New Mexico’s SSDI population soars

Rob Nikolewski over at Capitol Report has done a great bit of reporting/research on our state’s exploding “disability” population. Between 2003 and 2011, the population rose by an astonishing 58.7%. Given that, it is no surprise that our state’s work force participation rate is among the lowest in the nation and the lowest in our region (see chart below):

SSDI (disability) is ripe for reform and even liberals like Joe Klein writing over at Time “get it.” Problem is that it is politically-tough to end government programs that encourage dependency.