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.
Survey: Hispanic families, immigrants excluded from COVID-19 relief struggle in New Mexico
Las Cruces Sun-News--Nearly half reported that members of their families had seen reduced hours or pay cuts, with one in three parents or primary caregivers saying they were struggling to meet rent or mortgage payments. 36 percent of respondents who had lost work were not eligible for unemployment benefits.
Survey Says Latino Parents Fear Police Violence
Santa Fe Reporter--"New Mexico has a deep history with police brutality that culminated recently in the Department of Justice requiring the City of Albuquerque to reform the police force in the state's largest city, following a report that found a majority of police-involved shootings they investigated were unconstitutional."
BLM plans to sell almost 8K acres to oil and gas in October. Does New Mexico get fair share?
Carlsbad Current Argus--“The lease rates are based on current oil and gas prices, so clearly any leases sold soon will go at bargain-basement prices. As New Mexico receives a share of the lease revenue, which helps put books in our classrooms and medicines in our clinics and hospitals, we will not be getting full value for our shared state resources,” Jimenez said.