SANTA FE—Today, Senate Republican Whip, Senator Craig Brandt (R- Rio Rancho) presented Senate Bill 122 before the Senate Health and Public Affairs Committee. Despite support from top law enforcement officials and prosecutors, Democrats on the committee tabled the bill on a 5-4 vote. The bill would have changed the law to allow for the holding of violent offenders pending trial to ensure they do not commit further crimes. 

Following the tabling of the bill, Senator Brandt issued the following statement:

“Make no mistake—the reason the executive, criminal prosecutors, and law enforcement all supported this measure is because there is consensus that career criminals are aided and abetted by this weakness in our bail system. By voting down this measure, progressive Democrats from Albuquerque stood on the side of criminals and left the safety and security of our communities in jeopardy.”

“These legislators say they are committed to addressing New Mexico’s crime crisis, but votes like this expose their words are nothing more than lip service. The people of our state deserve better, and moving forward, I hope the people will demand better from those they elect to office.”