During the special legislative session, individual legislators may
be contacted by calling the legislative switchboard at (505)
986-4300 (Best in a fast-moving special session) or by email at
the legislator’s email address, if available, from Find
and Contact Your Legislator Link.
If you don't know your legislators you can also use this Link and your address to find your Representative and Senator.
Special Session May be About to Wrap
The Regular Legislative Session ended February 18, with
no state budget for next year.
The Governor called a special session, which convened
Monday afternoon.
The Senate has approved a compromise tax package, Senate Bill 10, generating some $200 in new revenue from an
1/8 percent increase in gross receipts taxes (GRT), removing the
state's compensation to municipalities and counties for the GRT on
food (thus, requiring them to reinstitute the tax themselves if they
want to maintain the revenue), a compensating tax on internet sales,
and the removal of the deduction of state income taxes from those who
itemize their state income tax filing. The measure also increases the
low income tax rebate for the poorest New Mexicans raising from
$22,000 to $24,000 the income level of those eligible for the rebate;
this was done to offset the increase in taxes for those New Mexicans.
The House has approved a budget, House Bill 2, the General Appropriations Act and an increased tax
on cigarettes, House Bill 3, which raises cigarette taxes by 75 cents per pack,
with one third of the increase dedicated to increasing the state
equalization guarantee for public schools. Both packages
were a part of a compromise reached late yesterday between the
Democratic leadership of the two houses. met and introduced several bills.
Under the budget contained in the bill most state
agencies would see a 2 (really 2.5, see explanation below) percent cut
in funding next year, though public education would have its total
funding reduced by about 1.2 (really 1.8, see explanation below)
percent compared with this year's spending level. The state's
Department of Public Safety would be one of the few, if not the only,
agency to receive more funding under the terms of the tentative
agreement.
The complete plan worked out by legislative leadership
would result in slightly more than $233 million per year in new taxes
as well as less money for government services as the state grapples
with a projected deficit of between $500 million and $600 million for
the budget year that begins in July. The 1.2 % cut contained in the
body of the budget bill is increased by a "sanding" amendment cutting
another .544% from every line item in the budget; House Bill 6 is needed to prevent the effect of the sanding
amendment to public schools (see below)!
Schools: One; Big Business Lobbyists: Zero
Chalk one up for the good guys over the high-paid
special interest lobbyists. Late last night, the House Taxation and Revenue Committee reconsidered House Bill 3 to raise cigarette taxes by 75 cents
per pack. The night before, the measure crucial to the plan to raise revenue
failed when all republicans and two democrats voted against it at the
urging or high-powered big business lobbyists. Last night the
outcome was different. Representative Andrew J. Barreras introduced an amendment to require that one third
of the increase be dedicated to increasing the state equalization
guarantee for public schools. With the amendment, the bill received a
do-pass recommendation from the committee, with all Democrats voting
yes and all Republicans voting against public school funding.
Later in the evening the same committee took up Representative Jim R. Trujillo's House Bill 6. This measure, worked
out with several progressive Representatives, including Representatives Trujillo, Egolf, Stewart, and Miera,
and the House leadership adds $25 million to the state equalization
guarantee from the sale of severance tax bonds to offset the cuts in House Bill 2. If this bill and the entire package of taxes and the
budget pass, the cut to the basic operating funds for public schools
should be nearly zero! There are still cuts to the so-called "below the
line" funds for some categorical programs and the Public Education
Department. Another move added funds to instructional materials
from the severance bond funds. The two crucial votes in the House Taxation and Revenue Committee were:
"Yes" votes supported children and public schools; "no"
votes cut proposed funds intended for public schools!
If your legislator voted against funding public schools, let them know
that you expect support on tax increases to prevent drastic cuts to
school funding!
If everything in the package passes, including House
Bill 6, public schools will be held nearly harmless. Even with these tax increases (and with the failure
of the cigarette tax last night, they are anything but certain!),
education is still cut too deeply. Otherwise, the 1.2 % cut contained in
the body of the budget bill is increased by a "sanding" amendment
cutting another .544% from every line item in the budget!
Our message must continue to be:
No More Cuts to Public Schools. Raise the
revenue necessary to prevents cuts in funding to public schools and
other vital government services! Vote for House Bill 6!
Education Partners' Poll on school funding and revenues
Follow this
link for legislation that passed in the regular session
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