Bernalillo County commissioners approved a resolution Tuesday urging state lawmakers and Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham to protect residents from anticipated federal spending cuts during a special legislative session beginning Oct. 1.
The resolution addresses concerns about the federal H.R. 1 bill, which county officials say will reduce funding for healthcare, nutrition programs and emergency services while providing tax benefits to wealthy individuals and corporations.
“Our primary concern is the negative impact of the passage of H.R. 1 at the Federal level,” Commission Chair Eric Olivas said in a statement. “This misguided bill will deliver tax cuts to billionaires and corporations while disrupting healthcare services, reduce food for needy families, children and the elderly and compromise critical emergency messaging to inform residents of natural disasters in their areas.”
The county’s resolution requests immediate state action through New Mexico’s Health Care Authority to maintain Medicaid funding that serves thousands of residents, including children. It also calls for state intervention to prevent cuts to SNAP food assistance, public broadcasting and federal transportation funding.
Bernalillo County, the state’s most populous with more than 680,000 residents, is backing Grisham’s call for the special session to address potential federal funding reductions.
“Bernalillo County is the most populous county in the state and we fully support Governor Lujan Grisham’s request for a special session to be prepared and protect the vital resources our community members rely upon,” Olivas said.
The special legislative session is scheduled to convene Oct. 1 as federal lawmakers continue debating spending priorities that could affect state and local government services nationwide.