The evolution of antievolution policies after Kitzmiller v. Dover, New Mexico Version
Updated December 20, 2015.
by Dave Thomas : nmsrdaveATswcp.com
(Help fight SPAM! Please replace the AT with
an @ )
NMSR has several articles regarding creationist/ID bills in New Mexico, and their provenance from Discovery Institute
prefabs years ago. In December 2015, Nick Matzke published "The evolution of antievolution policies after Kitzmiller v. Dover", tracking creationist legislation nationwide for the last 10 years.
Matzke found that anti-evolution policy language has clearly evolved, and often became more subtle after aggressive bills were voted down (much like pathogens evolve to become less aggressive, while more victims live long enough to spread it).
Nick's article mentions four legislative assaults in New Mexico (SB371 and HB506, 2007; SB433, 2009; and HB302, 2011).The following links offer a peek at Nick's article, some background and reactions, and some of the goings-on at the species level right here in New
Mexico, as posted by NMSR.
If you look at the tree, you can see the 2007, 2009, and 2011 NM bills are all on the same lineage (it’s kind of the last lineage branching off before the AFA+Ouchita merger produces the SEA tradition, which then takes over). But, various other states are on that lineage also – the position of New Mexico on that subtree, though, suggests that NM is the “ancestral state” – so to speak. :-)
Given that we know New Mexico has had some particularly activist anti-science, pro-ID/pro-critical analysis groups, it would make sense if their bills got picked up in other states either because (a) the New Mexico stuff was in the news or (b) the New Mexico people promoted their bill texts in conservative/fundamentalist media, discussion forums, backchannels, whatever.
It’s possible Dave Thomas et al. might have accidentally heard more about that specific question (NM being the ancestral state for late-model AFAs).