MEDIA STATEMENT
Jan. 5, 2018
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

CONTACT: Sharon Kayne, Communications Director, NM Voices for Children, 505-244-9505 

ALBUQUERQUE, NM—James Jimenez, executive director of New Mexico Voices for Children, issued the following statement regarding the budget requests for fiscal year 2019:

“We are pleased with the funding levels for Medicaid and child care assistance in the both of the recently released budget requests. These two programs are not only critical for the well-being of New Mexico’s children and hard-working families, but they are also important to the state’s economy.

“Since New Mexico expanded Medicaid under the Affordable Care Act, we’ve nearly doubled the number of people receiving health care while only footing a 5 percent increase in costs, thanks to the generous federal matching funds. This Medicaid spending has also created one of the few bright spots in our economy—job growth in the health care sector. Continuing to fully fund this program is good for the whole state.

“Child care assistance is a critical work support for parents earning low wages. It also helps keep children safe so their parents can work, and high-quality programs help prepare children for success in school. Unfortunately, this program is serving thousands fewer children than it did just a few years ago. However, both budget requests show a commitment to this and other early childhood care and learning programs.

“We’re also pleased to see more support for education—especially new funding that supports teachers in doing their jobs effectively.”

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New Mexico Voices for Children is a nonpartisan, nonprofit organization advocating for policies to improve the health and well-being of New Mexico’s children, families and communities.
625 Silver Ave. SW, Suite 195, Albuquerque, NM 87102; 505-244-9505 (p); www.nmvoices.org