New Mexico House Committee Forwards Press Bill HB 153, Block Opposed Splitting with President Trump's Executive Order and Directive

Yesterday AlamogordoTownNews.org and KALHradio.org reported on the "Press Protection Bill" moving forward for consideration in the New Mexico legislature. On Tuesday the committee reviewed the act and heard public comment then voted to move the legislation forward by a 4-2 vote. 

The New Mexico legislature's House Consumer and Public Affairs Committee members unanimously agreed to adopt amendments to include New Mexico’s legislative branch among the state entities that would be prohibited from compelling a journalist from disclosing confidential sources or information. The bill already included the executive branch and “administrative” state agencies.

The amendments also clarify that the law puts limitations on subpoenas. It previously submitted bill placed limits on “the content of any testimony.”

The bill intentionally adopts a broad definition of who is a journalist to include social media influencers and bloggers who regularly publish newsworthy information. Existing law only includes people who are employed by a news organization. 2nd Life Media which operates a variety of news platforms and is contracted for the operations of streaming KALHRadio.org is a media entity news organization which is already protected by the existing law. However our belief in citizen journalism means that we have advocated and endorse this expanded definition. 

Supporters in committee on Tuesday included representatives of the Albuquerque Journal, the New Mexico Press Association and the American Civil Liberties Union of New Mexico with several letters submitted by numerous citizens and news organizations such as AlamogordoTownNews.org endorsing this legislation. 

There were no opponents in the committee audience or online but Reps. John Block (R-Alamogordo) who markets himself as "Defending our Constitutional rights," yet sponsored a tax increase on energy this legislative session and habitually blocks opposition viewpoints on his media platforms and his sidekick Stefani Lord (R-Sandia Park) tried to table the bill. They were outvoted by the rest of the committee in a 4 to 2 vote. Mr. Block's and Ms. Lord who claim to represent their constituents via an America First Platform as loyal supporters of President Trump deviated from his platform of supporting 1st Amendment Rights that he outlined in a presidential decree signed and executed on January 20th entitled “Restoring Freedom of Speech and Ending Federal Censorship.”

In Mr. Trumps own words...

"The First Amendment to the United States Constitution, an amendment essential to the success of our Republic, enshrines the right of the American people to speak freely in the public square without Government interference. Over the last 4 years, the previous administration trampled free speech rights by censoring Americans’ speech on online platforms, often by exerting substantial coercive pressure on third parties, such as social media companies, to moderate, deplatform, or otherwise suppress speech that the Federal Government did not approve. Under the guise of combatting “misinformation,” “disinformation,” and “malinformation,” the Federal Government infringed on the constitutionally protected speech rights of American citizens across the United Statesin a manner that advanced the Government’s preferred narrative about significant matters of public debate. Government censorship of speech is intolerable in a free society..."

Mr Block and Ms Lords attempt to veto a bill protecting 1st Amendment rights is a direct contradiction to President Trumps own words and his "America First Agenda."

Thus the passage of this legislation through the first committee is a win for true conservatives, moderates and constitutionalist who believe in Amendment 1. 

The bill heads next to the House Judiciary Committee for review. 

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• New Mexico HB 153 Protect Reporters Act Moves to Committee HB 153 an important safeguard to protect journalistic freedoms.