Bill Jordan, of New Mexico Voices for Children, said the additional tax would hurt those who could least afford it. “Adding a 7 or 8 percent tax is not a solution for obesity,” he said. “New Mexico also has a problem with childhood hunger. Adding a $100 million tax a year is not a solution to hunger.”

“These two programs are not only critical for the well-being of New Mexico’s children and hardworking families, but they are also important to the state’s economy,” said James Jimenez, executive director of New Mexico Voices for Children, a liberal advocacy group.

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. -- President Donald Trump calls it a once-in-a-generation opportunity, but the Republican tax plan passed by the Senate on Saturday could force lawmakers to rewrite the tax code again, repeatedly for years to come. Some key components of the plan have expiration dates, forcing a future Congress to decide whether to renew them or not. Tax cuts for individuals and families would vanish after eight years.

The proposed SNAP cuts equate to $120 million a year that won’t go to your local grocery stores and farmer’s markets. The lost Medicaid dollars won’t go to your doctor, the clinic where you get your health care, and the local hospital. When low-income families don’t get the SNAP and Medicaid benefits for which they qualify, they do without or choose expensive options like the emergency room. They don’t have extra money for emergencies.