I just got this email, I wanted to share it with you! New Mexico taxing food!!!??? A poverty stricken state with the highest unemployment in the nation! Really!!?? That would punish the poor!
As you may have seen in the news, last week Governor Martinez announced that she was willing to sign legislation reimposing the food tax, as long as it was part of a comprehensive “tax reform” bill.
Naturally we were surprised and disappointed, since the Governor has long opposed a tax on food. A regressive tax on a necessity like food does not belong in a “tax reform” bill. Thirty-four states, including our neighbors of Arizona, Colorado, and Texas, balance their budgets without taxing food.
The governor and legislative leaders have just over a week to reach an agreement on the budget and tax bills before the special session begins on May 24.
We hope you will join us in urging Governor Martinez to reject any deal that includes the reimposition of the food tax.
While some legislative leaders have expressed their opposition to the food tax, we have learned the hard way that anything can happen during the chaos of a legislative session. As you may recall, the food tax was rolled into a larger tax package late in the evening on the final night of the session in 2013, and we and our allies were barely able to get it removed before the bill passed in the final seconds of that year’s session.
So please take a moment to email the Governor now, as she weighs different budget options, and ask her to take the food tax off the table.
Thank you for taking the time to make your voice heard!
Fred, Kristina, Othiamba, and Jennifer
Think New Mexico
1227 Paseo de Peralta • Santa Fe, New Mexico 87501 • (505) 992-1315 • www.thinknewmexico.org
