What's going on, Albuquerque?

Drivers Licenses to Illegals More Important then the NM Economy

It just seems to me that the Guv is more interested in repealing the law allowing illegal immigrants to obtain a drivers license then in promoting an economic recovery in the state. I am aware that she campaigned on this issue, but you would think the economy would take center stage at the roundhouse. As a follower of NM politics, it surely hasn't. The best the Guv has done was to promise not to raise taxes(and I am not sure if this is a good thing). I also dont see the Dems as doing much either. They dont seem to have put forth any new economic recovery or job plan themselves. They just seem to be waiting the session out hoping the Guv will not get what she wants.

Well, she didn't get what she wanted when it came to repealing the drivers license law to illegal immigrants. Thanks to the vote in the Senate last night, illegal immigrants did not lose this privilege. The new bill places more restrictions and penalties on the receiving and administering of licenses. Unfortunately, this is not good enough for the Guv and fellow Republicos and she has threatened to continue her fight for its repeal, in lieu of bolstering our sluggish economy.

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Permalink Reply by cnorborg on March 20, 2011 at 10:48am

Has anyone missed the fact that had it not been for the Dems doing everything they can to delay and stop it, the repeal of the law giving drivers licenses to illegals would have been passed very quickly? Don't blame Martinez for it taking a long time. She's just trying to accomplish what 80% of the legal voters in this state desire and what she promised!

As far as tax breaks for corporations - taxing them to high will result in one thing. Them picking up and moving elsewhere. On the other hand, if you can attract a corporation that will employ maybe 250 employees at an average salary of 50K, that would result in 12.5 million in income for residents. At the NM tax rate of 4.9%, that would result in over $600K in income tax per year for the state. Let's say those residents spent in the state 50% of what's left. That would result in over $400K in sales taxes generated for the state. Now let's say half of that $6 million spent generates more $50K jobs, that would be another 60 jobs and the cycle starts over. Remember, all of this would be without the corporation spending a single penny on taxes itself. You can easily see how dropping taxes to generate more jobs can actually increase the money in a states coffers, and the effect keeps trickling down. Thus the name trickle-down economics.

Now if that same corporation leaves the state, or the country because its tax rates are too high, the negative effect that it has is multiplied just as badly. Not to mention if a company is encouraged due to high taxes to establish subsidiaries in other countries to ship off profits to avoid taxes, that money is no longer here able to quickly generate jobs or be handed out to investors (which would also be taxes as income BTW).

The money corporations generate will be taxed when it is paid out to employees and investors. Why tax it again just to generate a little bit of income. Not to mention there are so many tax loopholes that its easy for them to avoid that also! Its a broken system that could and should be simplified.

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Permalink Reply by SteveJ on March 20, 2011 at 6:53pm

Also, companies are less likely to show up in places with underfunded education systems and poor public infrastructure (roads and public transportation).

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Permalink Reply by Lebowski on August 31, 2011 at 10:20am

You are aware that the police demographics are pretty close to general population. Yeah, that means that more than half of the cops are also brown...sorry I don't buy your victim-hood.

Maybe they're just "Uncle Toms"? Ridiculous....there isn't anybody on this forum that can make a good case for illegals being entitled to anything here. Would you have expectations of language accommodation, or government benefits...or a drivers license...or anything else if you snuck into another country? Of course not...well maybe some of you Utopians would, one love.

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Permalink Reply by K on September 2, 2011 at 7:13am

As the one who started this blog, I would totally disagree with you, Lebowski( and I think many other's would as well). First. I say borders are bad and that no human is illegal. I prefer to refer to them as undocumented. Much more humane, don't you think. It is a universal right to be free and live as a human being. What we as a country/government try to do is treat the undocumented in this country as human beings. It is what makes this country great.

By the way, the guv got shot down again by the NM court in attempting to force all those undocumented immigrants who have licenses from verifying their residency. There continues to be some humanity in our judicial system.

One love, Lebowski.

