Latest news with #MicaelaLaraCadena
Yahoo
13-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
New Mexico lawmakers push for legislative salaries despite years of pushback
NEW MEXICO (KRQE) – New Mexico is the only state in the country that doesn't pay a salary to lawmakers, even though some have pushed to change that policy for years. After another failed attempt this session, some are wondering if there is any chance New Mexico's system could change? 'Who we send to Santa Fe does not represent the incredible depth and diversity and insight and expertise of families across our state,' said Representative Micaela Lara Cadena (D-Mesilla). Democratic state Rep. Micaela Lara Cadena says that's just one of the many reasons why she thinks New Mexico should have a paid legislature. She says the state's current 'volunteer' set up ensures that the powerful, wealthy, or retired make up the vast majority of candidates who can do the job. New state law expands who can become a NM law enforcement officer 'And that means when we're there taking these consequential votes that affect and impact our lives every day, a lot of the folks taking those votes are really disconnected from what's happening in real time,' said Rep. Cadena. The issue is one of what drove Representative Cadena to write a letter at the end of this session, only saying, 'The people of New Mexico deserve better.' 'That body, in my perspective and insight, does not represent the New Mexicans that I try to show up for every day,' said Rep. Cadena. The legislative salary idea has been around for years, including this session, where a joint resolution, SJR 1, didn't get a hearing in the Senate Finance Committee, chaired by Democratic Senator George Muñoz. He opposes the idea of a paid legislature, saying the current system doesn't limit who's involved. Bernalillo County DA speaks out on juvenile crime bills not passing in the NM Legislature 'I see a wide variety of people there. I see teachers who have jobs that leave the schools for 60 days. I see non-profit organizations that have people that are elected, I see retirees, I see ranchers,' said Senator George Muñoz (D-Gallup). He adds that creating legislative salaries could also attract the wrong kind of lawmakers to the Roundhouse. 'Now, will it open it up to an array of people, sure it will. It will get people running for a job, and it will not be for service to the state or for service to their constituents,' said Sen. Muñoz. Democratic Representative Angelica Rubio was a sponsor of both the House, HJR 18, and Senate resolutions, SJR 1, for a legislative salary this session. She says they plan to reintroduce an updated version in 2026. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
20-02-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Bill to impose 6% alcohol sales tax passes first committee
Feb. 19—SANTA FE — Democrats are trying once again to impose a tax on alcohol sales in the hopes of addressing one of the leading causes of death in New Mexico. The legislation might have enough support this year to get to the governor's desk after failing in past years. The House Health and Human Services Committee passed House Bill 417 Wednesday morning by a vote of 6-4. All committee Republicans voted against the measure that would institute a 6% tax on alcohol sales at the register, on top of the state's current wholesale liquor excise tax, starting in July 2025. The effort aims to discourage New Mexicans from buying alcohol. The proposed 6% alcohol tax is estimated to reduce the consumption of spirits by 1.2%, wine by 1.14% and beer by 0.66%, according to a legislative analysis of the bill. HB418 would also redirect where money from the current liquor excise tax goes, sending the annual $25 million to $50 million to local harm alleviation funds instead of the state's general fund. The surtax revenue, an estimated $30 million to $60 million annually, would go to the Indian Affairs Department for tribal prevention and help efforts. Bill sponsor Rep. Micaela Lara Cadena, D-Mesilla, said New Mexico would become the second state to impose such an alcohol surtax. Legislative finance and tax officials would be required to review the tax and surtax rates as well as the distributions before 2033 to consider if any changes should be made. "We have enough humility to say we are not projecting that we're getting this exactly right, but we know we need to go in a new direction," Cadena said in a news conference after the committee meeting. The legislation came after failed attempts in past years to impose new alcohol taxes. The state hasn't changed its liquor