[LWVNM Action] The budget as a moral document

Tue Feb 22 16:23:16 MST 2022

National Equal Pay Day is April 12 this year, meaning that on average, a woman needs to work a full year and 4 /1/2 months to earn what a man earns in one calendar year. White women earn about 80 cents for every dollar men earn. August 3 is Equal Pay Day for Black women. October 21 is Latina Equal Pay Day. Latinas earn 57 cents on average for every dollar men earn. https://www.forbes.com/sites/hollycorbett/2021/10/21/latina-equal-pay-day-2021-latinas-lose-more-than-1-million-in-a-lifetime/?sh=364e63405a99

Meredith Machen
505 577 6337
mermachen at cybermesa.com
meredith.machen at gmail.com

From: Action [mailto:action-bounces at mailman.swcp.com] On Behalf Of Rosa I. Morales via Action
Sent: Tuesday, February 22, 2022 2:46 PM
To: LWVNM Action
Cc: Rosa I. Morales
Subject: Re: [LWVNM Action] The budget as a moral document

Thanks for enhancing the knowledge of some League members. 

We can add the fact that historically women had earned considerable less than man, therefore affecting their retirement income (SS and pension). 

Should we discuss double taxation? 

Let’s add that women keeps living longer than men, therefore their long term living expenses surpass men’s. 

Due to their reproductive system, women throughout their lives spend more in medical care. 

Also, many studies keep showing that in the US, women continue being the primary adult responsible for most children and elder parents. Men slowly are building parity in these two areas, but not fast enough.

It is important to mention that many women leave their full time jobs, or decrease the amount of hours due to unforeseen family needs. Have you checked the children’s doctor’s offices? They are full of women taking their children on appointments, even when the children are being raised by two parents. 

I can go on and on, but no doubt that there is the need to expand the knowledge on how life is lived by large segments of the population that due to their gender, race, status, place where they were born, education, etc. continue living in extremely disadvantaged situations. 

As a social worker I can write not only one book, but many about the challenges some individuals, especially women and children continue experiencing, while most decision makers continue being men. It is very unfortunate that their voices continue not being accurately represented at all levels of government and in most powerful organizations. 

May we be wise, brave, and patient in accepting the ongoing need to build a bridge and help educate those who continue experiencing the challenges of daily life very differently. 

Rosa I. Morales, MSW
Strive to build organizations, systems and communities that embrace ALL PEOPLE.

On Feb 22, 2022, at 1:51 PM, Linda McDowell via Action <action at mailman.swcp.com> wrote:

I agree that a $150,000 is a low cap.               Seniors may be in residential care that costs $130,000, paying $30,000 in property taxes,paying medical insurance and copays for medication and medical care, IRS and state taxes, etc. 

The state budget should not be a kids vs seniors battle, but should instead benefit 
all New Mexicans. 

Linda C. McDowell

Sent from my iPhone

On Feb 22, 2022, at 10:14 AM, Richard Mason via Action <action at mailman.swcp.com> wrote:

The League position is that our tax system should be progressive. A flat exemption that does not take into consideration people's ability to pay is not progressive. Most low income seniors do no pay taxes on their SS benefits.

Dick Mason

-----Original Message-----
From: Jane Asche via Action <action at mailman.swcp.com>
To: Richard Mason via Action <action at mailman.swcp.com>
Cc: Jane Asche <janeasche at comcast.net>
Sent: Tue, Feb 22, 2022 9:38 am
Subject: Re: [LWVNM Action] The budget as a moral document
Richard,

So do you consider the limit of an income of $100,000 for single people 
and $150,000 for couples to be  high incomes in today's economy of high 
inflation?  I do think the income limits for the exemption should be a 
little lower.  However, for my husband and I (86 and 82 years old), both 
retired professionals with investments in lots of higher education 
during our careers for our selves and our children, have a combined 
retirement income of right around $70,000.   It seems whether the limits 
are reasonable enough is affected by the health issues retired people 
face and often times responsibilities to care for aging parents as new 
retirees.  In some cases, a retired couple with an income a little below 
$150,00 is not a lot.

Jane  Asche

On 2/18/2022 9:29 AM, Richard Mason via Action wrote:
> Many over the years have called the budget a moral document - how you 
> raise & spend money reflects the values of the society. I am attaching 
> the Fiscal Impact Report (FIR) for HB163 - the tax package just passed 
> by the Legislature. The whole story is on the first of the 24 pages.
>
> The Income Tax Exemption for Social Security costs the state from 84 
> million in the first year to 99.5 million in the 4tth year
>          This mainly benefits middle to high income seniors
>
> The Child Tax Credit that goes to families with children doesn't go 
> into effect until the second year & then costs the state about 75 
> million a year
>           I actually heard a legislator say they had to reduce it 
> because of the fiscal impact
>
> Conclusion - our Legislature cares more about middle to high income 
> seniors than they do about families with children.
> Maybe because old folks like me vote in greater numbers.
>
> Dick Mason
>
> _______________________________________________
> Action mailing list
> Action at mailman.swcp.com
> https://mailman.swcp.com/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/action
-- 
Jane A. Asche, Ed.D., Email: janeasche at comcast.net, Cell: 575-649-8154 

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