By LISA SHIN
Chair
Republican Party of Los Alamos
As a small business owner and health care provider, I have been closely watching the following bills of our 2025 Legislative Session:
- House Bill 11: Paid Family and Medical Leave Act. Liberal economist Harry Holzer has noted, “A mandatory paid leave policy might well lead employers to begin discriminating in hiring against less-educated women in the child-bearing ages.” Indeed, both California and New Jersey’s paid family leave programs resulted in a 8-9% decline in the employment rate for young women. We should not be surprised if those with serious health conditions are passed over for job opportunities or employers secretly vet family members. Instead of forcing young, healthy singles to pay for a benefit they do not need or want, we should allow voluntary contributions into a tax-deferred, HSA-like savings account. Following Arizona’s family leave program for state employees, there should be a 12 month, 1250 hour work requirement before receiving benefits. HB 11 only requires 6 months of work to receive 3 months of fully paid leave every year and severely restricts options for employers faced with absences. This is not fair or sustainable. Sign here to oppose.
- Senate Bill 176. On a regular basis, I hear reports from my patients that local medical doctors are leaving New Mexico. We have a serious shortage of physicians and specialty health care. I fully support this legislation which would cap attorney fees, send 75% of punitive damages to a public fund, and shift the focus from lawyers to patients. We must do everything we can to retain and attract doctors.
- House Bill 344. One of the few times I will do so, I wholeheartedly agree with Andrea Determan that we should fully repeal New Mexico’s GRT on medical services. Just think about the impact on your health and well-being if we continue to lose our doctors and health care providers to other states.
Please join us for “The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly of the 2025 New Mexico State Legislature.” Our special event will be March 29, 2025 at SALA Event Center, 2551 Central Avenue, Los Alamos, NM 87544.
Details:
- 11:30 a.m. registration
- 12 p.m. talk by Harry Montoya
- Lunch reception to follow
- Tickets: $40/person
- Tickets available at the door
- You may register online and pay online or pay at the door
Harry Montoya was elected for two terms each as a Commissioner of Santa Fe County and a school board member in Pojoaque Valley. He has served as a board member at the New Mexico Association of Counties. He founded the Española-based nonprofit “Hands Across Cultures” in 1995.
He is a former Republican candidate for Congressional District 3 and New Mexico Treasurer. He has been present at the 2025 Legislative Session in Santa Fe as Senate Reader to give us a timely and relevant update.
Lisa Shin, RPLA Chair contact me at chair@losalamosgop.com
Website: www.losalamosgop.com Phone: 505.310.3254
Facebook: @RepublicanPartyofLosAlamos