Republican Plan Doesn’t Meet Needs of Families, Match Scope of Unprecedented Economic Challenges
Nearly 18% of New Mexico adults living with children reported that their children are not getting enough to eat because of the public health crisis and recession. This crisis is bigger than any in our lifetime, but the Republican proposal doesn’t meet the needs of our state or the moment.
Still at 50th, New Mexico must continue to invest in our kids in hard times
New Mexico’s 50th ranking in child well-being is the result of a decade of austerity due to choices lawmakers made during the last recession. In 2019 and early 2020, Lawmakers began to put the state on the right path for our kids. The pandemic and current recession do not need to derail us.
How the Federal COVID-19 Response Impacts New Mexico: The HEROES Act
Fact Sheet (ninth in the series) The COVID-19 pandemic and resulting recession are wreaking havoc on New Mexico and have led to high unemployment. Federal funding is needed to help the state and local governments to ensure that health care, education, first responders, and other services continue uninterrupted. The HEROES Act could be that tool -- if it is passed by the U.S. Senate and signed by the president. (State-level data on unemployment)
2020 Special Session Budget Summary
Fact Sheet The New Mexico Legislature was called into a special session on June 18 in order to address revenue shortfalls in the state budget due to the COVID-19 pandemic, economic downturn, and the global drop in oil prices. Although Congress had passed legislation to help the states, New Mexico still had to trim the budget lawmakers had passed in January 2020 by $580 million. This fact sheet shows what got cut and by how much.
Home deliveries don’t get food-tax exemption
Associated Press--“We haven’t figured out a way to establish a tax structure that allows the state and municipalities and counties to raise adequate revenue to meet the needs of their citizens,” said James Jimenez, executive director of New Mexico Voices for Children.
COVID-19: 3 policy principles to advance equity
Over the past few months, the resiliency and strength of communities all across New Mexico have been in full view as people come together to support each other through the COVID-19 pandemic. Still, the pandemic has caused disproportionate harm to communities of color, worsening disparities in health and economic well-being. Just as public policies entrenched systemic racism, they can be used to dismantle it.