2007 Fiscal Policy Project Legislative Priorities

Track our 2007 Legislative Priorities

Statewide Living Wage
The Fiscal Policy Project of New Mexico Voices for Children believes that everyone should have the opportunity to work towards economic stability and prosperity. A living wage enables families to work their way out of poverty and into prosperity. We support living wages.

Our research shows the different wage levels required for different types of households to live at a "bare bones" level in 52 communities across New Mexico. (The bare bones wage in Albuquerque would be approximately $12 per hour). The current federal minimum wage is $5.15 per hour.

The federal poverty level is woefully outdated. New Mexico's working families need to earn from 136% to 247% (depending on family size and geographic area) of the federal poverty level just to live at a bare bones level.

The Fiscal Policy Project of New Mexico Voices for Children supports this policy proposal: Instituting a statewide minimum wage of no less than $7.50 per hour. Municipalities should be able to override the statewide minimum wage in order to institute a higher minimum wage within their particular city or county.

 

Family Friendly Tax Policy
The Fiscal Policy Project of New Mexico Voices for Children supports progressive tax policies that assure adequate state revenue to fund important state-funded services like education, health care and public safety, and that reduce poverty in New Mexico. We oppose regressive tax policies that favor the wealthy and harm families by reducing the amount of money available to pay for education, health care and public safety.

The Fiscal Policy Project of New Mexico Voices for Children supports these policy proposals: Creation of a state Working Families Tax Credit that piggybacks on the federal Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC), and is worth at least 10% of the EITC. Voices believes that eligible families should receive both the new Working Families Tax Credit and the existing Low Income Comprehensive Tax Rebate, not either/or as some have proposed. Cost to the state: $37,000,000. Lowering the corporate tax rate and closing a loophole which allows corporations that conduct business in more than one state to use filing methods that permit them to avoid paying some of their New Mexico corporate income tax. New income generated: $50,000,000. Personal income tax reform that closes a loophole for higher income people who itemize deductions. These filers would be required to add back into their countable income (for the purpose of determining the state tax owed) the state and local taxes they paid but were allowed to deduct from their countable income when determining what they owe in federal taxes. New income generated: approximately $60,000,000. Reinstate the estate tax on property worth over $2 million. Family farms would be exempted. New income generated: approximately $20,000,000. Creation of a Tax Expenditure Report that tracks the cost of tax credits, exemptions and deductions, so that these are part of the annual budgeting process. Tracking tax expenditures as well as budget expenditures is good government, and makes the state finances more transparent and accountable. Cost to the state: $100,000.

 

The Fiscal Policy Project ofNew Mexico Voices for Children opposes these policy proposals: A reduction in gross receipts tax "pyramiding" on business that further reduces state revenues. A tax on sodas or sweetened foods. This is a regressive tax that does nothing to reduce consumption of sugar-containing foods.

 

Reducing Poverty By Helping Families To Develop - and Hold On To - Assets
Research shows that having assets - such as a house or savings account - are essential to a family's ability to move out of poverty and into economic security. The Fiscal Policy Project of New Mexico Voices for Children supports policies that enable low-income families to develop and maintain assets.

The Fiscal Policy Project of New Mexico Voices for Children supports these policy proposals: Limit the fees and interest that can be charged to consumers by payday, car title and tax refund lenders. Under current law, New Mexico does not limit fees and interest or regulate the length and term of consumer loans. Unscrupulous lenders often charge interest in excess of 600%. Voices supports legislation that would end predatory lending practices and encourage fair and honest lending. Weak legislation that falls short of limiting interest and fees should be rejected. Add additional money to the Housing Trust Fund that would allow low- income families to obtain financial help to buy a house. Expand family-friendly unemployment insurance reforms passed in 2003, which provided an increase in unemployment benefits by boosting weekly benefits for those workers with children, and ending the one-week waiting period. Assure that we maintain the low unemployment insurance rates paid by employers.

 

Children's Health
Access to quality health care is essential to children's health. The Fiscal Policy Project of New Mexico Voices for Children supports policies that increase children's access to health and encourage healthy behaviors.

The Fiscal Policy Project of New Mexico Voices for Children supports these policy proposals: Expanded funding for Medicaid - the health insurance program for low-income children, disabled and elderly - with no cuts in benefit levels. We support the governor's initiative to expand Medicaid coverage to adults up to 100% of the federal poverty level. Restore funds that were cut from the 2004 budget in order to end the state's auto-closure program which automatically dis-enrolls children at the end of their certification period. Expand access to health insurance through the new State Coverage Initiative to low-income working adults. Many employers do not provide health insurance and pay wages too low to enable employees to pay the full cost of it. This proposal would provide employers a government subsidy so that they can provide a basic health insurance package to their employees. Voices supports funding for the State Coverage Initiative ONLY if Medicaid is fully funded and eligibility and benefits for currently eligible persons are not reduced. Increase the number of school-based health centers that provide physical and mental health care services to adolescents. New Mexico has the nation's highest rate of youth suicide in the nation and high rates of obesity and diabetes. School-based health centers are an effective way to reach youth who may be at risk for illnesses that could be prevented. Proposed funding would establish a new school based health center in every county. A Clean Indoor Air Act to prohibit smoking in restaurants in New Mexico. Evidence clearly indicates the dangers of second hand smoke to all of us, especially young children. · Maintain an adequate level of funding for tobacco prevention initiatives for young people. Our investment in tobacco prevention is producing results, saving health care dollars, and should be maintained at current levels. No new money required.

 

The Fiscal Policy Project of New Mexico Voices for Children opposes this policy proposal: Oppose the criminalization of tobacco use by underage youth. While Voices acknowledges that young people should not be using tobacco products, we do not believe that criminalizing children is an effective or appropriate action.

 

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