Papen speaks her mind, though it probably upsets the governor

An article in Sunday’s Albuquerque Journal won’t win Sen. Mary Kay Papen, D-Las Cruces, any points with the governor, but Papen has always been one to speak her mind.

She said she will reintroduce legislation next year that would let people with HMO health insurance appeal the state insurance superintendent’s decisions on coverage disputes to the Public Regulation Commission.

The bill easily passed the House and Senate this year, but the governor vetoed it.

It was Papen’s comment about why she believes he killed the bill that is certain to irk Gov. Bill Richardson. She said Richardson was a close political ally of then-Insurance Superintendent Eric Serna, who resigned recently amid scandal.

“I was never told why it was vetoed,” Papen told the Journal. “I assumed the governor was looking out for Eric.”

Naturally, the governor’s office disputes that, saying the legislation wasn’t needed. But an overwhelming number of legislators believed the legislation was needed.

Papen upset Richardson in this year’s session by fiercely opposing the proposal to raise the minimum wage. Many in Southern Doña Ana County fear raising the minimum wage would push businesses to relocate to nearby communities in Texas.

Richardson responded by treating Papen like a Republican and vetoing many of her capital outlay proposals.