Las Cruces Sun-News--Nearly 40 percent of children in Doña Ana County live in poverty and more than 70 percent of children are not enrolled in early education programs. This is according to the annual New Mexico Kids Count Data Book released last Tuesday, the first day of the 2017 legislative session.
Santa Fe New Mexican--Lawmakers took a step Wednesday toward raising New Mexico’s minimum wage. Members of the House Labor and Economic Development committee voted 6-5 along party lines to advance a bill sponsored by Rep. Miguel Garcia, D-Albuquerque, that would increase the state minimum wage to $10.10 an hour from $7.50 over the next three years. Tipped employees would have to be paid at least 40 percent of the minimum wage, a boost from the $2.13 per hour they’re now paid. And starting in 2021, the minimum wage would be adjusted annually based on the cost of living.
Weekly Alibi--The annual Kids Count Data Book was released by New Mexico Voices for Children last week. The report found improvement in the area of children's health, but state poverty levels continue to negatively impact the children in our community.
Albuquerque Journal--Democrats in the Roundhouse renewed their push Wednesday to boost New Mexico’s minimum wage — with the first of three competing proposals moving through a House committee. And two longtime opponents of an increased minimum — Gov. Susana Martinez and the Greater Albuquerque Chamber of Commerce — indicated they’re willing to consider a small increase this year, under certain circumstances.
Santa Fe New Mexican--Five Democratic state senators banded together Tuesday to block a Republican bill aimed at prohibiting people on food stamps from buying soda, candy and other junk foods. The Democrats said they appreciated Sen. Cliff Pirtle, R-Roswell, sponsoring the bill to encourage healthy eating habits in hopes of reducing New Mexico’s high rates of obesity and diabetes. But Democrats on the Senate Public Affairs Committee still found flaws in Pirtle’s proposal.
Albuquerque Business First--Looking to relocate your family or business, or both? You might want to pause and consider what the folks at WalletHub have to say on the matter. The District of Columbia-based research firm has taken a crack at ranking the U.S. states for alignment with the economic and social metrics that families consider when identifying where to put down roots.
Alamogordo Daily News--WalletHub, a personal finance website that analyzes state and city indicators, announced its rankings Wednesday of the best and worst states to raise a family. New Mexico ranked 51st in the analysis, which looked at 40 indicators in 50 states and the District of Columbia.
NM Political Report--The biggest issue for legislators this session is New Mexico’s perilous financial situation—and how they plan to fill a projected $67 million budget deficit. Gov. Susana Martinez has proposed moving $268.5 million from state agencies into the general fund budget. Of that $120 million would come from local public education reserve funds. Martinez’s plan also would require state employees to pay roughly 3.5 percent more into their retirement plans.
Public News Service--Children in New Mexico struggle against endemic poverty, but there are some positive signs, according to the Kids Count 2016 Databook being released today. The report says 141,000 New Mexico children live in poverty. That is 29 percent of kids statewide, a figure that has gotten worse since 2008. It also shows that, in one-third of families, neither parent has secure, full-time year-round work.
Carlsbad Current-Argus--While the state of New Mexico may be improving in lowering the rate of teen pregnancy, Eddy County still has room for improvement, according to a recent report. Eddy County has a teen birth rate of nearly 66 percent, which is higher than the 34.2 percent state average, according to the 2016 New Mexico KIDS COUNT data book.