Economic Security Blog – New Mexico Voices for Children

Feb 20 2019

Tax credits are smart policy investments for a healthier New Mexico

Web Admin 2019-02-20T09:59:34+00:00 Blog Posts, Economic Security Blog, Health Blog|

How much income a family earns determines where they live, what access they have to schools, food, and health care, as well as the amount of stress they experience in making ends meet. Evidence shows that tax credits for working families are critical for not only putting money back into the hands of these consumers, but also for improving their health and well-being. New Mexico's Working Families Tax Credit brings these benefits to families and could do more if it were increased.

Jan 22 2019

Time to restore fairness to the personal income tax and break the boom-or-bust cycle

Web Admin 2019-01-22T14:27:29+00:00 Blog Posts, Economic Security Blog, Tax and Budget Blog|

Now is the time to enact bold tax reform and improve our tax system so we can begin to generate key, sustainable resources that are not ruled by the boom-or-bust cycle of the oil and gas industries. This reform should begin by restoring fairness to the personal income tax, a stable source of revenue that is underutilized in New Mexico due to tax cuts enacted in 2003.

Jan 15 2019

Changing the course on child well-being

Web Admin 2019-01-15T15:15:28+00:00 Blog Posts, Economic Security Blog, Education Blog, Health Blog, Kids Count Blog, Tax and Budget Blog|

The past decade of austerity has been hard on New Mexico’s children. Still, we are optimistic about the future because we believe in the strength and resiliency of New Mexico’s families. We know we can build stronger communities and support more resilient families and children so that they can thrive. But we can only build a stronger New Mexico if our policymakers are willing to provide the revenue we need to make these investments.

Dec 18 2018

Corporate tax cuts prevent us from investing in what really matters for a thriving economy

Web Admin 2018-12-18T11:27:45+00:00 Blog Posts, Economic Security Blog, Tax and Budget Blog|

Here in New Mexico, we’ve given away more and more of our tax revenue over time in the form of corporate handouts and allowed multi-state corporations to play shell games with the profits they earn here. The result? Our state has less money to invest in the things that corporations really care about – modern and robust infrastructure, a well-trained workforce, and a market for their goods.

Nov 03 2018

The next governor should improve our tax system and increase wages

Web Admin 2018-11-05T16:30:08+00:00 Blog Posts, Economic Security Blog, Economic Security News Coverage, News Coverage, Tax and Budget Blog, Tax and Budget News Coverage|

First, we recommend that the new governor work to make our tax system fairer and more stable. Thanks to 15 years of failed trickle-down tax cuts, New Mexico is now much too dependent on revenue from oil and natural gas extraction to fund our state services like education and public safety. But the amount of revenue we collect from oil production is based on prices that are set at the global level, so we’re stuck in a boom-or-bust cycle.

Oct 19 2018

To make all kids count, we must count all kids

Web Admin 2018-11-14T13:48:59+00:00 Blog Posts, Economic Security Blog, Education Blog, Kids Count Blog, Kids Count News Coverage, News Coverage, Racial and Ethnic Equity Blog|

This is a perilous moment for New Mexico’s children. There’s no getting around it. Yet the future is not predetermined for kids in New Mexico. This state’s leaders can be inspired by this moment to do better by its children. They can choose to collaborate inclusively and act boldly and swiftly. That’s what it will take — both to position the state well for the 2020 census and to give children a better chance to thrive.

Aug 29 2018

Fighting the Current: Why New Mexicans need a Higher Minimum Wage

Web Admin 2018-11-14T13:50:57+00:00 Blog Posts, Economic Security Blog, Health Blog, Racial and Ethnic Equity Blog|

A minimum wage increase is long overdue – it hasn’t been raised in almost a decade. As prices increase, purchasing power erodes, and families find themselves sinking deeper into dire straits. Our $7.50 minimum wage is now worth just $6.30.

May 11 2018

The devastating math of the child care cliff effect

Armelle Casau 2018-06-26T12:21:51+00:00 Blog Posts, Economic Security Blog, Education Blog|

Imagine having to turn down a raise in pay because it will actually make you less financially secure. Sounds crazy, but that's what many working parents have to do--and just when they're making headway in the quest to provide their family with economic stability. It's all due to the "cliff effect" and, in New Mexico, the cliff effect for child care assistance can throw families who get even a small raise right back into poverty.

Feb 06 2018

It’s time for us to invest in what works

Bill Jordan 2018-06-14T18:06:37+00:00 Blog Posts, Economic Security Blog, Tax and Budget Blog|

Bill Jordan spoke at the Second Annual People's Rally. His comments are posted here. "Our years of austerity just so that the rich and well-connected can get tax cuts ― those days are over! It’s time for us to invest in what works. It’s time to invest in New Mexico."

Jan 13 2018

Prosperity is not possible without investment

James Jimenez 2018-05-02T16:28:28+00:00 Blog Posts, Economic Security Blog, Economic Security News Coverage, News Coverage, Tax and Budget Blog, Tax and Budget News Coverage|

We all want a prosperous state, but prosperity requires investments. You can’t grow a garden without good soil, sunlight, water, and some hard work. Same with a state—you can’t have prosperity without resources, infrastructure, and a skilled workforce. But instead of following an investment strategy to prosperity, New Mexico has tried to cut its way to prosperity.