Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham introduced final Sunday an initiative to ask Texas docs to contemplate relocating to her neighboring state of New Mexico, in response to Texas’s “draconian abortion ban.”
The governor launched a direct enchantment to Texas well being care suppliers, working a full-page advert in 5 main Texas newspapers final Sunday. The adverts contained an “open letter” to “Texas healthcare suppliers” telling them that they’re welcome in New Mexico to apply medication with out restrictions.
“I do know that authorized restrictions on healthcare in Texas have created a heavy burden for medical practitioners –– particularly these of you now barred by legislation from offering the total spectrum of reproductive healthcare. It should be distressing {that a} draconian abortion ban has restricted your proper to apply and turned it right into a political weapon,” Lujan Grisham wrote within the open letter.
“I definitely respect these of you who stay dedicated to caring for sufferers in Texas, however I additionally invite these of you who can not tolerate these restrictions to contemplate training subsequent door in New Mexico,” she added.
Lujan Grisham mentioned her state was “taking steps” to verify New Mexico doesn’t comply with in Texas’s footsteps in passing restrictive abortion legal guidelines.
“You’ve my phrase: I’ll by no means intrude with the elemental proper of well being employees to care for his or her sufferers in New Mexico,” she wrote on the finish of the letter. “Whether or not you’re a nurse, a resident, a doctor assistant, or a physician, we cordially and enthusiastically invite you to the Land of Enchantment, the place you’re free to care in your sufferers.”
Texas has probably the most restrictive abortion legal guidelines within the nation, banning the apply in nearly all circumstances. Personal residents might sue well being care suppliers and those that assist girls who search abortions at roughly six weeks. Texas is one in every of 22 states within the nation with abortion bans or restrictions which might be harsher than the usual set by Roe v. Wade, which was overturned in 2022.
Lujan Grisham’s letter is an element of a bigger initiative referred to as the “Free to Present” marketing campaign. In July, the hassle was behind six billboards positioned across the Houston Medical Middle that mentioned, “Come to New Mexico the place you’re free to offer.”
Texas Gov. Greg Abbott’s (R) press secretary, Andrew Mahaleris, responded to the initiative in a press release to CNN.
“Individuals and companies vote with their ft, and frequently they’re selecting to maneuver to Texas greater than every other state within the nation. Governor Lujan Grisham ought to concentrate on her state’s quickly declining inhabitants as a substitute of political stunts,” Mahaleris mentioned to CNN.
The Hill has reached out to Abbott’s workplace for remark.