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Permalink Reply by hettie on September 2, 2011 at 10:36am

actually, the demographics of apd are significantly different from the demographics of the city. apd is more than 60% white, while racial statistics show abq to be about 45% white. also, apd is 11% female. hardly representative. apd demographics. abq demographics.

someone up thread claims to form their own opinions without the influence of media. that's an ostensibly noble endeavor. the problem arises when people form their opinions in the absence of facts.

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Permalink Reply by Joan Fenicle on September 2, 2011 at 9:18am

The right wing Republican agendas in the states are being coordinated nationally. It's no coincidence that much of the legislation being put forward is similar if not identical. It's all part of a master plan and if they are successful in their efforts to suppress the votes of the young, poor, elderly and minorities - we will never again have Democratic majorities anywhere! Scary? You bet!

PS - many of the corporations being talked about in these posts pay NO New Mexico taxes. Unfair competition to our local companies in my opinion.

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Permalink Reply by ramon t on September 2, 2011 at 9:43am

And they say Republicans spew nothing but talking points. Wow.

"their efforts to suppress the votes of the young, poor, elderly and minorities"

Don't forget we hate puppies, invented contrails for mind control and club baby seals in our spare time when we aren't playing golf.

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Permalink Reply by hettie on September 2, 2011 at 10:38am

I knew it! ;)

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Permalink Reply by Joan Fenicle on September 2, 2011 at 11:22am

If you don't think the laws being passed across the country to require photo ids to vote is an attempt to suppress voter turnout, do your homework. A college ID is no longer enough to allow you to exercise your right to vote in many states across the country.

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Permalink Reply by ramon t on September 2, 2011 at 2:42pm

If Illegal Aliens can get a drivers license ... ie photo ID. Then College Students and others can also (or a state issued ID), that way they can vote.

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Permalink Reply by Granjero on September 2, 2011 at 11:03am

The right wing Republican agendas in the states are being coordinated nationally.

Yeah. Isn't that what political parties do? Are you saying the left wing doesn't coordinate its agenda across states?

It's no coincidence that much of the legislation being put forward is similar if not identical.

That could be because its federal law attempting to be enforced by states...?

we will never again have Democratic majorities anywhere! Scary? You bet!

Yeah..I think we'll be alright...

I think I've made my feelings on this subject clear before, I didn't look to see where in this particular post, but if you don't like a law, change the law, don't just jump over it and spout out how republicans are out to control the world and hate everyone who isn't rich, white and whatever other stereotype you think.... muhhaaaaaaa cough.

My particular thoughts are we need a softer law for immigration, especially for Mexicans. And yeah, I'm biased but ain't we all. The problem is, without border security you open the doors to all kinds of folks who want to do the US harm. While I hear the eyes rolling, the fact is, right now, all someone has to do from say Saudi Arabia, with a bit of effort and resources sure, is make it into Mexico, hire a coyote, traffic the material in and bing bang boom.

Granted, its not that difficult,with all the politically correct policies, to come in on an airplane where 90 year old grandma is getting molested by TSA agents and the guy with the I love Osama tshirt is let to pass because he might sue for discrimination.

But that's where we're at. I'm of the opinion that anyone who wants to come here and work and pay taxes and is able to do so, should be allowed to. I know, as most here know, I have personal knowledge of some awesome people who have walked across the border and became contributing members of this country. Some of them as has recently been in the news actually put themselves and their own security on the line for other American citizens. In my opinion, THOSE are the people we want here. And hell, if we need to kick some of the folks making their life on welfare, out to make room. I'm not so much against that either.

Sincerely,

Conservative Republican,

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Permalink Reply by Joan Fenicle on September 2, 2011 at 11:19am

Actually, I don't HATE anyone and probably shouldn't have used the word Republican - saying TParty instead. I do resent a coordinated national agenda to dictate state and local legislation (and this isn't coming from the Republican party or the Democratic party). We all know that an unelected political consultant is running the 4th Floor in the Roundhouse. Why? We (you actually) elected a governor to do the work. I work to change laws all the time and take my responsibilities to participate in the democratic process very seriously.

Totally agree with you that anyone who wants to come here and work and pay taxes should be able to do so legally on some kind of guest worker program. Our immigration laws are totally stupid and we (collective we) lack the political courage to try to change them.