OOIDA Call to Action – New Mexico Members
November 3, 2003

Heads up, New Mexico truckers! A tax package in the state Legislature needs your attention.

Gov. Bill Richardson over the weekend was calling for senators to come back to the Capitol for discussion on a bill to pump more money into the state highway fund.

The House and Senate were called into special session Oct. 27 to consider the governor’s $1.4 billion highway construction and repair package that includes several tax proposals affecting truckers.

The Senate voted on Halloween 23-14, with eight Democrats joining Republicans, to adjourn without considering any of the tax system tweaks Richardson was pushing.

SB5 calls for increasing the diesel fuel tax 5 cents a gallon to 23 cents. The bill would increase the weight distance tax by 42 percent as well as hike the excise tax on the purchase of a new or used vehicle by 33 percent.

The package also includes such proposals as a liquor tax increase, tax refunds, tax exemptions for low- and moderate-income taxpayers as well as senior citizen income tax exemptions.

While Senators left Santa Fe on Friday, House lawmakers have hung around awaiting a final vote. As long as the House remains in session, the Senate must return to vote by Nov. 5.

It is important that you contact your state lawmakers today and voice your opinion on the proposal and any similar measures that may come before the Legislature during the session.

For contact information, visit www.legis.state.nm.us/legislatorsearch.asp. You can also call OOIDA’s membership department at 1-800-444-5791 and they’ll look it up.