Resources A budget impasse? A tax overhaul? Veto overrides? Many complex issues will be discussed and resolved in a very short amount of time during the special legislative session beginning May 24, 2017. We've gathered together and posted here numerous resources to help you makes sense of it all. (Various data from child well-being to tax incidence by income, and more.)
Fact Sheet Corporate tax cuts backed by the Martinez administration were supposed to make New Mexico more "business friendly," which would bring jobs to the Land of Enchantment. Despite the high cost of these tax cuts - which has led to deep spending cuts in education, health care and public safety - unemployment in New Mexico remains stubbornly high.
Fact Sheet The Earned Income Tax Credit has long been called the "best anti-poverty" measure to come out of Congress. New Mexico's state version, the Working Families Tax Credit, is also a powerful poverty-fighting tool. But legislators could make it better. (State-level data on recipiency)
Fact Sheet New Mexico will never attract companies with good-paying jobs unless we invest more in developing our workforce. But cuts in spending on higher education and the subsequent tuition increases have made college less affordable than ever. This fact sheet looks at a few steps the state can take to make college more affordable.
Fact Sheet Myths abound when it comes to who earns the minimum wage. It's not teenagers looking for pocket change anymore. More and more minimum wage earners are older, have some education, and even have families. This one-pager looks at some of the most surprising facts about minimum wage earners. (State-level data on the minimum wage workforce)
Report In New Mexico, the Working Families Tax Credit is one of the most sensible parts of our tax code: it encourages work, helps to raise hard-working families out of poverty, and benefits almost 300,000 children, while also pumping millions back into local communities. Increasing the credit is a smart investment in our businesses, working families, and future. (State-level data on recipiency; appendix contains county- and legislative-district-level data on recipiency)
NM KIDS COUNT Data Book In the past year, New Mexico has seen some improvements in child well-being—especially regarding health. We’ve also seen troubling increases in other indicators over the short- and long-term. This annual report on child well-being presents data on indicators such as child and teen death rates, preschool enrollment, teen births, and more. (State-, county-, tribal-, and school-district-level data on indicators of child well-being)
Report Raising the minimum wage is an effective strategy for reducing poverty in New Mexico, particularly given the erosion of its purchasing power since it was last raised in 2009. This report looks at the demographics of the state’s minimum wage earners, as well as makes the case for indexing the wage to inflation. (State-level data on minimum wage workforce)
Fact Sheet Reinstatement on the tax on food is likely to come up in the 2017 legislative session even though New Mexico has the second highest rate of children who don't always have enough to eat. This infographic looks at food insecurity in New Mexico and which other states in the nation tax food. (State-level data on food insecurity, SNAP usage)
Report The TANF program provides some cash assistance to eligible families with children so they can better afford basic necessities. Unfortunately, TANF in New Mexico does not sufficiently address one of the reasons families fall into or remain in poverty: the lack of education credentials and job skills, which present barriers to employment and to getting jobs that pay family-sustaining wages. (A KIDS COUNT Special Report; state-level data on TANF recipiency)