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.
The state’s new Superintendent of Insurance, John Franchini, began work Monday — just two days ahead of a public hearing scheduled for Wednesday on the controversial Blue Cross and Blue Shield of New Mexico health insurance rate hike that sparked a string of resignations from the post.
“I’ve devoted the majority of my professional life to guaranteeing and protecting New Mexico policyholders’ rights with regards to their insurance,” Franchini said. “As Superintendent of Insurance, I will make sure New Mexicans have the protection, cooperation and assistance of the Division of Insurance.”
Franchini’s tenure is not likely to be smooth sailing. Legislators have proposed removing his semi-autonomous office from the PRC altogether — a proposal supported by Democratic candidate for governor Diane Denish.
PRC commissioners, meanwhile, are lobbying aggressively for tighter control over his Division on insurance rate-setting.
A New Mexico native, Franchini has worked in the insurance industry for nearly 40 years. He is taking over a Division with low morale, according to employees who have told The Independent the Commission is too closely involved in personnel decisions.
Franchini’s appointment July 27 represented the fourth change in Division leadership in as many months.
In May, former superintendent Morris “Mo” Chavez resigned in the face of public outrage and the ire of Public Regulation Commission (PRC) commissioners over his approval of a 21.3 percent health insurance rate increase.
Long-time deputy insurance superintendent Tom Rushton took the helm in May but resigned soon after commissioners unanimously voted to ask him to reopen the Blue Cross rate filing for reconsideration, a move spearheaded by Commissioner Jerome Block, Jr.
Rushton had helped negotiate the rate hike settlement.
Rushton was replaced first by Commission chairman David King‘s assistant Craig Dunbar and then by Johnny Montoya, who is married to King’s cousin, state Rep. Rhonda King.
Montoya had previously served as PRC chief of staff and Division compliance director.
