New Mexico Politics with Joe Monahan (March 17, 2025) – Progressive Democrats spent major league dollars and countless campaign hours to defeat the conservative coalition in the state House in the June 2024 primary only to be ambushed by the resurrection of a coalition in the state senate Saturday.

The surprise attack spelled the end of their cherished paid family and medical leave plan as it was firmly rejected by the Senate Finance Committee, led by unapologetic Chairman George Muñoz.

The stunning turn of events over (HB 11), which was defeated when the House was peppered with those now defeated conservative Democrats but approved by the Senate, finally sailed through the House this year. Then Saturday in Senate Finance sudden death struck on an 8 to 3 vote, leaving Roundhouse progressives grieving their loss, like this one:

Joe, we cut off the head of the snake in the House only to see it grow back in the Senate. The shock is like an earthquake in the middle of the night.

SESSION – Paid FMLA Dies In Senate Finance Committee