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April 24, 2006

Albuquerque Gets a Raise!

Last week, as the City Council passed a historic ordinance, Albuquerque became only the fourth city in the nation to enact a minimum wage higher than the federally mandated $5.15 an hour. Championed by City Council President Martin Heinrich, the ordinance passed on a 6-3 vote, with an assurance from the mayor that he would sign it into law. The ordinance will raise the minimum wage to $6.75 in January 2007, to $7.15 in 2008, and to $7.50 in 2009. Employers who provide at least $2,500 in either health care insurance or child care, can pay one dollar less per hour. An attempt to exempt young workers from the higher wage failed.

Voting for the increase were Councilors Martin Heinrich, Debbie O'Malley, Isaac Benton, Ken Sanchez, Michael Cadigan and Don Harris. Voting against the wage increase were Brad Winter, Craig Loy and Sally Mayer. Harris was the only Republican to vote in favor of the increase. Attempts to pass a fair minimum wage at the state Legislature were opposed by all Republicans. In other states that have passed a minimum wage increase, there's been bipartisan support. A recent Pew Research Center poll showed that 83 percent of voters nationwide support an increase in the minimum wage, including 72 percent of Republicans.

  • New Mexico Voices for Children provided much of the research to show that increasing the minimum wage will help real people and our economy, and will not hurt businesses or those living on a fixed income.
  • This is a significant step forward in our work to fight poverty in New Mexico, and we appreciate everything you do to help us in our work.
  • Please call your city councilor (768-3100) and thank them for their 'yes' vote, or express your disappointment if they voted 'no.'
  • New Mexicans for a Fair Wage, a coalition of groups working to increase the minimum wage, will now focus its efforts in Bernalillo County, other municipalities throughout the state, and statewide when the Legislature convenes again in January 2007.

Health Care Insurance Mandate Doesn't Solve Real Problem

The Massachusetts Legislature and Governor Mitt Romney recently passed legislation that requires all residents of that state to purchase health care coverage. Some assistance is provided for families at 100 percent of the federal poverty level, but it will not be enough for most of the state's working poor. While it's commendable that Massachusetts took on this issue, it's discouraging that it failed to address the real problem - the need to reform the health care system. When the system is broken, forcing families to buy into it is not a solution.

If any good comes of this plan it will be that it's spurred other states to consider their own solutions.

New Mexico has an opportunity to be more innovative by solving the real problem with systemic reform. Let's hope that in the 2007 legislative session, our state elected officials are up to the task.

  • For an excellent overview of the single-payer program idea, visit Physicians for a National Health Program's website at http://www.pnhp.org

Will Undocumented Immigrants Save Social Security?

Contrary to what those who'd wall off our border with Mexico would have you believe, undocumented workers pay taxes. In a very real way, they pay more than their fair share since they rarely benefit from the programs their money supports.

  • According to the Social Security Administration, undocumented workers provide the sagging program with a subsidy of about $7 billion each year. This is money that few, if any, will ever collect.
  • This is, of course, only one of many contributions immigrant laborers make to our economy. For many more facts see www.hispanicpress.org/index.php?action=viewcontent&ContentID=420.
  • And look for a policy paper on the tax contributions immigrants make to New Mexico's economy, which NM Voices will publish next month.

Order your tickets for the 2006 Amy Biehl Youth Spirit Award to be held on Friday, April 28, 2006. Visit http://action.voiceshub.org/nmvoicesforchildren/events/abysa06/details.tcl for more information.

Register now for the RACE MATTERS conference to be held on Tuesday, May 16, 2006. Visit http://action.voiceshub.org/nmvoicesforchildren/events/racematters2006/details.tcl for more information.