Rep. Kathleen Cates

With the state showing no signs of backing away form its worst in the nation status for alcohol-related deaths, legislators will have another go at raising alcohol taxes in the next session. This Other Voices column was co-authored by state Senator Antoinette Sedillo Lopez and state Reps. Joanne Ferrary, Kathleen Cates, Liz Thomson and D. Wonda Johnson.

We are committed to working with our legislative colleagues in the upcoming session to pass laws that reduce alcohol consumption and provide stable funding to address the problems caused by alcohol in our state. Our state’s future depends on it. 

In the 260 days since the last attempted alcohol tax increase during the 2024 legislative session, about 1,400 people in New Mexico have died from alcohol-related causes — more than twice as many as those who have died from opioid overdose. 

Drinking too much alcohol is linked to serious issues in our communities, like gun violence, crime, domestic violence, and car accidents, as well as health problems like breast cancer, stroke, and hypertension. 

New Mexico has had the highest rates of alcohol-related deaths in the country since 1997, and we need different strategies to tackle this public health crisis. We won’t improve health, reduce health disparities, lower death rates, or reduce crime without taking action on alcohol misuse. 

One of the most powerful ways to do this is by increasing alcohol taxes, which the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends. The funds generated by New Mexico’s current alcohol taxes are insufficient to support programs aimed at combating alcohol misuse, and the current tax rate does not effectively discourage drinking. This is largely due to the fact that New Mexico has not raised alcohol taxes in over 30 years. 

Although the harms to society from alcohol costs the state’s economy nearly $4 per standard drink, the state collects $0.04 to $0.07 in taxes per standard drink. These harms affect under-resourced individuals and communities at a much higher rate and at greater intensities. It is a moral imperative that we address these health disparities.

 It is unconscionable that Native Americans, Hispanic, and Black individuals in the state report the lowest prevalence of alcohol use yet experience the highest rates of alcohol-related death. As state lawmakers, we must take immediate action to address this public health crisis and improve the lives of all New Mexicans. 

In the 2025 legislative session, we aim to pass laws that will: 1) reduce alcohol consumption by 5% to 10% and 2) generate $200 to $250 million each year to fund public health programs for prevention and treatment of alcohol misuse. There are multiple ways to accomplish these goals. 

For instance, we could achieve these goals by raising existing alcohol taxes by $0.25 per drink as has been proposed previously. Alternatively, adjusting existing excise taxes for inflation since 1994 and adding a sales tax at the time of purchase could also accomplish these objectives. The excise tax is based on the volume of the beverage, while a sales tax would depend on how much people spend on alcohol, and is thus a more progressive tax. 

Experts believe these changes could lower drinking rates and provide steady funding for prevention and treatment. This specific funding stream is crucial since our state’s economy relies heavily on oil and gas, and during tough economic times, behavioral and public health services are often cut first. Furthermore, allocating money from the general fund alone would have substantially reduced impacts on the most important component–decreasing population-level alcohol consumption.

 In order to safeguard the health and future of New Mexico, it is imperative that we take bold action now by implementing higher alcohol taxes, ensuring that our communities receive the support they need to combat this ongoing public health crisis. We must come together to find a path forward for this critical legislation.

This is the Home of New Mexico Politics.        

Proposals are expected to surface in the next legislative session to cut or even eliminate state income taxes for households earning less than $40,000 or thereabouts. Recent guest columnist Mitchell Freedman also recently broached the topic of providing a Universal Basic Income (UBI) for New Mexicans. (Some pros and cons here.) Reader Ken Tabish responds:

Joe, there was mention about the state taking the Alaska approach in using oil and gas revenue revenues to provide a Universal Basic Income for New Mexicans. I am all for this in lieu of more tax cuts or even a cost of living credit due to our energy largess. My recommendation is to tie the UBI to families with children, rather than a straight payout to people over 18 and making under $40k. 

During the pandemic we saw how direct payments to families with children from the Feds had a direct impact on reducing the rate of child poverty in the country and New Mexico as a whole. Although costly, this proved valuable in assisting low income families with children in meeting high costs. Can we as a state with massive surpluses do something directly to improve the quality of life for our most vulnerable citizens? I say yes.

