I am writing today to announce the closure of the New Mexico Independent. After three and a half years of operation in New Mexico, the board of the American Independent News Network, has decided to shift publication of its news…
While environmental activists played their part yesterday during demonstrations at the capitol building, going so far as to dress up as solar panels and to sing the tune of “You Are My Sunshine,” their counterparts, the anti-cap-and-trade contingency who has…
Roughly one quarter of University of New Mexico students are unimpressed with the state’s flagship public school, according to a survey that questioned college students about their higher education experiences.
A coalition of 15 senators and representatives met Thursday afternoon to make their pitch on where to pinch more New Mexico tax dollars.
Members of the “Working Families” caucus said the state has already cut $700 million from state government, and cutting any more from areas like education would make the bad economic situation much worse. In this video, Rep. Mimi Stewart, D-Albuquerque, explains:
Their ideas for raising money range from taxing soda to closing corporate loopholes and making the state’s personal income tax code more progressive. Most of the ideas have seen legislative light before– but not when New Mexico needed money so bad.
With the bad economy hitting home for thousands, does the Roundhouse have the political will to pass tax increases? Sen. Cisco McSorley, D-Albuquerque, said there are 22 Senators who would vote in favor of passing some tax increases.
So we dedcided to take our own count of the Senate to see which ones would be open to tax increases. The eight Senators who attended the press conference and expressed support are Sens. Eric Griego, Tim Keller, Steve Fischman, Dede Feldman, Bernadette Sanchez, Cisco McSorley, Gerald Ortiz y Pino and Peter Wirth.
We asked others if they would be open to tax increases and all of them told us it would depend on the specific bill, but here is a list of those who said they are open to discussing the idea:
Sen. H. Morales, Sen. Lovejoy (but only on her tax increase bill), Sen. Mary Jane Garcia (via spokeswoman), Sen. Pinto, Sen. Nancy Rodriquez (open to discussion), Sen. Munoz, Sen. Nava, Sen. M. Sanchez and Sen. Cisneros.
By our count, that makes 16 Senators open to at least discussing and possibly voting on some tax increases. Sen. Carlos Cisneros who said by his count there are 24-25 Senators who generally would not support any tax increases.
Here are some of the bills supported by the Working Families caucus:
SB 65 – Adjusting Income Tax Rates – Making it so those who make more, pay more.
HB 62 – Corporate Tax Reporting and Distribution – makes it so that corporations who conduct business in New Mexico, but are based elsewhere, must pay taxes.
SB 30 – Cigarette Tax Increase – Just under a dollar a pack increase in cigarettes
SB 31 – No Soft Drink Tax Deduction – Adding soft drinks to the list of foods NOT exempt for the food tax repeal
