Pat Garrett
Communications Director, Republican Party of New Mexico

Everyone is entitled to his own point of view, but Victor Reyes's viewpoint would be considered fringe, even by his own party.

It is true that Republicans and Democrats came together during the special session to do the right thing and get both the capital outlay bill and bipartisan tax package over to Governor Martinez. Both of these proposals will create jobs for our state.

The capital outlay bill includes proposals that help all New Mexicans in every corner of the state, whether it's senior centers or essential infrastructure projects. More importantly, we were able to pay for all of that without a tax increase (While some Senate Democrats floated an idea of raising the gasoline tax.). Thankfully, we ended up not going in that direction.

Even better, we were able to come to terms on a set of bipartisan proposals to reform our tax code. This will level the playing field for small businesses and allow New Mexico to better compete with its neighboring states.

Proposals for reform came from both Republican and Democrat lawmakers, and it passed during a special session along with the capital outlay bill on strong bipartisan votes in both the New Mexico House and Senate.

Like the capital outlay bill, the tax package was supposed to pass during the regular session; but again unlike Reyes, we can spare everyone the blame game. It didn't pass, so lawmakers got back together and got it done.

At the end of the day, we were able to do what's right for all working families across our great state.

For example, one provision included in the set of tax reforms was an extension to a medical tax deduction that 300,000 New Mexicans currently use €” that includes working families, the sick and the elderly. Republicans insisted that this proposal was part of any special session deal.

There are also proposals to invest directly into our small business community so they can better compete with our neighboring states. One proposal allocates resources to startup companies; another simplifies the tax code making it easier for a company's headquarters to set up shop here in New Mexico.

These actions will move New Mexico forward with an increasingly diverse economy benefiting small businesses and the employees that work for them. Right now, Washington, D.C. provides the funding for a lion's share of New Mexico's jobs; in fact, we are the number one state in the country for this kind of dependency on government.

And while we cannot turn down jobs from anyone, let's make things better for our future. A diverse economy can remove us from a dependence on Washington, and make us a beacon for the jobs and industries of tomorrow.

Next legislative session, let's build on our success. Our lawmakers must avoid harmful tax increases on goods like gasoline and just use the money our government already has to make New Mexico a better place to live, work and raise a family.