TOO MANY SCHOOLS

The expense account scandal that has engulfed Western New Mexico University President Joe Shephard and reported on here recently draws the attention of reader Alan Schwartz:

Coincidentally the current issue of New Mexico Business First has the "List" for New Mexico Colleges and Universities. Missing from the list, WNMU. Why? I can only conclude they did not respond to the inquiry. As for the WNMU Regents, if they are not concerned about the university's anemic graduation rates why should they be expected to question the expenses of their president? The highest WNMU graduation rate I found was 36.2% with other sources citing lower numbers and six year graduation rates in single digits. 

Being from California, where the university and state university systems have 10 and 23 campuses respectively with graduation rates of 92.3% (UC) and 82.5% (CSU), I never understood this proliferation of autonomous regional colleges. I'm thinking you have addressed this in the past. 

Thanks, Alan. Over the years we have indeed covered the problem of the state having too many higher educational institutions. It's been discussed since all the schools were permanently established by the state constitution at statehood in 1912. Here is the passage mandating them:

The university of New Mexico, at Albuquerque; the New Mexico state university, near Las Cruces, formerly known as New Mexico college of agriculture and mechanic arts; the New Mexico highlands university, at Las Vegas, formerly known as New Mexico normal university; the western New Mexico university, at Silver City, formerly known as New Mexico western college and New Mexico normal school; the eastern New Mexico university, at Portales, formerly known as eastern New Mexico normal school; the New Mexico institute of mining and technology, at Socorro, formerly known as New Mexico school of mines; the New Mexico military institute, at Roswell, formerly known as New Mexico military institute; the New Mexico school for the blind and visually impaired, at Alamogordo, formerly known as New Mexico school for the visually handicapped; the New Mexico school for the deaf, at Santa Fe, formerly known as New Mexico asylum for the deaf and dumb; the northern New Mexico state school, at El Rito, formerly known as Spanish-American school; are hereby confirmed as state educational institutions.

VETS BREAK UNFAIR?

Finally today, a subject we raised on the radio during our Election Night coverage--those two constitutional amendments providing more tax breaks for veterans and that were approved by large majorities. We go back to attorney Mitchell Freedman:

I am concerned with the two amendments that will essentially negate property taxes for mostly well-off veterans who own their homes. The amendments do nothing for vets who rent and especially nothing for vets who have home insecurity or outright homeless. The effect of these two amendments will be to significantly lessen property tax revenue, which often funds public schools. Multiple assessors and treasurers have said the rest of us may have to pay more property taxes to maintain current revenue flows. 

One solution may be to create a progressive tier of property taxes so that homeowners with smaller or relatively small homes, based upon square footage, should pay less than those with mansions. Property taxes are flat or regressive taxes, not progressive taxes, and more akin to a sales tax which is also regressive. 

I totally get we should want to honor our vets. However, I do not think these constitutional amendments honor anyone. The amendments create a favoritism unfair to so many including vets who are not as fortunate to own a home.

This is the Home of New Mexico Politics.        

Starlink's Elon Musk

The Broadband Office made a point of telling the Legislative Finance Committee that the $70 million they are asking for to provide high speed internet service via satellite to remote rural areas is only a temporary measure--until they can be served by expensive fiber optic that will in many cases take years to reach homes--if ever. From the Office:

Over a five-year period while high-speed internet lines are built, the money would pay for a $600 satellite receiver to get connected, along with $30 toward the $120 total monthly bill. The program is called Accelerate Connect New Mexico.

A couple of things.

How many of those households who get good speed from state-subsidized satellite service from Starlink will want to sign up for fiber--if they ever get the chance--unless it is accompanied by a state subsidy?

The future of satellite internet is faster, much faster. While the Broadband Office correctly states that fiber is the "gold standard' today, will that be the case in the years ahead? Unlikely. 

Starlink has filed an application with the FCC to approve changes the company says will make satellite internet ten times faster than today's speeds. (The FCC will soon be in the hands of pro-satellite commissioners.)

The Broadband Office says federal money pledged for fiber can only be diverted by an act of Congress. That's not so outlandish as they might thing considering Trump's party now controls the Congress and Starlink owner Elon Musk is leading a commission on cutting waste and fraud in the federal government.

