Micaela Lara Cadena /tags/micaela-lara-cadena Micaela Lara Cadena en-US Copyright Wed, 21 Feb 2024 02:43:44 GMT NM lawmakers fail to take substantive action on nation’s highest alcohol-related death rate /local-news/2024-02-20/nm-lawmakers-fail-to-take-substantive-action-on-nations-highest-alcohol-related-death-rate New Mexico has the highest rate of alcohol-related deaths in the nation and the situation has gotten even worse since the pandemic. Despite this, state lawmakers this session failed to pass any substantive measures to curb the crisis. Public health reporter Ted Alcorn has long covered the issue for New Mexico in Depth. He spoke with 91°µÍø about a debate over whether and how to change the way the state taxes alcohol. Democrats filed competing bills this year, neither of which got to the governor. Wed, 21 Feb 2024 02:43:44 GMT /local-news/2024-02-20/nm-lawmakers-fail-to-take-substantive-action-on-nations-highest-alcohol-related-death-rate Nash Jones New Mexico lawmakers won’t raise alcohol taxes this year either /local-news/2024-02-09/new-mexico-lawmakers-wont-raise-alcohol-taxes-this-year-either New Mexico lawmakers will once again not raise taxes on alcohol this year, nor redistribute more of the revenue to treatment and prevention. Neither of two competing bills amending the liquor excise tax made it out of the House Taxation and Revenue Committee Friday. Sat, 10 Feb 2024 00:55:14 GMT /local-news/2024-02-09/new-mexico-lawmakers-wont-raise-alcohol-taxes-this-year-either Nash Jones Private childcare businesses call for a tax break to even out with nonprofits /local-news/2023-02-14/private-childcare-businesses-call-for-a-tax-break-to-even-out-with-nonprofits Childcare is expensive. But in New Mexico, the Early Childhood Education and Care Department provides subsidies to help contractors meet the needs of many families. All programs that provide the same services in the same type of facility for the same age groups get the same amount, but for-profit providers pay tax on those state dollars that nonprofit and government programs do not. Private providers are now asking the state Legislature to change that. Wed, 15 Feb 2023 04:04:30 GMT /local-news/2023-02-14/private-childcare-businesses-call-for-a-tax-break-to-even-out-with-nonprofits Nash Jones Is raising taxes the right strategy to curb tobacco and alcohol use in NM? /local-news/2022-12-20/is-raising-taxes-the-right-strategy-to-curb-tobacco-and-alcohol-use-in-nm Bills are heading to the legislature that would raise taxes on alcohol and tobacco. Advocates say the higher prices, and the prevention campaigns they’ll fund, will help curb use in a state that struggles with alcoholism and teen nicotine use. But some lawmakers pushed back on that assumption in a hearing of the Revenue Stabilization & Tax Policy Committee Tuesday. Wed, 21 Dec 2022 01:17:02 GMT /local-news/2022-12-20/is-raising-taxes-the-right-strategy-to-curb-tobacco-and-alcohol-use-in-nm Nash Jones Proposed law could increase transparency, oversight in Corrections Department /local-news/2022-12-07/proposed-law-could-increase-transparency-oversight-in-corrections-department In 2021, Rep. Lara Micaela Cadena was among several lawmakers who sponsored a bill that would have created an official position to oversee the Corrections Department. It didn't pass but Cadena told lawmakers Wednesday she plans to introduce an updated version in January. Thu, 08 Dec 2022 04:47:46 GMT /local-news/2022-12-07/proposed-law-could-increase-transparency-oversight-in-corrections-department Alice Fordham