New Mexico’s Congressmen from northern and and southern New Mexico signed onto a letter with 18 other freshman Democrats asking U.S. House of Representatives Speaker Nancy Pelosi to amend the way that health care reform will be funded.

The letter was penned by Colorado freshman Democrat U.S. Rep. Jared Polis, and Santa Fe Democrat Ben Ray Luján and Hobbs Democrat Harry Teague also signed on.

“Especially in a recession, we need to make sure not to kill the goose that will lay the golden eggs of our recovery,” the congressmen wrote. “By concentrating the cost of health care reform in one area, and in one that will negatively affect small businesses, we are concerned that this will discourage entrepre­neurial activity.”

The provision they are talking about is the health tax surcharge that has been proposed among those with an income over $1 million. This would be in addition to letting the George W. Bush-era tax cuts on the wealthiest Americans expire.

“Combined with state taxes, many successful small businesses — the very kind of business that should lead in creating new jobs and help us emerge from this recession — will be taxed over 50 percent,” the letter reads.

The letter comes from Democrats from across the party’s ideological spectrum — there were so-called Blue Dog, or moderate Democrats as well as the Congressional Progressive Caucus. (Luján is a member of the progressive caucus). Also, those not affiliated with either group signed on, like Teague.