PRESS RELEASE
Feb. 12, 2019
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

CONTACT: Sharon Kayne, Communications Director, NM Voices for Children, 505-361-1288 (direct)
OR: Marie-Pier Frigon, Communications Assistant, 505-361-1288 (direct)

ALBUQUERQUE, NM—New Mexico voters overwhelmingly support raising taxes on corporations and those with the highest incomes and using the revenue raised to invest in early childhood and K-12 education, as well as college scholarships, according to a new poll commissioned by New Mexico Voices for Children. Greater funding for mental health services, infrastructure, public safety, and clean energy also all received strong support.

“Clearly New Mexicans are ready for their state to change direction and make the investments that our families, communities, and economy all depend upon in order to thrive,” said James Jimenez, executive director of NM Voices for Children. “They’ve rejected years of failed trickle-down tax cuts and austerity, and are ready to see their state move forward by building the human capital and infrastructure that will lead to a strong economy.”

Voters most strongly support – at 85 percent – requiring all out-of-state corporations to pay taxes on the profits they earn in New Mexico. Currently, some out-of-state corporations may shift the profits they earn here to another state to avoid paying corporate income taxes. The Legislature passed a partial fix for this in 2013, but it only applied to some big box retail stores. Over two-thirds of voters (70 percent) also support increasing personal income taxes on the wealthiest New Mexicans.

New Mexicans also strongly support increasing public investments in the state’s families and communities in order to build a strong, thriving economy. Eighty percent of voters support increasing the state’s tax credit for working families, 72 percent support giving families a tax credit for each child, and overwhelming majorities want to see more – not less – spending on public schools, health care, and infrastructure.

  • Classrooms and teacher salaries: 83% spend more; 4% less
  • Mental health services: 85% spend more; 5% less
  • Infrastructure like roads and bridges: 78% spend more; 5% less
  • Access to early childhood education, like pre-kindergarten: 70% spend more; 10% less
  • Scholarships and financial aid for community and state colleges: 70% spend more; 10% less

The poll of 804 New Mexicans who are likely voters in the 2020 election was conducted December 4-9, 2018 by national pollster Benenson Strategy Group.

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New Mexico Voices for Children is a nonpartisan, nonprofit organization advocating for policies to improve the health and well-being of New Mexico’s children, families and communities. 625 Silver Ave. SW, Suite 195, Albuquerque, NM 87102; 505-244-9505 (p); www.nmvoices.org