NM budget expert expects Medicaid work requirements out of Congress - Austin Fisher, Source New Mexico
One of the New Mexico Legislature’s top budget advisers says he expects the federal government’s planned budget cuts to make it harder to qualify for the state’s health insurance program for low-income people.
Medicaid is under threat from the executive branch and Congress. On Sunday, House Republicans released a plan that the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office estimates would cut $715 billion cut to Medicaid funding. As of publication on Tuesday, a U.S. House committee tasked with that work was starting what was expected to be a long and grueling session on the proposals.
Also on Tuesday, at the state Legislative Finance Committee’s first meeting since this year’s legislative session, Director Charles Sallee told lawmakers that in the worst-case scenario, the Republican proposal would translate to cuts of more than $1.1 billion for New Mexico’s Medicaid program.
Sallee said work requirements for some Medicaid patients are “guaranteed” to be included in the Congressional budget as an additional eligibility condition for nondisabled adults without dependents on Medicaid. That could dramatically increase the number of people who don’t qualify for health insurance under the program, he said.
“It remains to be seen just how tough Congress will make the work requirements,” Sallee said.
Whether people who lose their Medicaid coverage will be able to find a low-cost or free alternative health insurance policy through the state’s BeWell exchange, or lose coverage altogether remains an open question, he said.
Sallee also said provider taxes, which the state government levies on nurses and hospitals, are on the chopping block. That could upend programs designed to enhance service quality in those facilities, he said.
Sen. Linda Trujillo (D-Santa Fe) asked whether Congress is considering the potential increase in social costs of people losing their health insurance, and Sallee said no.
“Part of the benefit of giving people access to health insurance is that they’ll go to their doctor for ear infections or things that you don’t need to go to the emergency room for,” Trujillo said. “That’s an indirect cost that’s going to increase, because it costs thousands of dollars more to go and get your ear looked at in an emergency room than it does to go to your health care provider.”
Court battle looms after ethics board rules Bernalillo County treasurer broke conduct code with hire - Justin Garcia, Albuquerque Journal
Bernalillo County Treasurer Tim Eichenberg violated the code of conduct when he hired former County Clerk Linda Stover the day after her term ended, according to a Tuesday ruling from a county ethics board.
However, the Bernalillo County Code of Conduct Review Board left the door open to Eichenberg’s argument, contending that he is bound to state law — not county ordinance — when choosing who he hires as deputy county treasurer. The review board said they could not rule on that argument because they lacked the jurisdiction to do so.
“The ruling in today’s Code of Conduct hearing upholds the integrity of Bernalillo County’s Code of Conduct Ordinance,” County Commission Chair Eric Olivas said in a statement. “The Code of Conduct is specifically designed to guide our ethical behavior as public servants to maximize the public trust in government and ensure accountability and transparency. Elected officials must wait one year after their term ends to enter into a contract or paid position with the county.”
The County’s Code of Conduct, which is meant to limit the possibility of corruption and promote fairness, calls for a “cooling off” period that prohibits elected officials from holding positions in the government for up to a year after their term. But Eichenberg ignored that rule when he hired Stover on Jan. 1, 2025.
Stover was elected clerk in 2016 and served the maximum two terms allowed. She left the office on Dec. 31, 2024, and was hired by Eichenberg the next day with an annual salary of $128,265, according to the county’s transparency page.
The county manager’s office declined an opportunity to comment on the matter.
The ruling sends the issue to the county manager’s office to review the hiring decision, even as a separate process plays out in district court.
Eichenberg told the Journal that he was disappointed that the review board could not consider state law or some of Stover’s arguments.
“I’m grateful to the board that they recognize that the district court will need to fix this,” Eichenberg said.
Eichenberg has challenged the county ordinance’s authority in 2nd Judicial District Court on two fronts after the County Commission sent the matter to the conduct review board earlier this year.
First, he argued that a 3-2 vote in December 2024 to repeal a portion of the code of conduct ordinance should have nullified the ordinance. The reason the “cooling off” period is still on the books is because the County Commission contends that the measure needed a vote of at least 4-1 to repeal.
Eichenberg’s second argument is that state law supersedes county law. Eichenberg pointed out in his lawsuit that the state constitution permits all elected county officials to hire deputies.
Further, he argues that other court rulings have found that county laws, particularly those around merit systems, cannot infringe on this permission. That’s a point that the New Mexico Department of Justice agrees with, according to a 2024 opinion issued by Attorney General Raúl Torrez.
Eichenberg has asked a district judge to weigh the matter and decide who’s right. A hearing in that case has not yet been scheduled. Eichenberg confirmed to the Journal that Stover has remained a part of his team despite the ongoing dispute.
The Conduct Review Board’s decision is not final until they send a written order to the county manager. A county spokesperson said that should happen by May 28.
20 Democratic attorneys general sue Trump administration over conditions placed on federal funds - By Kimberlee Kruesi, Associated Press
A coalition of 20 state Democratic attorneys general filed two federal lawsuits on Tuesday, claiming that the Trump administration is threatening to withhold billions of dollars in transportation and disaster-relief funds unless states agree to certain immigration enforcement actions.
