NM lawmaker whose son was murdered rips Dems for ‘homicide scholarships’ after her crime bill was tanked

Yahoo News ^ | March 21, 2025 | Charles Creitz

[CedarDave]

A New Mexico lawmaker whose son was murdered by a juvenile expressed outrage this week after her criminal justice bill was tanked in favor of what some on the right are calling a "homicide scholarship" program.

State Rep. Nicole Chavez of Albuquerque said Thursday she is "sickened" by the developments.

"New Mexico Democrats voted to hand offenders like my son’s killer $2,000 a month—some twisted reward for shattering my family," Chavez said of the "homicide scholarship" moniker first dubbed by state Rep. Rod Montoya, R-Farmington, earlier this month.

That bill [HB-255] would provide a monthly stipend for certain former convicts under the age of 26 seeking educational opportunities or other ways to get on the proverbial straight-and-narrow, according to multiple reports.

Per the text of the bill, it would provide money for the Juvenile Community Connections Fund to be used toward programs providing services for adjudicated delinquents and youth, and establish a panel to determine the next steps for a convict released from a juvenile facility.

"I sponsored HB 134 to deliver justice and accountability, but they refused to come to the table," Chavez said of her original bill.

Chavez's bill, which had the support of Democratic Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham, was effectively tanked by Democrats in the House – reportedly including some originally warm to it.

HB 134 sought to update 1970's-era New Mexico laws outlining the criminal justice process for juveniles, including moving some violent crimes like first-degree murder for younger teen suspects to adult court.

Lujan Grisham and a handful of Democratic prosecutors supported the bill, according to the Piñon Post, but four Democrats in the Consumer & Public Affairs Committee successfully tabled the bill, which has yet to see further movement as the session winds down.

[CedarDave]

The so-called "Homicide Scholarship" bill, named as the "JUVENILE CORRECTIONS ACT," HB-255, passed the NM House. It was amended in the NM Senate to remove the $2,000 stipend, but died in the NM Senate Friday night (March 21). Her original bill, HB-134, died in the house as previously reported. See my March 9 thread NM House Dems pass ‘Homicide Scholarship,’ kill juvenile crime bill

[CedarDave]

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[Gene Eric]

#ing Rats

[pacificus]

Looks like another 90-10 issue for Trump!

Homicide scholarships, need to be wrapped around the necks of Democrats forever, crush their strangle hold on New Mexico politics....

Get em Trump, let’s go MAGA!!!!!

[marktwain]

To the Left, at least those who understand the philosophy, criminals are “victims” of society. They need help and understanding. They are proto-revolutionaries.

[CedarDave]

For those interested, here is a link to the bills passed by the NM House and Senate during the past 60 day session (scroll down):

New Mexico Legislature March 22: A somber conclusion

[Diana in Wisconsin]

“To the Left, at least those who understand the philosophy, criminals are ‘victims’ of society. They need help and understanding. They are proto-revolutionaries.”

And they never learn.

“You KNEW I was a Scorpion when I got on your BACK, Mr. Frog!”

“You KNEW I was a RATTLE SNAKE when you invited me into your home for the winter, Lady!”

It’s not like it’s a new ‘concept’ or anything! Yeesh!

[CedarDave]

State Rep. Nicole Chavez of Albuquerque said Thursday she is "sickened" by the developments.

BTW, Representative Chavez is a Republican representing NM House district 31 in Albuquerque.

[Does so]

It’s been a year, but I warned friends not to move to Albuquerque, New Mexico’s worst city for crime.

[Salman]

Democrats are not "soft on crime".

They are actively in favor of it as a revolutionary tactic.