Health Blog – New Mexico Voices for Children

Feb 10 2021

How combining a just economic transition and strong climate action equals a safer, healthier and more equitable New Mexico

Web Admin2021-02-17T14:24:49-07:00Blog Posts, Economic Security Blog, Health Blog, Tax and Budget Blog|

New Mexicans are already experiencing severe impacts of climate change – harming our health, air, land, water, and economy. The Climate Solutions Act (HB 9) would establish nation-leading carbon pollution reduction targets to benefit current and future generations while ensuring that all New Mexicans will benefit from the jobs and economic growth provided in a clean energy future.

Jan 28 2021

Biden Administration should update antiquated oil and gas leasing and bonding rules

Web Admin2021-01-29T16:31:36-07:00Blog Posts, Health Blog, Health News Coverage, News Coverage, Tax and Budget Blog, Tax and Budget News Coverage|

While the extraction of oil and natural gas in New Mexico is mostly done on public lands, the state has less authority over the process than you might think. And while the industry puts a lot of money into our public schools, it could put a lot more money in if the state made the rules. Unfortunately, because much of the public land where drilling takes place here is actually federal land, we must rely on the federal government to set the rules.

Jan 27 2021

Breaking our bondage to outdated bonding rates, GIF-splained

Web Admin2021-01-27T14:53:42-07:00Blog Posts, Health Blog, Tax and Budget Blog|

While the oil and gas industry has brought a lot of money into New Mexico, it can also end up costing us money - lots of money. When wells no longer produce, they are abandoned. Responsible companies cap these old wells and clean up the surrounding area. But not all old wells are capped and cleaned - especially when the company has gone bankrupt. This gif-splainer lays out the problem and the solution.

Dec 07 2020

How the Affordable Care Act has helped make New Mexico families healthier (part 2)

Web Admin2021-01-06T16:02:18-07:00Blog Posts, Health Blog, Racial and Ethnic Equity Blog|

Since it was implemented in 2010, the ACA has faced strong opposition from Republicans. Although attempts to repeal the ACA have been unsuccessful, the Trump Administration has been highly effective at weakening the ACA by undermining its provisions. This includes making it more difficult to enroll in coverage by adding more administrative hurdles for eligibility and cutting the budget for outreach and enrollment.

Nov 16 2020

It’s time NM diversified away from oil, gas

Web Admin2021-01-07T11:35:55-07:00Blog Posts, Health Blog, Health News Coverage, News Coverage, Tax and Budget Blog, Tax and Budget News Coverage|

Pre-pandemic New Mexico saw a boom in oil and gas extraction, which was mirrored by an increase in state revenue. And while many state leaders opined that this boom was going to last indefinitely, the reality for the industry was far more grim. “In short,” the report states, “while New Mexico posted record oil and gas revenues, the oil and gas industry itself was reporting steep losses.”

Nov 10 2020

How the Affordable Care Act has helped make New Mexico families healthier (part 1)

Web Admin2020-11-10T10:24:07-07:00Blog Posts, Health Blog, Racial and Ethnic Equity Blog|

The Affordable Care Act not only allowed millions of Americans to receive health insurance, it also improved public health and helped close the health disparity gap for people of color. Part 1 in this 2-part blog series looks at how the ACA benefitted New Mexicans.

Oct 27 2020

Upcoming federal lease sales put the trick in “trick or treat”

Web Admin2021-01-07T11:36:10-07:00Blog Posts, Health Blog, Tax and Budget Blog|

The fact is the entire federal leasing system is dramatically outdated and in need of wholesale reform. Look no further than BLM’s New Mexico sale in August to see why someone with no experience in oil and gas development – was able to snatch up a third of the leases offered for next to nothing.

Sep 23 2020

Time for NMOGA to walk the talk on climate and health

Web Admin2020-09-23T14:01:54-06:00Blog Posts, Economic Security Blog, Health Blog|

The article’s revelations are at once shocking and not surprising, with lobbyists who have spent years fighting against regulations to reduce methane waste and pollution admitting the problem is real. And if you suspected the industry is more concerned about its image than protecting your health, you’re right. Its answer to out-of-control methane emissions? More image polishing and public relations advertising.

Jul 15 2020

Still at 50th, New Mexico must continue to invest in our kids in hard times

Web Admin2021-01-06T16:06:44-07:00Blog Posts, Economic Security Blog, Education Blog, Health Blog, Kids Count Blog|

New Mexico’s 50th ranking in child well-being is the result of a decade of austerity due to choices lawmakers made during the last recession. In 2019 and early 2020, Lawmakers began to put the state on the right path for our kids. The pandemic and current recession do not need to derail us.

Jul 06 2020

COVID-19: 3 Policy Principles to Advance Equity

Web Admin2020-10-15T16:49:30-06:00Blog Posts, Economic Security Blog, Health Blog, Racial and Ethnic Equity Blog, Tax and Budget Blog|

Over the past few months, the resiliency and strength of communities all across New Mexico have been in full view as people come together to support each other through the COVID-19 pandemic. Still, the pandemic has caused disproportionate harm to communities of color, worsening disparities in health and economic well-being. Just as public policies entrenched systemic racism, they can be used to dismantle it.