According to the complaints, both Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem and Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy have threatened to cut off funding to states that refuse to comply with President Donald Trump's immigration agenda.
While no federal funding is currently being withheld, California Attorney General Rob Bonta said during a news conference on Tuesday that the threat was "imminent."
"President Donald Trump can't use these funds as a bargaining chip as his way of ensuring states abide by his preferred policies," Bonta added.
Department of Assistant Secretary of Homeland Security spokesperson Tricia McLaughlin said in a statement that the lawsuit will not stop the Trump Administration from "restoring the rule of law."
"Cities and states who break the law and prevent us from arresting criminal illegal aliens should not receive federal funding. The President has been clear on that," she said.
Duffy said in a statement that the 20 states have filed the lawsuit because "their officials want to continue breaking federal law and putting the needs of illegal aliens above their own citizens."
Both lawsuits say that the Trump administration is violating the U.S. Constitution by trying to dictate federal spending when Congress has that power — not the executive branch.
On April 24, states received letters from the Department of Transportation stating that they must cooperate on immigration efforts and eliminate diversity, equity and inclusion programs or risk losing funds.
New Jersey Attorney General Matthew Platkin criticized the timing of Duffy's letter when Newark's airport struggles with radar outages and other issues.
"I wish the administration would stop playing politics with people's lives," Platkin said. "I wish Secretary Duffy would do his damn job, which is to make sure planes land on time, not to direct immigration enforcement."
Meanwhile, on Feb. 24, states received letters from the Department of Homeland Security declaring that states that "refuse to cooperate with, refuse to share information with, or even actively obstruct federal immigration enforcement reject these ideals and the history we share in common as Americans."
"If any government entity chooses to thumb its nose at the Department of Homeland Security's national security and public safety mission, it should not receive a single dollar of the Department's money unless Congress has specifically required it," Noem wrote in her letter.
Attorneys general behind the lawsuits include the following states: California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Hawaii, Illinois, Maine, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, Oregon, Rhode Island, Washington, Wisconsin and Vermont.
The cases are being spearheaded by California and Illinois, but they were filed in federal court in Rhode Island, a detail that the attorneys general defended by saying they filed in "any court that is going to be fair and objective and consider our factual presentation and legal analysis."
The lawsuits are the latest legal actions that Democratic-led states have taken against Trump since he took office earlier this year. Bonta noted that California has filed more than 20 lawsuits against the administration, while Rhode Island Attorney General Peter Neronha said his state has launched more than a dozen.
While the lawsuits have challenged policies on tariffs, federal employee firings and health care research, Trump's focus on immigration enforcement and the mass deportation of immigrants in the United States illegally have received the most attention.
This has included the president's promise to mass deport people and the start of a registry required for all those who are in the country illegally.
"What we're seeing is a creeping authoritarianism," Neronha said.
Albuquerque orders Ezee Fiber to halt construction amid resident complaints - Kevin Hendricks, nm.news
The City of Albuquerque has issued a cease and desist order to Ezee Fiber, demanding the fiber optic company immediately halt all construction activities within city limits.
This comes after a surge in resident complaints regarding unsafe and incomplete work associated with fiber internet installations. This marks the second internet provider to face such action in recent months, signaling a heightened effort by the city to enforce standards and ensure companies operate responsibly within neighborhoods.
“We’re all for better internet, but it has to be done the right way,” said Mayor Tim Keller. “If a company’s digging in front of your house, they should be knocking on your door, leaving their phone number, and fixing what they break—no excuses. We’re listening to folks and making sure these companies do right by our neighborhoods.”
Ezee Fiber, one of three companies licensed to install broadband in Albuquerque, was officially notified last week of its violation of the agreement with the city. The company is now required to stop all work. Key issues leading to the order include:
- Unrepaired property damage and utility hits
- Open holes, potholes, and sidewalks left unrestored
- Work conducted outside of allowed hours
- Subcontractors working without visible identification
- A gas line hit by a subcontractor who failed to follow New Mexico Public Regulation Commission Pipeline Safety Bureau’s safety requirements
The City’s Planning Department, Department of Municipal Development, and the Broadband Office are collaborating with the New Mexico Public Regulation Commission’s Pipeline Safety Bureau and utility companies to ensure responsible and safe fiber installation projects. Ezee Fiber currently has 46 active construction crews in Albuquerque, a number the city now considers excessive given the ongoing problems.
“Fiber broadband is essential for our city’s future. From telehealth, to remote learning, to work-from-home, our residents are living increasingly digitally connected lives, and we need to ensure our infrastructure can support that,” said Broadband Program Manager Catherine Nicolaou. “We are taking these steps to be sure the companies in our market are doing quality work so eventually everyone will have more broadband options available.”
In response to the mounting concerns, the city is implementing new regulations for internet service providers, including work area limits to prevent overextension. The city is also increasing enforcement of existing rules:
- Proof of Direct Resident Notification: Providers must send certified mail or provide documented notice before work begins in a neighborhood.
- Vehicle Identification: All contractor vehicles must clearly indicate which internet provider they are working for.
