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.
A bill that would oppose any mandate that New Mexicans buy a specific type of health care coverage failed Friday in the Senate Rules Committee on a 4-3 vote after very little debate. The sponsor, William Sharer, R-Farmington, said the bill would allow people to choose to remain uninsured (or “self-insured” as Sharer called it) if they so choose.
“What this is about is the essential rights of human beings,” Sharer said in defense of his resolution.
Sen. Tim Jennings, D-Roswell, expressed concern that, if enacted, the legislation could effect children’s health insurance.
Sen. Dede Feldman, D-Albuquerque, argued that people already had their choices restricted by cost. “Certainly my freedom of choice is restricted in that capacity because I can’t afford it anymore. And so I am unable to choose,” Feldman said. She noted that her health insurance company, Blue Cross, increased premiums by 30 percent last week.
After less than 20 minutes, an attempt to pass the legislation on to the Senate Judiciary Committee failed 4-3, with Sens. Jennings, Dianna Duran, R-Tularosa, and Kent Cravens, R-Albuquerque, voted for passage of the resolution while Sens. Feldman, Linda Lopez, D-Albuquerque, Peter Wirth, D-Santa Fe, and Michael Sanchez, D-Belen, voted against it.
The Department of Health noted in the fiscal impact report that the bill could have “limit[ed] the Legislature’s options for future health care reform.”
If the bill had passed both chambers, it would have gone to voters for final approval.
