MLG admits: trial attorneys in her party will kill needed health care compacts

In New Mexico governors come and go but the Legislature remains a problem. Even Gov. Lujan Grisham agrees that medical provider compacts are a necessary step (one of several) to addressing New Mexico’s medical provider shortage. But trial attorneys who represent one of the largest and most powerful interest groups within her party oppose them. So, they won’t be on the agenda for the special session and (barring a miraculous deal or change of heart), they aren’t going to get much traction in the 30-day session.

As MLG said, “I worry there are so many leaders in the Senate that it gets caught there,” (referring to the compacts). While there is $117 million in annual federal funding at stake (the state might miss out on without the compacts) and the compacts have been a topic of discussion in Santa Fe since 2019, Senate Majority Leader Peter Wirth remains opposed (along with other trial attorneys in his own party). Wirth even claimed that advocates for the compacts and federal pro-compact policies are “holding health care hostage” when it is he and his fellow legislative Democrats who are holding the health and well being of New Mexicans hostage.

Notably, check out this awful opinion piece from the new head of the trial-attorney (anti compact) New Mexico Safety Over Profits Johana Bencomo. She is a sitting Democrat city councilor in Las Cruces. While we obviously disagree with her and the organization she represents her op-ed is full of platitudes and attacks on corporations, insurance companies, and private equity firms. She doesn’t actually explain why they are problematic or what solutions might improve things. Considering her group NMSOP is funded by and only cares for the interests of trial attorneys it is not surprising she has no solutions for the medical provider shortage, but it is telling that the organization doesn’t feel the need to offer compromises or alternatives, just implacable opposition.

Finally, in New Mexico governors are term limited. Legislators are not. Term limits should absolutely be implemented in New Mexico, but won’t be as long as Democrats maintain control. It is up to the voters to stand up to Peter Wirth and the trial attorneys who control the Democratic Party.