John Block, a House Representative from New Mexico, expressed his opposition to taxpayer-funded health care and Planned Parenthood funding. He described his votes against these measures as a stand against "socialist spending." This statement was made on the social media platform X.
"So proud to be a target of the most Radical Left Democrats," said JOHN BLOCK, New Mexico State Representative for 51st District (R). "Damn right I voted against socialist health care funded by YOU, the taxpayers! I also voted against $3M for killing babies at Planned Parenthood. I'm honored and SUPER PROUD of my big, beautiful NO votes."
In 2025, New Mexico legislators engaged in a contentious debate over public health care funding and whether to continue contracts with Planned Parenthood. Democrats advanced House Bills 1 and 2 to compensate for federal cuts, while Republicans sought to remove $3 million allocated for reproductive-health providers. The amendment ultimately failed, with supporters emphasizing that the funds support general women's health, cancer screenings, and preventive services rather than abortions. This debate mirrored broader national tensions regarding reproductive rights and budgetary discretion in health care, according to Source New Mexico.
The state's fiscal year 2025 budget allocates a significant portion to health care programs. Total Medicaid spending is projected at approximately $8.1 billion, with $6.7 billion (about 83%) coming from federal funds and $1.4 billion from state sources. The Legislative Finance Committee also reported $350.4 million in nonrecurring behavioral-health appropriations and established a new trust fund to stabilize future mental-health support. These figures underscore the prominent role of health care in New Mexico's budget priorities, as reported by the New Mexico Legislative Finance Committee.
New Mexico ranks among the highest U.S. states in Medicaid participation and public-health expenditure per capita due to its rural population and high poverty rates. Data from the Kaiser Family Foundation (KFF) indicate that state health spending per resident remains above the national median, driven largely by federal Medicaid matching funds. Within this context, the debated $3 million Planned Parenthood contract represents a small fraction of total state health outlays.
Block is a Republican member of the New Mexico House of Representatives for District 51, first elected in 2022 and sworn in on January 1, 2023. He serves on the House Government, Elections & Indian Affairs Committee and the House Consumer & Public Affairs Committee, focusing on election integrity, fiscal responsibility, and conservative social policy. His background includes community advocacy and media work prior to entering public office, according to the New Mexico Legislature.
