By Paul J. Gessing

Recently the Legislative Finance Committee produced a report in which (to summarize the findings) they made the case that New Mexico "spends" over half-a-billion-dollars on tax breaks that generate little economic return for New Mexico. The report had many important findings that should certainly influence the way our Legislature and next governor look at economic development, but there are also some issues with the report that need to be addressed and even corrected.

The problems start with its opening line "In FY25, New Mexico spent $520 million on 24 economic development tax expenditures."

Simply put, most tax incentives are NOT spending. Rather they are reductions or the elimination of taxes that might otherwise be collected but aren't. Things like the high wage jobs tax credit and jet fuel deduction, both of which are mentioned in the report, may or may not be good policy, but they aren't spending.

By Julia Robin, Head of Infrastructure Planning and Sourcing, Oracle Cloud Infrastructure

In southern New Mexico, water is a precious resource that touches everything. It touches families and businesses. It touches agriculture and the food we eat. It touches public health and safety. And ultimately, it touches the region's long-term future. We take our responsibility to preserve water very seriously , so we want to help clarify and correct the record about the Project Jupiter's water use. We updated the project's power design last month and want to give residents of Doña Ana County the most up to date and accurate information about our current plans and expectations for the campus's water use.

Dear Editor,

This is in response to Lynda Schub's recent comments about Representative Luis Terrazas and Senate Bills 17 and 18.

Ms. Schub suggested that opposing SB 18-the "Clear Horizons Act" – means not caring about clean air. That's an oversimplification and simply not true. The bill would have required industries to cut emissions to levels that would significantly raise costs across agriculture, energy, manufacturing, and transportation. For many of us already struggling with expenses, that matters. I would like to know where Mr. Turrieta stands on this? Would he support a bill like this which would have affected his constituents in a negative way?

Exposed: New Mexico Faith-based Abortion Activists Tied to Interstate Flight Network

(Online Version): https://www.abortionfreenm.com/news/exposed-new-mexico-faith-based-abortion-activists-tied-to-interstate-flight-network

Le Monde investigation highlights Albuquerque faith-based abortion activists partnering with organized pilot networks transporting women across state lines for abortion

State Engineer Elizabeth K. Anderson, P.E.

New Mexico is experiencing a watershed moment.

Within the next 50 years, the state's top scientists project that climate change will reduce available water in New Mexico's rivers and aquifers by approximately 25%.

That challenge has guided Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham's approach to climate and water management from the beginning of her administration. When the governor took office in 2019, New Mexico faced a familiar but urgent problem: aging water infrastructure, worsening drought, limited conservation funding and growing pressure on communities, farms, businesses and families that depend on clean, reliable water.

(Online Version): https://www.abortionfreenm.com/news/muleshoe-texas-becomes-97th-sanctuary-city-for-the-unborn-following-citizen-led-effort

Tara Shaver Testifies Before City Council as Community Approves Ordinance Addressing Abortion Trafficking and Cross-State Abortion Pipeline

Planned Parenthood Reopens Santa Fe Facility as New Mexico's Abortion Industry Expands Amid National Clinic Closures

For the full article and graphics, please visit the Online Version link just below:

(Online Version): https://www.abortionfreenm.com/news/planned-parenthood-reopens-santa-fe-facility-as-new-mexicos-abortion-industry-expands-amid-national-clinic-closures

As federal pressure mounts on Planned Parenthood nationally, New Mexico continues moving in the opposite direction—expanding abortion facilities, taxpayer funding, and chemical abortion access.

Harry Montoya

Recently, it came to my attention that New Mexico’s US senators Heinrich and Lujan have introduced a bill called the “Keep Public Funds in Public Schools Act.” If adopted, the plan would eliminate a $1,700 credit for donations made to provide tax credits for “school choice” and also tutoring and special education services, educational therapies, and online materials for children nationwide benefiting traditional, charter, and schools of choice.

Heinrich and Lujan are attempting to kill the best opportunity for New Mexico children to see an improvement in educational outcomes and opportunities currently available. As a reminder to the Senators, New Mexico is dead last in educational outcomes according to “The Nation’s Report Card” or National Assessment of Educational Progress.

I am on the board of the Rio Grande Foundation, which has been very active in pushing Gov. Lujan Grisham to sign onto the tax credit. After initially saying she would not have New Mexico participate the Gov. has since insisted that she’ll decide once the regulations are written. That could take some time, but ultimately, she’ll need to make a final decision before leaving office.