excise tax in 30 years, said bill sponsor Rep. Joanne Ferrary, D-Las Cruces. Cadena explained that she joined onto the bill this year because she thought it was more reasonable than last year's proposed 12% tax. The proposal started over the summer as a 3% surtax from Reps. Cadena and Christina Parajón, D-Albuquerque, and the bill's seven sponsors landed on a flat 6% as a compromise, Cadena said. "We've spent many contentious hours looking at research around the country, like what impact do we think we can have? My argument continued to be before we go to a sky-high rate, I need to see that we're even changing consumption," she said. "Six was about as low as they would go, and we said we couldn't go higher." Many liquor and restaurant industry representatives showed up to oppose the bill. Ron Brown, who owns the convenience store Latitudes in Rio Rancho, said the legislation "was a brilliant vision" at 3%. "And we could have supported that vision at 3% as it was this summer. It would have helped out retailers with cash flow," he said. "But unfortunately at 6% this creates a giant bureaucracy ... and it's going to put us in an uncompetitive point." He also brought up that alcohol consumption and charges for driving while intoxicated are down. Data from the New Mexico Department of Health indicates that alcohol-related deaths have dropped over the past two years. However, New Mexico is still consistently at the top in the nation for alcohol-related deaths and had twice the national average in 2021, when the number peaked at 2,274 deaths. The pandemic worsened the rate of alcohol deaths. In 2023, nearly 1,900 people in New Mexico died as a result of alcohol, according to DOH. Rep. Jenifer Jones, R-Deming, said she wasn't completely confident in the accuracy of New Mexico's data tracking deaths directly caused by alcohol. "I have a feeling that we are reporting alcohol-related deaths, like in cirrhosis of the liver, that perhaps have nothing to do with alcohol. ... We may not really be that far ahead of anybody. We may not even be at the top of the list," she said. The bill is expected to be heard in the House Taxation and Revenue Committee Friday or Monday, Cadena said.
Yahoo
19-02-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Proposed alcohol tax passes first committee
A new bill proposes a new tax on alcohol retail sales to benefit treatment programs. Lawmakers today introduced a proposal to raise New Mexico's tax on alcohol for the first time in 30 years and re-direct revenue toward treatment and programs. The House Health and Human Services Committee voted 6-4 to advance House Bill 417, Liquor Tax Changes and Programs. It now heads to the House Taxation and Revenue Committee. The bill specifically creates a new 6% sales tax — also called a surtax — on alcohol sold in retail establishments, and eliminates distribution of revenue from the existing alcohol excise tax to the general fund, which currently receives a portion of that money. Instead, the bill creates a new Local Alcohol Harms Alleviation Fund to allocate funding to counties and 'target the communities most in need by prioritizing counties with the highest death rates from alcohol use,' a news release on Wednesday said. Counties that receive the funding 'could use these funds for grants to raise awareness of the harms and risks associated with substance misuse, promote prevention, get people into treatment, and address issues like impaired driving.' HB417 also creates a new Tribal Alcohol Harms Alleviation Fund and Program to provide grants to the state's tribes, nations and pueblos, as well as entities that serve Native Americans. Lawmakers say the bill arrives after months of discussion. The proposal also follows several years of failed efforts to raise the tax on alcohol, and increasing scrutiny of New Mexico's top ranking for alcohol-related deaths. Representatives Micaela Lara Cadena (D-Mesilla), Joanne Ferrary (D-Las Cruces) and Cristina Parajón (D-Abuquerque) and Senators Shannon Pinto (D-Tohatchi) and Antionette Sedillo-Lopez (D-Albuquerque) co-sponsored the bill. 'Far too many of us have lost a loved one to alcohol,' Ferrary said in a statement. 'With this bill, we are taking an important step that is many years in the making to help improve access to treatment, reduce excessive drinking, and hopefully begin saving lives.' A fiscal analysis of the bill estimated that the proposed surtax imposition will generate $45.7 million in FY26, and that HB417 would reduce recurring general fund revenue by $24.7 million by redirecting revenue to the alcohol prevention and treatment programs.
