New Mexico Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham announced Monday the launch of an ad campaign in Texas with the aim of recruiting more abortionists and medical providers to relocate the state. The move is highly questionable, as abortion proponents dishonestly attempt to blame the problem of “maternity care deserts” on states that enact pro-life laws.
It seems that now, New Mexico wants to contribute to the problem for the sake of increasing abortion in their state.
The initiative, titled “Free to Provide,” includes billboards and full-page ads placed in major newspapers across Texas, including the Austin American-Statesman, Dallas Morning News, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, Houston Chronicle and San Antonio Express-News. The campaign encourages Texas doctors who are unhappy with the state’s pro-life protections to move to New Mexico, where abortion is legal through all nine months of pregnancy.
“You took your oath with patients — not politicians — in mind,” Lujan Grisham said in an open letter published in the news ads. “I certainly respect those of you who remain committed to caring for patients in Texas, but I also invite those of you who can no longer tolerate these restrictions to consider practicing next door in New Mexico.”
Though the campaign targets all medical professionals, Lujan Grisham addressed abortion directly in her letter.
READ: ‘Maternity care deserts’ ignored in favor of expanding abortion access
“I know that legal restrictions on healthcare in Texas have created a heavy burden for medical practitioners — especially those of you now barred by law from providing the full spectrum of reproductive healthcare,” she wrote. “It must be distressing that a draconian abortion ban has restricted your right to practice and turned it into a political weapon.”
She added: “We’ve always taken pride in protecting what makes us unique, and that includes protecting women’s health and abortion access. You have my word: I will never interfere with the fundamental right of health workers to care for their patients in New Mexico.”
The billboards towering over Texas highways show two smiling doctors with the words, “Come to New Mexico where you are FREE to provide.” A website is also listed, where medical professionals can find out more information about relocation.
New Mexico Department of Health Cabinet Secretary Patrick Allen affirmed the campaign.
“We think that’s sort of an obvious opportunity. The legal circumstances are pretty dramatic in Texas,” Allen told The Dallas Morning News. “People who live in Texas have maybe got some affinity with living in the Southwest and so we don’t think it’s a huge leap for them, culturally, to think about New Mexico.”
The campaign reportedly cost around $400,000, and billboards are expected to remain up in Texas for at least another two weeks.
