I am writing today to announce the closure of the New Mexico Independent. After three and a half years of operation in New Mexico, the board of the American Independent News Network, has decided to shift publication of its news…
While environmental activists played their part yesterday during demonstrations at the capitol building, going so far as to dress up as solar panels and to sing the tune of “You Are My Sunshine,” their counterparts, the anti-cap-and-trade contingency who has…
Roughly one quarter of University of New Mexico students are unimpressed with the state’s flagship public school, according to a survey that questioned college students about their higher education experiences.
Calling it “a thrill,” state Sen. Dede Feldman announced on her blog Sunday that she will be headed to Washington D.C. to talk about healthcare reform “with HHS Secretary Kathleen Sebelius, Presidential Advisor Valerie Jarrett, along with 30 other progressive state legislators from around the county who serve on Health Committees and have experience in this area.”
So what will Feldman, an Albuquerque Democrat, be discussing with White House officials?
I’ll be sharing information (including how you can get involved and counter the huge number of lobbyists now descending on Washington) about the various options and versions of the bill as they go trough the US Senate and House. The major issue right now is whether or how to incorporate a so called “public option,” into the overall reform package. The White House staffers, in subsequent conference calls have said the President wants this done by August.
Feldman, explaining why this is an important debate for New Mexico, points out that New Mexico has the second highest rate of uninsured citizens. Only Texas has a higher uninsured rate.
The “public option” is a big sticking point in healthcare reform. The public option would give consumers a choice of whether to use a governmental healthcare policy or to keep their own private healthcare policy.
While reform supporters say it will help more people become insured, opponents attack the provision as a step towards socialist medicine.
