New Mexico Voices for Children
Issue Areas and Policy Priorities

Our issue areas are organized under our four core values: human rights, healthy communities, economic justice, and civic participation. Click on the core value or issue area to read more about it and our corresponding policy priorities.

The policy priorities listed below are general guidelines. We actively pursue specific policies at different times depending on numerous factors. We also oppose policies that we believe will harm children and working families.

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Human Rights
Equality is not limited by one's race, ethnicity, gender, religion, disability, or sexual orientation; human dignity for all

Human Rights Issue Areas:

• Racial Equity
• Anti-Discrimination

Human Rights Policy Priorities:

• A just and humane immigration policy that includes a path to citizenship
• The right of gay and lesbian couples to make a life-long civil commitment to each other

Healthy Communities
Affordable health care, quality education, and safe neighborhoods for all

Healthy Communities Issue Areas:

• Health Care
• Education
• Child Safety

Healthy Communities Policy Priorities:

• Universal health care
• Full funding of Medicaid so that all eligible children can be enrolled
• Expand Medicaid eligibility to the low-income parents of eligible children
• Expand the number of school-based health centers
• Increase taxes on tobacco products
• Greater investment in quality early childcare and education
• Universal pre-K
• Expand voluntary home visiting programs
• Increased support for out-of-school programs such as service learning and community volunteerism
• Require gun manufacturers to put safety locks on all firearms
• Allow families to sue for damages when a child is injured or killed with a gun and the manufacturer is found to be negligent

Economic Justice
Fair and responsible tax and budget policies; economic opportunity for all

Economic Justice Issue Areas:

• Progressive Tax Policy Reform
• Reducing Poverty Through a Living Wage
• Reducing Poverty By Helping Families Develop and Hold On To Assets

Economic Justice Policy Priorities:

• Reinstate the estate tax on property worth more than $2 million
• End special treatment of capital gains income
• Greater transparency of the state's tax policy
• Index the state minimum wage to rise with inflation
• Ensure wage equality for women and minorities
• Raise the wage level at which families lose childcare assistance
• Stricter reforms for payday, car title and tax refund lenders
• Add additional money to the Housing Trust Fund

Civic Participation
Our collective and individual voices matter

Civic Participation Issue Areas:

• Elections and Open Government

Civic Participation Policy Priorities:

• Public financing of political campaigns
• Webcasting of legislative committee sessions