Tom Taylor
House Minority Leader Tom Taylor, R-Farmington, says the Legislature has an opportunity right now to cut waste out of government, and he said his caucus is fairly united behind that goal.
“We’re not going to consider tax increases until we have done everything we can do to reform and streamline government and get rid of this waste,” he said in an interview. “… We have a great opportunity to do super things for New Mexico.”
Taylor, a former mayor of Farmington, said the city went through two economic downturns during his tenure. The city found ways to make budget cuts without losing services, he said, “and we came out far better on the other side.”
“If we don’t take that opportunity in state government, we’re foolish,” he said.
Meanwhile, many Democrats are pushing various tax increases, in addition to budget cuts and drawing down state reserve funds, as a way to help balance the budget. As the wrangling continues, Taylor said don’t count out the view of House Republicans just because they are the minority party.
“I have one ally that is neither Democrat or Republican, and that ally is a red bottom line,” he said.