Rep. Melanie Stansbury (D-NM) and former U.S. Interior Secretary Deb Haaland have recently voiced strong opposition to proposed Medicaid cuts, raising concerns about the potential impact on residents’ healthcare in New Mexico.
Congressional Budget Office estimates indicate that the House Republican reconciliation bill would eliminate health coverage for at least 8.6 million individuals and reduce health care spending by a minimum of $715 billion, primarily through Medicaid cuts.
Haaland, a candidate for the Democratic nomination for New Mexico governor in 2026, posted a video on social media criticizing proposed cuts, arguing that these policies could jeopardize healthcare for over 90,000 New Mexicans through reduced Medicaid funding. Haaland said that 40 percent of New Mexico’s population relies on Medicaid, and the proposed cuts could affect low-income families, children, rural health providers, hospitals, and the Indian Health Service.
“Healthcare is not a partisan issue – it is right that we all deserve, and we must stand together to protect Medicaid and demand that Republicans in Congress put people over politics,” Haaland said. “I promise to stand up for our communities’ access to healthcare in every arena. New Mexicans deserve better, and we can’t back down.”
Stansbury also slammed House Republicans’ efforts to advance the “devastating reconciliation bill that would increase taxes for our lowest-income working Americans, and gut healthcare and food assistance programs to give billionaires permanent tax breaks.”
Stansbury said the potential consequences could be dire in New Mexico, where a significant percentage of children, adults with disabilities, and elders in nursing homes rely on Medicaid. She also pointed out the potential for increased health insurance costs for families in her district.
“Republicans have repeatedly doubled down on their efforts to sacrifice the families in pursuit of tax breaks for their billionaire donors,” Stansbury said. “From forcing single parents and elders off SNAP, kicking an estimated 13.7 million Americans off health care, to gutting historic investments in climate and clean energy, this bill is nothing short of devastating for families in New Mexico.”
Haaland, who has personally relied on Medicaid, has previously pushed for Medicaid expansion and opposed cuts to the program. Stansbury criticized the Republican bill as a “betrayal of our working families” and vowed to fight against it.
“President Trump’s shakedown of the American people—enabled by House Republicans, continues,” Stansbury said. “I’ll continue to fight against this catastrophic reconciliation bill and work toward real solutions to lower costs for New Mexicans and the nation.” The House Budget Committee passed the Republicans’ reconciliation bill late Sunday. The House Rules Committee is scheduled to discuss the package on Wednesday. The bill will then move to the U.S. Senate for further consideration.
Total fear mongering. Trump was elected to clean out fraud and abuse. Flip NM Red !!