Thursday, May 26 2011 3:29PM
New Mexico Senator Jeff Bingaman opposed a recent budget proposal and helped prevent cuts to Medicare and Medicaid.
Stating it would cause serious issues for U.S. residents who rely on the programs for adequate funding, New Mexico Senator Jeff Bingaman voted against a budget proposed by the House of Representatives which would cut off money to Medicaid and Medicare.
Bingaman said that many state residents rely on those programs to help them afford their health needs, and eliminating funding isn't a sensible option.
"This is a very one-sided budget. It is not a credible attempt to address our nation's fiscal difficulties. Instead, this budget proposes deep cuts in federal spending to some of our nation's most vulnerable citizens, such as elderly Medicare recipients, pregnant women, children, and the disabled," said Bingaman.
He added that hundreds of thousands of families — many of them living in rural communities — would potentially be left without health insurance if the cuts were approved.
Bingaman wasn't the only one to oppose the bill. Only 40 Senators voted for the budget proposal, which caused it to fail.