End the Food Tax
Issue Summary
The Veto of the Reimposition of the Food Tax
On March 24, 2010, Governor Richardson vetoed the reimposition of the food tax that had been approved during a special legislative session earlier that month.
The movement to reimpose the food tax emerged in late 2009 when the Greater Albuquerque Chamber of Commerce proposed it as an alternative to raising corporate or personal income taxes. Think New Mexico launched into action against this threat, which would have taken over $250 a year out of the pockets of the average family of four. During the regular legislative session, a bill passed the Senate that would have taxed more than half of New Mexico's staple foods (because the taxed foods included white flour tortillas, it was quickly dubbed the "tortilla tax"). Think New Mexico joined with other organizations to oppose the tortilla tax, and it was unanimoulsy tabled in its first House committee. The latest chapter of the food tax saga came to an end when the Governor line-item vetoed the reimposition of the city and county portion of the food tax that was included in the tax passage passed during the 2010 special session.
Think New Mexico continues to closely monitor this issue and resist efforts to tax the fruits, vegetables, and baby foods on which New Mexico families depend. Instead of the regressive and anti-family food tax, Think New Mexico has proposed an alternate proposal to tax soda and candy, which would raise approximately $25 million a year while leaving necessities tax-free. Check back here for updates on this effort!
The Repeal of New Mexico's Food Tax
In late 2001, with the release of our fourth policy report, Think New Mexico launched a campaign to repeal New Mexico's food tax.
At that time, New Mexico was one of only nine states that continued to fully tax food, along with Mississippi, Alabama, and West Virginia. This antiquated tax was extremely regressive, burdened working families, and worsened the state's hunger problem.
Our bipartisan legislation to abolish the food tax came extremely close to passing in the 2002 legislative session, but ran out of time at the very end of the session. In 2004, Think New Mexico teamed up with Governor Bill Richardson and House Speaker Ben Lujan to champion a successful bill to repeal the taxes on both groceries and selected medical services.
As of January 1, 2005, food is exempt from taxation in New Mexico.
Get Involved
Thank Your Legislators
When he line-item vetoed the reimposition of the food tax, Governor Richardson cited the more than 2,000 emails he had received from New Mexicans opposed to the food tax as one reason for his action. Likewise, the food tax was repealed in part because, during the 2004 legislative session, many Think New Mexico supporters wrote and emailed their legislators urging them to support the food tax repeal. Click here if you would like to thank your legislators and the Governor for repealing and not reimposing the food tax - you can compose and send emails or letters to them directly from Think New Mexico's Action Center.
Vocal public support of abolishing the food tax played a big part in making it happen.
Legislators and the Governor were attentive and responsive to the many letters to the editor that called for an end to the food tax.
We encourage you to express your opposition to the reimposition of the food tax through the media, as well as directly to your representatives.
The Media section of Think New Mexico's Action Center provides the names and contact information for your local media, including newspapers, radio stations, and television stations, and you can compose and send any of them an email or letter right from the page.
Resources & Media
Read Think New Mexico's policy report on repealing the food tax
New! Coalition Opposed to the Reimposition of the Food Tax, 2009-2010
Read what New Mexicans are saying about the food tax
Update: According to a 2009 report by the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities, only Alabama and Mississippi still fully tax the sale of food
Map by the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities
Update: Stateline Article on food tax repeal efforts in other states • January 29, 2007
Questions about how the food tax repeal affects you as a consumer or business? Check out the New Mexico Taxation & Revenue Department's Fact Sheet on the Food Tax Deduction or the other resources available on the agency's website.
Coalition in Support of the Food Tax Repeal, 2001-2004
Newspaper Articles & Editorials
New! The Farmington Daily Times, the Las Cruces Sun-News and the Silver City Sun-News commend Governor Richardson for vetoing the food tax
Watch Governor Richardson's statement on his decision to veto the reimposition of the food tax.
Read the opinion editorial by Think New Mexico making the case for why Governor Richardson should veto the food tax • March 2010
Read editorials by the Carlsbad Current-Argus, the Edgewood Independent, the Las Cruces Sun-News, the Rio Grande Sun, and the Santa Fe New Mexican urging Governor Richardson to veto the reimposition of the food tax.
Read Deming Headlight editorial opposing the reimposition of the food tax (which also ran in the Carlsbad Current-Argus, the Las Cruces Sun-News, and the Silver City Sun-News • January 1, 2010
Read Taos News editorial opposing the reimposition of the food tax • January 7, 2010
Read Rio Grande Sun editorial opposing the reimposition of the food tax • December 17, 2009
Read Santa Fe New Mexican article about how all five gubernatorial candidates oppose the reimposition of the food tax • December 22, 2009
Read the opinion editorial by Think New Mexico and the New Mexico Conference of Catholic Bishops opposing the reimposition of the food tax, which was published in 23 newspapers across the state, including the Albuquerque Journal, the Santa Fe New Mexican, and the Rio Grande Sun • December 2009
Read Santa Fe New Mexican editorial lauding the implementation of the food tax repeal • January 5, 2005
Read Las Vegas Daily Optic editorial celebrating the repeal of the food tax • January 4, 2005
Read Albuquerque Tribune article "Shoppers Praise End to Food Tax" • December 30, 2004
Read Ruidoso News article on passage of food tax repeal legislation • December 24, 2004
Read Santa Fe New Mexican editorial on food tax repeal legislation • February 20, 2004
Read Santa Fe New Mexican article about Think New Mexico's food tax repeal bill, championed by Governor Richardson and House Speaker Ben Lujan • February 7, 2004
Read Santa Fe New Mexican article on Governor Richardson's support for the food tax repeal • January 10, 2004
Read Think New Mexico's opinion editorials on repealing the food tax • January 2003 • August 2003
Read Associated Press article about how New Mexico's food tax burdens working families • January 19, 2002
Read Santa Fe New Mexican editorial on the food tax repeal • November 4, 2001
Radio and Television
Listen to KUNM Public Radio report on the proposed reimpostion the food tax • January 19, 2010 (mp3, 4:52)
