We don’t know why Governor Martinez is still pondering the Medicaid expansion and we honestly can’t think of a good reason for her to deny health care to 150,000 of our friends, family, and neighbors. To those New Mexicans who don’t have health insurance because their employers don’t provide it and they can’t afford it on their own, this decision is literally a matter of life and death. But all of us will anxiously await—with hope—our Governor’s Judgment Day.

No state has more at stake than New Mexico. New Mexico has the third highest rate of uninsured in the nation and that not only gives us poor health outcomes, but it also serves as a major drag on our economy. Our small businesses cannot compete when their health insurance rates are higher than those in other states because of our high rate of uninsured. If the law is upheld, we have more to gain than any other state because most everyone will become insured. If the law is struck down, we have the most to lose. Either way, the decision will require action and the big question will be, “What will our leaders do?”

March madness is upon us—and no, I don’t mean the Lobos going to the Big Dance. Rather, later this month the Supreme Court will finally hear legal challenges to the federal health care reform law, aka the Affordable Care Act, aka ObamaCare. Remember the March madness of two years ago when the law was passed?

Two governors named Scott are proposing changes to their states’ Medicaid program that will be devastating for their kids. Governor Rick Scott is proposing a plan for Florida that could result in 800,000 people, most of them children, losing their health care. In Wisconsin, Governor Scott Walker (who faces a recall election for implementing other unpopular policy changes) is calling for a plan that could result in 64,000 losing their health care coverage.

Congratulations and gratitude goes out to our friends at the Center on Law and Poverty for representing the workers and winning the case. Our thanks also go out to the injured workers who were courageous enough to bring the lawsuit on behalf of the 10,000 agricultural workers who will now benefit directly from workers’ compensation benefits. It’s a good time to remember that when more of us are protected, all of us benefit from a safer and more just society.

There has been a lot of media attention lately about the importance of Medicare to seniors, thanks to the U.S. House-passed budget proposal that would have eliminated Medicare as we know it. The vast majority of voters would agree that Congress should keep their hands off Medicare. What’s getting less attention is that Medicaid is equally important to voters and especially important to voters in New Mexico.