Pick which New Mexico you'd rather live in right now.

A New Mexico with a healthy $3 billion safely tucked away in reserves, and no overspending? Or a New Mexico that is facing a budget crisis, with about $2 billion of excess expenses, and no way to currently cover that spending?

Unfortunately, we all find ourselves in the second scenario right now, thanks to the reckless spending spree of the majority of the state legislature last January. How on earth did we get here? Let's try to unpack this together.

We know from financial studies that the most our state budget can safely increase its spending is 4% each year. But the majority in control has passed a 20% increase in just the last two years!

Much of this house of cards was built squarely on unpredictable revenue from the then-high price of oil, but now those prices are near an all-time low. Add to this the weakening of our economy because of the COVID-19 pandemic, and it is nothing short of a financial disaster.

I sounded the alarm last January, and the January before, proposing alternative spending plans—ones that would not increase your taxes, and would not count on unreliable oil prices. But these were ignored by the majority, who went on to pass a bloated budget.

Now the state legislature must meet again this summer to try to adjust our budget to align with our drastically reduced revenues. So what will be done to rein in that irresponsible spending?

The latest news is that the majority in control wants to pass unprecedented tax hikes and take money out of your pocket to pay for their mistakes.

Where in the world do they think our working families will get the money for these tax hikes? Many New Mexicans have endured heartbreaking losses recently. Many have lost their jobs during the quarantine (more than 90,000 unemployment claims in NM in the past month), many have been sick and had medical expenses, and many are struggling just to keep their pantry stocked. You can't get blood from a turnip.

The legislative majority might also resort to their past fixes, too. They might raid funds from your children's school districts again. They might force public employees to take unpaid time off again. And they may eliminate upcoming teacher raises.

But there is a better way. This could be our golden opportunity to do it the right way. This is our chance to correct what never should have happened in the first place.

I and my fellow Republicans want to pass a new budget that will be based on reliable sources of revenue, will provide assistance to our local economy, and will also let you keep more of your hard-earned money in your pocket. To that end, we will be advocating for:

· New Mexico tax relief/stimulus for you and your family
· Support and assistance to New Mexico small businesses impacted by the COVID-19 quarantine/stay-at-home order
· Help for small businesses in navigating red-tape and accessing federal loans that are part of the recently signed federal government COVID-19 relief bill
· A 6-month delay in renewal dates for teacher licenses that expire this July 1, and other similar professional licenses

Now is the time to prioritize families instead of politicians and lobbyists. Now is the time to put people before party lines. Now is the time to work across the legislative aisle and get New Mexico back on its feet.

Pick the New Mexico you want to live in. Then contact your state legislators and give us our marching orders.

Representative Jason Harper, (R- Rio Rancho)