Trump Medicaid Cuts; Wastewater Use Could Expand

This week on New Mexico in Focus, we return to our conversation with Host Nash Jones and Democratic U.S. Rep. Teresa Leger Fernandez, as the congresswoman talks about President Trump’s multi-billion-dollar cuts to Medicaid.  

Senior Producer Lou DiVizio sits down for a two-part discussion on Medicaid with Legislative Finance Committee Director Charles Sallee and Democratic former state senator Dede Feldman. Lou asks how Trump’s Medicaid cuts will impact New Mexico’s rural health care system. 

Last month, state Environment Secretary James Kenney made a rare appearance at a meeting of the Water Quality Control Commission. Kenney advocated for the board to adopt a proposal that would expand the state’s use of “produced water” — oil and gas wastewater that’s loaded with questionable chemicals. Previous pushes to pass a similar proposal have died in the Legislature, as well as with the water commission. This latest proposal, however, has moved forward, and the board will consider it in November. Jerry Redfern, an oil and gas reporter with Capital and Main, recently stopped by our studio to ask Kenney about his department’s sudden embrace of expanded uses for wastewater. 

Host: Nash Jones

Segments:
How Tens of Thousands in NM Could Lose Medicaid Coverage 
Correspondent: Lou DiVizio 
Guests: 
Charles Sallee, Director, Legislative Finance Committee 
Dede Feldman, Democratic Former NM State Senator 

Rep. Leger Fernandez on Trump’s Medicaid Cuts 
Correspondent: Nash Jones 
Guest: U.S. Rep. Teresa Leger Fernandez, D-N.M.    

How Trump’s Medicaid Cuts Could Close Several Rural Hospitals 
Correspondent: Lou DiVizio 
Guests: 
Charles Sallee, Director, Legislative Finance Committee 
Dede Feldman, Democratic Former NM State Senator 

NM Environment Secretary Advocates to Expand Use of Wastewater 
Correspondent: Jerry Redfern 
Guest: James Kenney, Secretary, New Mexico Environment Department