Martinez open to restoring food tax as part of reform
ALBUQUERQUE — Gov. Susana Martinez, who in the past vehemently opposed restoring a tax on groceries, told reporters Wednesday she would consider the idea if it is part of a comprehensive package of tax reforms.
Martinez spoke to reporters following a speech at the Economic Forum of Albuquerque at the Hotel Albuquerque in which she talked about the upcoming special session of the New Mexico Legislature, scheduled for May 24.
“I would not support increasing the taxes on food if it’s a standalone piece,” the two-term Republican said. “It has to be something that is going to be considered in a very broad tax reform that broadens that base, lowers the gross receipts tax for all the consumers [and] takes care of that business-to-business pyramiding.”
Martinez called on lawmakers to consider just such an approach when she set the agenda for a special session that became necessary to resolve a standoff between the governor and Democratic leaders in the Legislature over the state budget.
But both supporters and opponents of taxing groceries, interviewed earlier this week, said they doubt if bringing back the tax on groceries has any chance of passing the Legislature.
Opposition to the idea of grabbing more revenue at the supermarket checkout line was noted last week by Senate Majority Leader Peter Wirth, D-Santa Fe. “In addition to bringing in no new revenue, the bill Gov. Martinez continues to push would add a new tax on schools, non-profits, doctors and as originally introduced would re-impose a tax on food,” he said in a statement Friday. “That proposal