Opinion: New Mexico Faces Unsustainable Budgeting Choices

Columnist argues state's Democratic leadership is expanding government obligations without fixing underlying system issues.

Published on Feb. 16, 2026

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In this opinion editorial, Rebecca Dow argues that New Mexico's health care system has been destabilized by deliberate policy choices made by the state's Democratic leadership. She claims these choices expand government obligations, lock in permanent spending, and shift costs to taxpayers without fixing the system itself. Dow cites examples like requiring the state to cover 80% of health insurance premiums for all state employees and expanding subsidies through insurance exchanges, which she says dramatically increase long-term financial exposure despite declining population. She also criticizes the lack of guardrails or reforms to address growing liability costs from lawsuits against state agencies. Dow concludes that the state must confront these cost drivers now rather than continuing to expand obligations until the system collapses.

Why it matters

This opinion piece highlights the fiscal challenges facing New Mexico as its Democratic leadership pursues policies that expand government programs and obligations without addressing underlying structural issues in the state's health care and budgeting systems. The columnist argues these choices are unsustainable and threaten the long-term stability of state government.

The details

Dow claims New Mexico's health care system has been destabilized by deliberate policy choices made by Democratic leadership, such as requiring the state to cover 80% of health insurance premiums for all state employees and expanding subsidies through insurance exchanges. She says these commitments dramatically increase long-term financial exposure despite declining population and enrollment. Dow also criticizes the lack of reforms to address growing liability costs from lawsuits against state agencies, arguing Democrats expanded liability without guardrails or caps. She contends the state must confront these cost drivers rather than continuing to expand obligations.

  • The opinion editorial was published on February 15, 2026.

The players

Rebecca Dow

The author of the opinion editorial and a member of the New Mexico House Appropriations and Finance Committee.

New Mexico Democratic leadership

The state's Democratic governor and legislators who Dow claims are making policy choices that expand government obligations and spending without fixing underlying system issues.

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What they’re saying

“Democrats now defend this policy as necessary for recruitment and retention, while simultaneously proposing to extend similar subsidies to public school employees, dramatically increasing long-term financial exposure despite fewer students and a shrinking workforce pipeline.”

— Rebecca Dow, Columnist (The Roosevelt Review)

“Democrats expanded liability without guardrails, caps, or meaningful reforms. They now justify the consequences as the 'cost of accountability.' The real result is higher settlements, skyrocketing insurance premiums, and fewer resources for the very services families rely on all spread across a smaller and shrinking tax base.”

— Rebecca Dow, Columnist (The Roosevelt Review)

The takeaway

This opinion piece argues that New Mexico's Democratic leadership is pursuing unsustainable budgeting policies that expand government obligations and spending without addressing underlying structural issues in the state's health care and fiscal systems. The columnist contends these choices threaten the long-term stability of state government and call for a more responsible approach to budgeting.