By PAIGE KNIGHT
NM Voices for Children’s Director of Research
Children and families throughout New Mexico deserve access to affordable health care and nutritious food. However, Congressional Republicans are pushing for harsh cuts to Medicaid, the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), and other programs that working families need to make ends meet, all to fund trillions more in tax cuts for billionaires and corporations.
Medicaid is the largest source of health coverage in the nation, with 836,881 New Mexicans—and 350,453 of our state’s children—relying on Medicaid for vital services. It provides people with check-ups, access to medication, mental health care, and treatment for injuries. Without health insurance, individuals may avoid the doctor and delay care until problems worsen, ultimately resulting in an emergency room visit. This is a costly way to access health care and leads to significantly worse outcomes for individuals. If Congress and the Trump Administration impose harsh requirements to access Medicaid, it will drastically increase the number of people without insurance. Cutting federal Medicaid reimbursement rates for states would force New Mexico to reduce eligibility, benefits, or revenue for health care providers. Most rural hospitals and clinics are already operating on tight margins. A reduction in revenue through Medicaid reimbursements or increased uncompensated care would likely lead to layoffs, the closure of rural hospitals, reductions in services, fewer hours of operation, and higher charges that would affect all patients, not just those on Medicaid.
The nation’s most important and effective anti-hunger program, SNAP, is also set to face significant cuts. SNAP plays a critical role in reducing poverty, improving health and economic outcomes, supporting individuals who are paid low wages, and serving as the first line of defense against hunger during economic downturns. More than 450,000 New Mexicans rely on SNAP to help pay for healthy food, with over 61% of those being families with children. And let’s be clear: SNAP benefits are small as they are.
The average household in New Mexico receives only $307 per month in benefits.
And what would these cuts to hard-working families pay for? More tax cuts for the wealthiest in our
country.
Over the next few weeks, congressional Republicans are working to extend—and even expand—the expiring Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (TCJA). First enacted in 2017 under the first Trump Administration, it has failed to deliver on promises of boosting the economy, raising wages, and lowering prices for New Mexicans. Extending the TCJA is expected to cost $400 billion, with benefits skewed toward the ultra- wealthy.
Slashing budgets and dismantling vital programs to fund ineffective tax breaks for the wealthy and well- connected harms us all. It’s particularly damaging now, as many federal workers are losing their jobs, and the cost of food, housing, health care, and other essential needs continues to rise.
Medicaid helps drive the state economy, and cuts could have a ripple effect, leading to job losses in the health care sector while New Mexico is working hard to recruit and retain doctors and health care professionals. Studies have shown that every additional public dollar spent on SNAP generates $1.54 in economic activity for the 1,700 stores in New Mexico that accept SNAP benefits.
The cumulative impact of cuts to these federal programs, tariffs, tax cuts for the wealthy, and sweeping layoffs of federal workers will severely limit our ability to fund public education, roads and bridges, public safety, and essential services that we rely on every day. Transferring significant costs – that for generations were covered by the federal government – to the states will constrain our elected state officials, and take away their power to decide how to invest in our communities and leave them with fewer tools to build resilient local economies.
We urge our federal and state leaders to continue advocating for New Mexicans and opposing Congressional Republicans’ reckless budget cuts. We cannot continue to give massive tax cuts to the wealthiest and corporations who have seen their profits continue to grow at the expense of everyday working families.
You can join us in thanking our state’s U.S. Senators and Representatives for speaking up for New Mexicans. Contact your representatives and share how federal cuts will impact you and your loved ones.
Rep. Melanie Stansbury – (202).225.6316
Rep. Gabe Vazquez – (202).225.2365
Rep. Teresa Leger Fernandez – (202).225.6190
Sen. Martin Heinrich – (202).224.5521
Sen. Ben Ray Luján – (202).224.6621