Top of Mind: Paid Family & Medical Leave law and salaries for NM lawmakers

Top of Mind is a weekly question about an issue affecting New Mexicans.

LAST WEEK’S QUESTION

Does New Mexico need a Paid Family & Medical Leave law?

“PFMLA is absolutely crucial for the state of New Mexico, the bill isn’t making people need the time to be with their family or causing them to miss work, it’s giving employers a safety net, and giving the majority of New Mexicans a little humanity.”

Austin Weahkee

Albuquerque

“N.M. needs Paid Family Medical Leave because this state values families and caring for each other. Healthy families make for a strong economy, strong workers, and a thriving N.M. As a single mom, I value both a steady job and the space and chance to care for my family.”

Renee Beltran

Mesilla

“Yes, small businesses can’t compete without a state PFML fund. They’re competing for employees with the city, the county, state, Netflix, and Facebook, all of which offer PFML. The state PFML pays the employees wages while they’re on PFML.”

Julianna Koob

Albuquerque

“My dad has terminal cancer. As I grapple with this devastating news; I’m grateful for PFML so I can accompany him to the grave, a sacred journey. Please pass HB6 /SB3 so that all New Mexicans have access to family leave during vulnerable times; this is what fair looks like.”

Jessa Cowdrey

Los Lunas

“Yes for FML. When people lose jobs and health insurance because of an illness, or can’t care for a family member, costs get shifted to tax funded programs. When parents and infants can’t bond in a calm environment, the whole community may pays the price for years.”

Lynn Mallory

Albuquerque

“Yes, with a big caveat for the N.M. Paid Family and Medical Leave Law. It has to be guised in a way that it will not kill even more small businesses. The governor’s ill-advised COVID shutdown ruined many small businesses and we do not need a repeat.”

Dave Coulie

Albuquerque

“Yes, employees deserve to be treated like human beings, not just cogs in a machine. The better you treat them, the more productive and loyal they’ll be. Maybe we should become a social democracy and eliminate the greedy capitalists. ‘Greedflation’ is a fact and you can’t blame President Joe Biden.”

Mark Yarnelle

Albuquerque

“Yes, New Mexico and its small businesses need a Paid Family and Medical Leave law and have been asking for it. 55% of New Mexico small employers say job seekers want jobs that provide benefits like paid leave. And 85% of small businesses welcomed the introduction of the PFMLA.”

Awesta Sarkash

Albuquerque

“Not a day goes by that I don’t encounter a family choosing if they should take care of a loved one who is dying and potentially face financial ruin, or if they should continue to work. New Mexicans deserve better and this is why we need PFML.”

Alexandra Pedersen-Green

Rio Rancho

Want to participate in Top of Mind?

NEXT WEEK'S QUESTION:

Would you like to see NM’slegislators receive a salary?If so, how much?

Submit your response to: abqjournal.com/opinion/ — goto Other Forms, then Top of Mind.

Responses must include your name

and city to be published.