Of course the major telecom companies want to hang on to their lucrative contracts to build expensive fiber which is taking years and years. But money from the Feds could run out or be diverted if high speed and much less expensive satellite service is proving satisfactory.

So what does the state do when Starlink announces higher speeds that meet or even surpass fiber? Continue to spend millions on digging trenches or throw in the towel and make satellite a permanent fixture--not a temporary one? 

BROADBAND FIASCO

It's not as if the state can't make the broadband roll-out a fiasco if it doesn't get it's game-plan in order. Look at this multi-year mess that cost taxpayers millions and as detailed in an investigative report from KRQE:

What do taxpayers have to show for a ten-year, multi-million dollar investment in Rail Runner Wi-Fi? Piles of discarded cables, routers, antennas, transmitters, and miscellaneous electronic do-dads. “It upsets me. I do not want to misuse taxpayer money,” said Dewey Cave who heads up the Rio Metro Regional Transit District. “I was surprised that it didn’t work. But, you know, we are going to find somebody accountable.” . .Taxpayers have shelled out some $8,000,000 for nonfunctioning Wi-Fi equipment on the Rail Runner. “It was a waste. It’s a pile of rubbish,” Rio Metro’s Robert Gonzales said. There is a positive end to this story. Thanks to new technology, the Rail Runner is now equipped with a relatively inexpensive satellite Wi-Fi system. Rio Metro officials say it’s working “perfectly” with no complaints. 

That's another good example of why satellite internet for rural NM should be the first priority for expanding broadband, not an afterthought or "temporary" solution.

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Amy Barela

Otero County Commissioner Amy Barela has the inside track in the race to become the next chair of the NM Republican Party, according to GOP sources.

Former US Rep. Steve Pearce has led the state's minority party since 2018 but at 77 is now retiring, leaving NMGOP First Vice-Chair Barela as the favorite to succeed him. 

The new leader will be selected this Saturday by over 500 members of the party's State Central Committee at a meeting at T or C. 

Having previously been elected Vice-Chair by many of those delegates gives Barela the edge, report observers.

She says on her social media that for the past decade she has "been a steadfast community leader." As for her priorities if elected, she declares: 

Now, more than ever, we must fight for New Mexicans—defending their constitutional rights, supporting our legislators in their efforts to combat out-of-control crime, and ensuring that law enforcement has the support they need. We must also bring awareness to the challenges New Mexicans face, including the state of our schools, rising prices, and the healthcare crisis. These are New Mexican issues and addressing them starts with voting differently to bring real change to our state.

Barela was elected to the Otero commission in 2022 and is a bedrock southern conservative. She won the seat held by Sheriff Couy Griffin, the Cowboys for Trump co-founder who was removed from office for the role he played in the the January 6 violent uprising at the nation's capitol.

Barela is also a former chair of the Otero county GOP and a small businesswoman who owns a towing company and a wrecking service. Her election as chair would keep the leadership rooted in Trump country.

She is not without competition. ABQ contractor Mick Rich, who was the losing GOP nominee against Dem US Senator Martin Heinrich in 2018, is also running. Other candidates are John Brenna, the Valencia County GOP chairman, Robert Kwasny of ABQ and Mark Murton, a Sandia Lab's management retiree. State Sen. Josh Sanchez announced for the post but has since dropped out.

Rich is signaling that if he does not win the chairmanship he may join the 2025 race for ABQ mayor, joining incumbent Tim Keller and radio talk show host Eddy Aragon, who was defeated by Keller in 2021 and has announced he is running again.

SHUTOUT

The GOP is currently shut out of all statewide executive elected offices as well as the Governor's office and the NM Supreme Court. 

The Democrats sport large majorities in the House and Senate and unlike the past there is no conservative coalition with Dems to give the minority party a larger voice.

There was a glimmer of hope for the party when Trump did better than expected this year with Hispanic and Navajo voters. The new chair will have to work to translate that shift to local races especially the '26 Governor and US Senate contests. 

HARRIS MEMORIAL 

A memorial service has been announced for former US Sen. Fred Harris who died recently at 94:

A Memorial for Fred will be held on Saturday, December 14, 2024 at the National Hispanic Cultural Center Education Building, 1701 4th Street SW in Albuquerque, NM at 2 PM.

This is the Home of New Mexico Politics.