New Mexico State Rep. John Block said gaining a committee seat could help block bills, particularly the Paid Family and Medical Leave Act, which would make small businesses cover paid time off for extended absences, "even for a second cousin’s illness." Block was a guest on a recent episode of the Tipping Point New Mexico podcast.

"It could mean that we could get a seat somewhere in one of the committees, which could help when killing bills," said Block on the Tipping Point New Mexico podcast. “It also could mean that we could have a little better opportunity to kill legislation on the floor. One thing that I know is coming back for certain is the Paid Family and Medical Leave Act, which failed by, I believe, two votes last legislative session. And so that legislation was horrible when it comes to small businesses because they'd be forced to pay into this big pool of money that they would have to give free, paid time off, a large amount of time off, to people.”

“It could even extend to their second cousin was sick or something, they could use that to take off,” said Drangmeister. “I believe it was something between 12 or 20-something days."

This edition of the podcast features guest Rep. John Block and conversations about the upcoming legislative session, covering expected policy debates and the Republican Party’s role in influencing legislation. They also discuss the Pinon Post, a news site Block founded to provide coverage of New Mexico politics and conservative viewpoints.

Block is a Republican member of the New Mexico House, representing District 51 since January 2023 after being elected in 2022.

Tipping Point New Mexico is a podcast hosted by Paul Gessing and Wally Drangmeister of the Rio Grande Foundation, focusing on public policy issues in New Mexico. The podcast is a project of the Rio Grande Foundation, a research institute promoting individual freedom, limited government, and economic opportunity.

This full episode is available on the Tipping Point New Mexico website and YouTube.