A Guide to Legislative Advocacy in New Mexico
Advocacy Guide Learn the ins and outs of working with your state legislators to promote a policy or cause that is important to you or your community.
Advocacy Guide Learn the ins and outs of working with your state legislators to promote a policy or cause that is important to you or your community.
Budget Guide Explains how the state spends and allocates funding. The state budget is a reflection of what we value most and an illustration of the kind of communities we wish to create. The lawmakers we elect to represent us in Santa Fe create the annual budget that the state uses to provide services that benefit us collectively, like education and health care. (Link to the executive summary here)
State Data Sheet The national 2023 KIDS COUNT Data Book, released annually by the Annie E. Casey Foundation, assesses and ranks the 50 states on 16 indicators of child well-being, which are categorized into four domains – economic well-being, education, health, and family and community. Data for New Mexico show positive long-term changes.
Report Young parents make up a very small share of New Mexico's population and they face unique challenges and barriers to success. This report looks at how this subpopulation is faring. (State-level data on the demographics of parents and young adults on indicators such as economic security, educational attainment, etc.)
Post-session Review Many of the policies enacted during the 2023 legislative session mean big wins for New Mexico's families. This fact sheet lists some of the highlights, along with some policies that were either not passed or were passed and then vetoed.
Fact Sheet Decades of structural racism – in everything from education to voting rights, home ownership, and even drug sentencing laws – have advantaged whites while disadvantaging people of color. This has led to huge gaps in income and wealth, and the state's tax system only makes them worse. (State-level data on income, wealth, and tax incidence by race and ethnicity.)
Report New Mexico has expanded early childhood programs and the voters have mandated even more. This report looks at the still-unmet need as well as the science behind these programs. (State-level data on child well-being and unmet early childhood needs.)
Fact Sheet Most people agree that low-income households shouldn’t pay a higher percentage of their income in taxes than the rich. However, the truth is that those with low and middle incomes do pay a higher share of their income in taxes than the rich in New Mexico. This graphic explains why that is. (State-level data on effective tax rate by income level.)
Fact Sheet Profit-minded corporations will happily accept tax breaks, but tax rates aren't a big factor when they consider locating in a new state. Most of what they do consider - a well-educated and skilled workforce, modern infrastructure, good schools, etc., - are the very amenities states support with the tax revenue corporations try not to pay. This fact sheet makes the argument for increasing the taxes corporations pay on the profits earned here. (State-level data on decline of corporate income tax revenue as a share of all tax revenue)
Fact Sheet In New Mexico, the personal income tax is an underutilized tool to raise consistent, sustainable revenue and advance racial equity. This fact sheet looks at how our state and local tax system is upside down. (State-level data on effective tax rates by income levels.)