Advocacy
The voice of the locally owned-independent business is often underrepresented; we represent locally owned independent businesses only, and provide a collective on their behalf. Since our founding in 2003, we have been involved in numerous local, regional and state issues where our members have had a strong representation:
Better Choices New Mexico
Better Choices New Mexico supports a more balanced approach to addressing New Mexico’s budgetary challenges. The BCNM alliance unites small businesses, members of the faith community, labor groups and nonprofit organizations in an effort to encourage legislators to make a better choice for New Mexico. A balanced approach strengthens the middle class by protecting investments in our future prosperity, promises new opportunity and offers a helping hand for families faced with growing economic insecurity.
Better Choices Mean…
- Leveling the playing field for all businesses, big and small
- Accountability tied to corporate tax breaks
- Generating tax revenues in ways which will ensure equity and fairness
- Transparency in state government
- Rolling back tax cuts for the wealthiest New Mexicans
Please visit our coalition website Better Choices New Mexico.
Combined Reporting
The Alliance is in its fourth year of working with Better Choices New Mexico in support of State Senator Peter Wirth’s bill to close a corporate tax loophole that siphons millions of tax dollars out of our state, and to level the playing field for all New Mexico businesses. This corporate tax would require multi-state corporations to pay their fair share of corporate income tax on the profits they make in New Mexico.
More information on combined reporting in new Mexico here.
Move Our State’s Money: Bring the Billions Home
In January 2010 State Representative Brian Egolf introduced a bill to move New Mexico’s state money out of large corporate banks and into local community banks. These funds would expand the balance sheets of local banks expanding their ability to lend badly needed funds to robust local businesses.
You can read more in a article on the Huffington Post and at Move Your Money.
Environmental Issues and Locally Owned Businesses
We work with several New Mexico state wide organizations to support policy and legislation for for climate change:
The New Mexico chapter of New Voice of Business is currently focused on how to accelerate the transition to alternative, renewable energy generation, though policy advocacy
New Energy Economy is working to expand on our incredible resources for renewable energy and spur investment in clean energy.
Conservation Voters New Mexico is a nonpartisan, non-profit 501c(4) organization, working to protect New Mexico’s natural environment and our cherished way of life. CVNM’s mission is to make sensible conservation policies a top priority for elected officials, political candidates, and voters across the state.
Health Care
We have joined forces with many organizations to educate law makers on the importance of access to affordable health care for business owners and employees, and to improve business owners participation in health policies as it affects their businesses. Our partners in our ongoing support of affordable, accessible New Mexico health care are:
- Small Business Voices is a new coalition created in November 2008, representing over 20,000 business owners and individuals, reflecting small business’s critical interest in health care in New Mexico. For more information on the coalition, contact Robin Hunn at (505) 250-3105 or robinhunn@comcast.net
Living Wage
In 2007, the Santa Fe Alliance Board of Directors resolved to support the proposal of a city-wide living wage of $9.50 and a cost of living increasing thereafter, joining several organizations across Santa Fe working toward a sustainable community with better workforce opportunities. For more information on the ordinance and Santa Fe’s Living Wage please visit these links:
