Rick Little
To revitalize our economy and recover from recession, New Mexico must turn its full attention to competitiveness. Recruiting new businesses and helping the businesses that are already here expand will grow our economy. To become more competitive, grow our economy and empower job creation, the government needs to provide:
- A stable tax structure that gives certainty to job creators.
- Incentives for businesses to move to New Mexico.
- A business-friendly regulatory climate – free from the bureaucratic red tape that prevents businesses from coming to, or expanding operations in, our state.
The solutions to increase competitiveness are simple, but they require us to show the fortitude to move a jobs agenda through the Legislature now. New Mexico families deserve to have the Legislature address as much as we possibly can. We were elected to do the people’s business, and there is plenty of work to be done if we roll up our sleeves and get to it.
This session, the Legislature has the opportunity to address the predictability of the unemployment trust fund and to clarify the high-wage jobs credit. Addressing those two items would provide more tax and regulatory certainty for job creators. The more certainty we provide them, the more likely they are to invest and create jobs in New Mexico.
We can increase incentives by passing the in-state preference bill, which would give existing New Mexico businesses a boost as well as increase the incentive for businesses to move to New Mexico.
Sending the capital outlay bill to the governor’s desk for her signature would provide an immediate infusion of $60 million into the New Mexico economy. The bill would put people to work and improve the state’s infrastructure. This is an opportunity to invest in our future while investing in ourselves.
Lastly, we can end the practice of social promotion. In doing so, we will graduate a more educated work force from New Mexico public schools and provide greater opportunities for our children and grandchildren. Let’s make our kids’ future, and New Mexico’s future, a priority today.
This agenda is ready to be voted on. New Mexicans expect, and deserve, for us to rise above the partisanship and pass these initiatives this session.
I join my Republican colleagues in pushing to address the people’s business. We have the responsibility to roll up our sleeves and solve these critical issues today.
Little, a Republican, represents District 53 in the New Mexico House of Representatives.