New Mexico State Rep. John Block said Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham's focus on guns and panhandling is part of a "half-baked" agenda, while Republicans aim to increase penalties for fentanyl-related killings, protect border communities, and enhance law enforcement, but have been blocked. Block was a guest on a recent episode of the Tipping Point New Mexico podcast.
"She also wants to focus on guns, and I don't think that's okay; I don't think that we need to be attacking people's Second Amendment rights in any way," said Block on the Tipping Point New Mexico podcast. “She's tried that via executive order and failed because it was just so blatantly unconstitutional; even a Biden-appointed judge would not uphold it. She wants to ban panhandling, which is an interesting take, but I've seen court cases from across the state and the country where it shows it could work, it couldn't work, or it could be struck down because it could be made unconstitutional in some cases.”
“I think her agenda is half-baked,” said Drangmeister. "Republicans, we've come to Santa Fe. Let's increase penalties for killing people; if it's fentanyl, let's ensure that we protect border communities. Let's put more law enforcers on the street and focus on things that actually could have a tangible effect. We've put these forward, but every single time we've put forward these very common-sense solutions, they've died.”
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.
