New Study Exposes Bloated New Mexico Government and Illustrates Need for Colorado-Style Tax and Spending Limits

(Albuquerque, New Mexico) If New Mexico were to adopt strict Constitutional limits on taxes and spending, personal incomes in the state could see significant gains, so say Dr. Harry Messenheimer and Paul Gessing in a new study.

In 1992, Colorado voters decided to amend their state’s constitution to limit spending growth and give themselves the final say over all tax hikes. Since then, the personal incomes of Coloradoans have skyrocketed, rising from 17th-highest in the country to 8th-highest (the biggest jump in the nation). Unfortunately, the personal incomes of New Mexicans – having relied instead on the whims of politicians to “limit” spending – held steady at a lousy 46th in the nation over the same time period.

Commenting on Colorado’s astounding performance, Messenheimer pointed out “Some people may see Constitutional spending limits as an arcane budget policy matter, but the personal income of the average Coloradoan is now $10,000 higher than that of the average New Mexican. That is enough money to make a real difference in people’s everyday lives”

Gessing noted that “While the problem of overspending and out-of-control taxation is not always a partisan issue, Governor Gary Johnson was clearly dedicated to spending restraint. Governor Richardson, while deserving of credit for reducing taxes on income and capital gains, has allowed the General Fund to grow at the unsustainable pace of 7 percent annually.”

While New Mexicans lag behind their northern neighbors in personal income levels, we far surpass it in state and local government employment and federal spending within our borders.

Unfortunately, as Messenheimer points out, “New Mexico is proof that bigger government comes at the expense of personal wealth. If you are happy with New Mexico’s high poverty levels and prolific government waste, then you have no reason to want a Constitutional amendment to limit spending and taxes. If you think that New Mexico can do better, Colorado is proof that constitutionally limiting spending and taxes will work”

Lastly, Gessing pointed out that, “Despite the controversy last year in Colorado over whether voters would allow politicians to spend more of their money over the next five years, limiting politicians is a popular idea. Voters in Maine, Montana, Nebraska, and Oregon are considering adoption of similar measures this November.