- Fines for Violations: The Department of Municipal Development will issue fines for barricade violations and other failures to follow safety protocols.
Stop-work orders will remain in effect until companies demonstrate full compliance. Vexus Fiber is still under a stop-work order issued in March, while Gigapower had its order lifted after meeting compliance requirements.
“We’ve seen an increase in the number of citizen complaints, and Ezee Fiber hasn’t taken enough action to address these despite the City bringing them to their attention,” said Planning Department Director Alan Varela. “These private companies must take better care of our community, and we will not stand for less.”
Residents with issues should report them directly to the providers listed on construction notices or call 311.
“Construction in Albuquerque must meet our rigorous standards, and we are committed to ensuring our roadways, sidewalks, and utilities remain accessible and in good repair,” said Department of Municipal Development Director Jennifer Turner.
District 8 City Councilor Dan Champine introduced a resolution at the May 5 Albuquerque City Council meeting in response to the growing concerns surrounding ongoing fiber internet installation throughout Albuquerque. The resolution proposes a temporary moratorium on the acceptance of new fiber internet installation permits and the creation of a working group to thoroughly reevaluate the City’s current permitting criteria and other required standards.
While Champine acknowledged the importance of upgraded fiber optic infrastructure for Albuquerque’s residents and businesses, he said that the extensive installation activities taking place in neighborhoods, side streets and major roads have generated significant disruption and numerous complaints from residents. These complaints include concerns regarding inadequate notice of construction, improper marking of work zones, damage to utilities and landscaping, delayed cleanup of excavated materials, untimely pothole repairs and work being conducted outside of permitted hours.
“While the City does not perform the installation work itself, it is responsible for ensuring that all projects are properly permitted and adhere to necessary standards,” Champine said. “These installations are carried out by private fiber providers and their contracted crews, who operate under license agreements with the City and must comply with City construction specifications and ordinances, including the Street Excavation Ordinance.”
Arizona governor signs 'Emily's Law' to alert when Native Americans go missing - By Sejal Govindarao and Susan Montoya Bryan, Associated Press
Arizona's governor on Tuesday signed legislation to create an alert system for Native Americans who have gone missing in the state, a measure that won unanimous approval from lawmakers in the wake of the disappearance and death of a San Carlos Apache teen.
With Gov. Katie Hobbs' signature, Arizona becomes the latest state to join a movement that began in 2022 in Washington state to use alert systems to quickly share information about cases involving Native Americans.
Colorado, California and other states have adopted their own versions of such systems. New Mexico Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham recently signed what is known as "turquoise alert" legislation, and North Dakota Gov. Kelly Armstrong approved a "feather alert." The alerts take their names from items that hold spiritual and cultural significance to Native Americans.
Arizona's "turquoise alert" legislation is also referred to as "Emily's Law" to honor Emily Pike, whose remains were found Feb. 14 more than 100 miles (161 kilometers) from a group home she left in Mesa, Arizona, in late January. Pike's death spurred a resurgence of activism aimed at bringing more awareness to the disproportionate number of disappearances and violent deaths that have gripped Native American communities for decades, and prompted lawmakers to amend the bill to recognize her.
"It breaks my heart that we, the state of Arizona, didn't even go looking for this little girl. No one looked for her," said bill sponsor Rep. Teresa Martinez while on the House floor last week. "We cannot let children go missing without somebody being alerted."
Martinez's great niece is a member of the Gila River Indian Community.
The Federal Communications Commission voted last year to establish a new national alert code for delivering messages to the public via television, radio and wireless phones about missing and endangered persons cases.
The commission reported that in 2023, more than 188,000 people who fall outside of the criteria for Amber Alerts went missing, noting that the new code will be particularly beneficial to Native American, Alaska Native and Black communities. Those groups constitute 40% of missing people in the U.S. despite each making up much smaller percentages of the overall population, according to the commission.
States have various alert programs that cover cases that can include children, specific minorities, people with disabilities and older adults. California in 2024 rolled out "ebony alerts" to inform the public about missing Black youths. Supporters say there have been successful outcomes with that system but that law enforcement could be issuing more alerts for those cases that meet the requirements.
The Arizona legislation creates a rapid response system for issuing and coordinating alerts for people reported missing under the age of 65, including those who are members of federally recognized tribes, if law enforcement finds the individual could be in danger or missing under unexplained or suspicious circumstances.
"Like my sister says, even though she's not here with us, she's still making a difference," Pike's uncle, Allred Pike Jr., said in an interview Friday.
Pike's mother, Steff Dosela, has told reporters that it took a week for her to hear about her daughter's disappearance from the group home. Lawmakers in the Arizona Senate are looking into Arizona Department of Child Services' group home regulations.
The FBI announced last week that it was offering a $75,000 reward for information that would identify the person or people responsible for the disappearance and killing of Pike, whose remains were recovered by Gila County sheriff's deputies on state land near the San Carlos Apache Indian Reservation. The reward is in addition to the $75,000 already being offered by the San Carlos Apache Tribe.
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Montoya Bryan reported from Albuquerque, New Mexico.