Stansbury vs. Moores on the Issues
The Republicans and Democrats have chosen their candidates for CD 1 and with the vote coming on June 1, there is limited time for campaigning or for voters to find out necessary information. The good news is that the Rio Grande Foundation has been tracking legislative votes via our Freedom Index for some time and both Sen. Mark Moores (R) and Rep. Melanie Stansbury (D) have taken a number of important votes in recent years.
The following is a comparison of their votes on some momentous issues:
In 2019
HB 55: changed New Mexico election law (assuming enough other states do so) to allocate New Mexico’s electors in presidential elections to the winner of the popular vote (thus reducing NM’s influence in presidential races):
Stansbury Yes
Moores No
HB 85: Prohibited local “right to work” laws which gave workers in the 10 counties that had passed them the right to opt out of paying union fees:
Stansbury Yes
Moores No.
SB 489: Energy Transition Act (AKA, mini-green New Deal): this law requires utilities to dramatically increase the use of “renewable” electricity with no protections for rate payers.
Stansbury Yes
Moores Yes
HB 6: Major tax hike on car sales, internet sales, personal incomes, and other items. This tax hike was passed at a time of a major budget surplus.
Stansbury Yes
Moores No
In 2020
SB 5: Red Flag gun law allows dubious due process and for government seizure of guns;
Stansbury Yes
Moores No
In 2021
SB 317: Among other issues this bill increases taxes on certain health insurance policies from 1 percent to 3.75 percent. The legislation represents a tax hike of $153.2 million annually initially;
Stansbury: Yes
Moores: No
HB 20: Mandatory paid sick leave (government employees were ultimately not included);
Stansbury: Yes
Moores: No
SB 112: Sustainable economy task force: creates a task force with the express goal of reducing reliance on oil and gas. Of course, New Mexico’s Democrat-controlled Legislature has had ample time to enact public policies to “diversify” New Mexico’s economy;
Stansbury: Yes
Moores: No
SB 8: Gives local governments the ability to enact more restrictive air quality regulations than are imposed by the federal government;
Stansbury: Yes
Moores: No
HJR 1 Increases withdrawals from New Mexico’s Land Grant Permanent Fund by 1.25% increase and dedicates 60% for “early childhood” programs/40% for K-12;
Stansbury: Yes
Moores: No
HB 4: The so-called New Mexico Civil Rights Act would actually do little to protect New Mexicans’ civil rights and instead simply opens local governments throughout the State up to more litigation.
Stansbury: Yes
Moores: No