Publications
Revenue We Can Rely On
Policy Brief In order to build a strong economy, New Mexico must be able to reliably fund the services - like education, health care, and public safety - that our families and businesses rely on. Our over-reliance on revenue from the boom-or-bust oil industry makes that impossible. Here are the top 5 reasons we must change. (State data on revenues and expenditures)
Federal Student Loan Debt Relief and New Mexico Students and Grads
Policy Brief President Biden’s plan to provide federal student loan debt relief to millions of borrowers is popular – but it’s also a bit complicated. This short policy brief explains what the plan does, who is eligible, and how to apply. There’s even information on changes to Income-Driven Repayment plans and a calendar of deadlines for applications.
New Mexico 2022 KIDS COUNT profile
State Data Sheet The national 2022 KIDS COUNT Data Book, released 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. New Mexico placed 50th in 2022. (State-level data on indicators of child well-being)
Art as an Alternative
Report Given that so many youth within the state’s juvenile system have faced multiple adverse childhood experiences, any effective rehabilitation efforts must address their long-term impacts. This report looks at how informal diversion programs based on the arts can help youth dealing with ACEs and save the state money. (State-level data on the juvenile system.)
New Mexico is Putting Families First in Tax Policy
Fact Sheet Our state’s policy makers made a number of improvements to the tax code since 2019 that will help low- and middle-income New Mexicans, improve equity, and increase economic opportunity for our working families. (State-level data on how recent tax changes will benefit families)
A new state Child Tax Credit would create opportunities for all New Mexico kids to thrive
Fact Sheet Many families are still hurting from the pandemic recession. A new state-level Child Tax Credit would help hard-working families and grandparents raising grandchildren, and make our tax system more fair. (State-level data on how this tax credit would benefit families)
Exempting Social Security Income from Taxation: Not Targeted, Not Necessary, Not Cheap
Fact Sheet Legislation to exempt all Social Security income from state taxes is popular, but it would only help those with the highest incomes because low-income seniors are already not taxed on their Social Security benefits. (State-level data on some aspects of the senior population)
2021 New Mexico KIDS COUNT Data Book
NM KIDS COUNT Data Book Still in the throes of the COVID-19 pandemic and recession, New Mexico’s child well-being wavers. This annual report provides data on numerous child well-being indicators housed under four domains (economic security, education, health, and family and community) and includes policy solutions for ensuring a more equitable recovery. Includes some pandemic-specific data from 2021. (State- county- tribal area- and school district-level data on child well-being.)
Supporting Parents and Newborns for a Healthier New Mexico
Fact Sheet In New Mexico, new mothers whose births were covered by Medicaid are only eligible to receive health care for another two months. This is particularly problematic for mothers and babies of color, who are more likely to have postpartum health issues. Find out how lawmakers can make our health care system more equitable. (State-level data on maternal death rates by race and ethnicity)
Ensuring a Fair Share: Modernizing Federal Oil and Gas Revenue Policies
Policy Brief New Mexico’s school children are not getting their fair share of oil and gas revenues. That’s because the rental and royalty rates for drilling on federal lands are beyond outdated; some have not been revised in nearly a century. (State-level data on oil and gas production)