Albuquerque Journal--Rep. Jason Harper’s sweeping tax reform proposal – viewed by many as part of a possible compromise in the budget debate – deals with corporate income tax, business-to-business tax “pyramiding” and disbursement of the liquor excise tax, but its treatment of the food tax might be its most disputed element. The bill, sponsored by the Rio Rancho Republican and co-signed by Democratic Sens. John Arthur Smith of Deming and Carlos Cisneros of Questa, proposed reinstating the gross receipts tax on food for most New Mexicans.

Santa Fe New Mexican--The New Mexico Legislature came closer Saturday to sending Gov. Susana Martinez a budget for the upcoming fiscal year, as well as a $300 million tax package. The Senate passed House Bill 2, as well as HB 202, which could raise more than $300 million — depending on which new taxes and fees are signed and which are vetoed by Martinez, a Republican who repeatedly has vowed never to raise taxes.

E&E News--Communities near federal lands that are being mined for oil and gas fear that Congress could be on the verge of trashing a lifeline for strained state coffers. If the Senate votes to repeal the Bureau of Land Management's Methane and Waste Prevention Rule, states, tribes and federal taxpayers could lose out on millions of dollars in annual revenue that goes to support social services, higher education and other needs, local officials say.

New Mexico In Depth--Republican Gov. Susana Martinez continues to say we need to tighten our belts rather than raise taxes in order to solve our current fiscal crisis. “She will not raise taxes,” Chris Sanchez, the governor’s spokesperson, told New Mexico In Depth this week. Democratic Senate Majority Leader Peter Wirth, however, told the Santa Fe New Mexican this weekend the state can’t endure any more cuts and he is joined by lawmakers who favor raising new tax revenue to balance the budget and replenish the state’s reserve fund.

Santa Fe New Mexican--Good for Republicans and Democrats in the state House of Representatives. They understand that New Mexico needs additional revenue to do the work of government, and more importantly, the state’s small business owners deserve a level playing field to compete with big, out-of-state online retailers. A solution to both challenges is collecting gross receipts taxes from giant internet retailers such as Amazon or eBay.