, but it comes in the form of rain, not snow.

“Nothing would make me happier than to be the guy forecasting tons of snow for Ruidoso this winter,” Ron said. “I understand how important snow is for the local tourism industry. However, the models indicate that the jet stream will remain dry and cross primarily to the north of southern New Mexico and west Texas.”

“The chances of there being more snow isn’t zero,” he said. “Let’s just say the chances continue to be limited until there is a change in those water temperatures over in the Pacific Ocean.

Ron warned that recent dry conditions and a lack of snowpack also can mean the increase in wildfire danger when the winds typically strengthen around springtime.

“This is something that will need our attention,” Ron said. “The minimal snowpack should dramatically impact local conditions for potential forest fires in the spring. It’s all connected.”

Ron’s forecasts are available daily on local MTD Radio stations daily along with his regular Facebook posts. He has nearly 40 years of experience forecasting and broadcasting the weather for KAMC-TV in Lubbock.

Ruidoso News columnist Tim Keithley writes about the people and events in the community. If you have a story idea, contact Tim at tkeithley@zianet.com.

Alex Ross
El Rito Media
aross@elritomedia.com

New Mexico Sen. Jim Townsend of Artesia was appointed to the powerful Senate Judiciary Committee on Tuesday, as newcomer Sen. Rex Wilson of Lincoln County was tapped for his first assignments.

The announcements came on the first day of budget-focused lawmaking session convened Jan. 20 in Santa and running until Feb. 19.

New Mexico Senate Republicans announced late Tuesday in a press release that Townsend (R-34) was assigned to the Senate Judiciary Committee “effective immediately.”

The committee, like others in the legislature meets throughout the session to debate and vote to pass bills on for further review before being sent either to the House for more debate or to the desk of Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham to be signed into law. Bills must gain approval from both chambers before they can be signed.

The Senate Judiciary Committee is tasked with reviewing bills and issues related to constitutional rights, law enforcement, courts and civil rights. It is frequently the second stop on a bill’s path through the Senate, meaning its members will often finalize legislation for the House’s consideration.

Townsend, whose district encompasses parts of Eddy and Otero counties, said in a Tuesday statement announcing his appointment that the work done by the Judiciary Committee is “critically important to my district and state.”

“My priority has always been to serve where I can do the best for the people who elected me,” Townsend added. “The work done in the Judiciary Committee directly impacts the safety and rights of every citizen, and I am ready to get back to work.”

As a result of his membership on the Senate Judiciary Committee, Townsend will be stepping down from his position on the Senate Conservation Committee, which oversees legislation related to energy, the environment and natural resources.

Townsend, 68, a retired executive with Holly Energy, was elected to the Senate in 2024, following nine years representing House District 54, which covered sections of Chaves, Eddy and Otero counties. During his time in the House, Townsend was the House minority floor leader and served on the House Judiciary Committee and the Energy, Environment and Natural Resources Committee.

Wilson tapped for health, tax committees

The Senate’s newest member, Rex Wilson, a Republican from Ancho, also received his committee assignments.

According to the Legislature’s website, Wilson, a former Lincoln County Commissioner was tapped to be on both the Senate Health and Public Affairs Committee and the Senate Tax, Business and Transportation Committee.

Gov. Lujan Grisham, a Democrat, appointed Wilson on Jan. 7 to complete the unexpired term of Sen. Nicholas Paul (R-33) of Alamogordo. Paul resigned from the Senate in October 2025 citing health reasons. The district encompasses parts of Chaves, Lincoln and Otero counties.

Wilson, who served on the Lincoln County Board of Commissioners from 1997 to 2003, is a rancher and former southern regional director for Presbyterian Medical Services.

Under state law, Wilson will have to run in the Nov. 3 election this year to retain the seat.

Here are the committees other southeast New Mexico lawmakers were assigned to.

Senate

Sen. David Gallegos (R-41), Eddy and Lea counties

Health and Public Affairs

Senate Rules

Sen. Candy Spence Ezzell (R-32), Chaves and Eddy Counties

Senate Conservation

Senate Education

Sen. Larry Scott (R-42), Chaves, Eddy and Lea counties

Senate Conservation

Senate Health and Public Affairs

House of Representatives

Rep. John Block (R-51), Otero County

Consumer and Public Affairs

Government Elections and Indian Affairs

Rep. Cathrynn Brown (R-55), Eddy and Lea counties

Transportation, Public Works and Capital Improvements

House Appropriations and Finance

Rep. Jon Henry (R-54), Eddy, Chaves and Otero counties

House Energy, Environment and Natural Resources

House Taxation and Revenue

Rep. Harlen Vincent (R-56), Lincoln and Otero counties

House Appropriation and Finance

House Education

House Rules and Order of Business

Rep. Jimmy Mason (R-66), Eddy, Lea and Chaves counties

House Commerce and Economic Development

House Rural Development, Land Grants and Cultural Affairs