Editor's note: This was sent early this morning, but later developments and adjuournment of the special session follow.

Santa Fe, NM - The House approved a tax package as part of an overall plan to resolve the state's budget gap. Senate Bill 6, as amended, protects crucial job creation incentives and prevents tax increases on hard-working New Mexicans.

GǣWe kept our promise to fix New Mexico's budget deficit without raising taxes,Gǥ said House Ways and Means Committee Chair Jason Harper. GǣI'm pleased that a bipartisan majority of the House agreed to share in the sacrifices being made. I urge the Senate to concur on this fair plan to resolve this situation for New Mexico.Gǥ

The House approved Senate Bill 6, as amended by the House Ways and Means Committee, on a bipartisan vote of 50 to 17. The House-amended bill will remove the cap on the high-wage jobs tax credit proposed by the Senate and close loopholes to strengthen the program. In addition, the measure strikes the unconstitutional internet sales tax included in the original Senate bill.

Legislators also agreed to redirect $1.5 million from the annual distribution to the Legislative Retirement Fund to the Children, Youth and Families Department to pay for child abuse prevention programs.

The measure protects incentives vital to creating jobs in New Mexico. Businesses such as Facebook have cited the availability of these incentive programs as a key factor in deciding to establish a presence in the state.

The legislation now moves to the Senate for concurrence.