Article says 38 Obamacare navigators in NM appeared on FBI database
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FLAGGED BY THE FBI: A story in the National Review says the names of one in seven Obamacare navigators in New Mexico appeared on an FBI criminal database.
By Rob Nikolewski │ New Mexico Watchdog
SANTA FE – An investigation by the , one of the leading conservative media outlets in the country, reports that one in seven navigators in New Mexico hired to help consumers work their way through the appeared on the database.
But an official with the state’s Affordable Care Act Implementation Projects emphasizes that while a person’s name may turn up on the FBI database, it does not mean they pose any risk to consumers and says the navigators have been properly vetted.
, 38 New Mexico health-care guides or certified application counselors received their certification to deal with consumers working their way through what’s colloquially called “Obamacare,” even though their names matched the FBI database. The National Review’s inspection could not determine how many of the 38 navigators had actually been convicted of a crime.
“We’ve been very careful not to provide licensure to anyone we thought was a risk,” Aaron Ezekiel of the said to the National Review.
Among the charges that popped up on the FBI criminal database were eight domestic violence charges, four drug charges, two larceny charges, one petty theft charge, one shoplifting charge and two child abuse charges.
According to the FBI, the database can include arrest records and criminal cases that were dismissed or led to an acquittal.
The article quotes spokeswoman Deborah Hammer saying that the charges associated with the 38 navigators have all been adjudicated and their respective employers have performed background checks.
“We definitely believe in second chances, and people have a right to be gainfully employed,” Hammer told the National Review.
to read the entire NR article.
Contact Rob Nikolewski at and follow him on Twitter @robnikolewski
Posted under Blog.
Tags: Aaron Ezekiel, FBI, National Crime Information Center, National Review, New Mexico Health Insurance Exchange, New Mexico Office of the Superintendent of Insurance, NMHIX, Obamacare
4:47 pm on January 16th, 2014
What happened to employees of high security jobs being bonded? These people would not have qualified for employment under bonding. I was bonded for a far less secure job than what these people are doing. Very sensitive information is being handled by these people that can be used by them or sold to others. Yes, people deserve a second chance, but not at a job as sensitive as this one. I am so glad I will not have to be going through this fiasco. I know that my kids are wary of this whole scheme and will probably be paying the fine for not falling in line and giving away all their info to someone who could sell it or use it for criminal use. I can’t believe that our government is allowing this kind of thing to happen, but then, forcing this healthcare down the throats of people not wanting to be involved is criminal to begin with.
8:39 am on January 17th, 2014
This isn’t about healthcare. Nor is it about ‘security’. It’s about building another partisan organization that has the ‘goods’ on its political adversaries. If successful health treatment is the end result of anything Obamacare, count yourself as lucky.
Otherwise, this info gathering, being done by the advocates of Obama style leftism, will more than likely be available for blackmail & silencing political opposition.
9:51 am on January 28th, 2014
If you are an American who values liberty, you should NOT give them one scrap of personal information. Resist! Do not participate in any way. Be of courage and vote conservative for ALL positions on the ballot in Nov.