In the Democratic response to Gov. Susana Martinez’s State of the State speech on Tuesday, Sen. William P. “Bill” Soules, D-Doña Ana County, said the state’s main problems include poverty and the economy, as well as education.

“Businesses, when they locate to New Mexico, don’t ask what’s the quality of your private schools or charter schools,” he said. “They ask, what’s the quality of your public schools. We need to improve the quality of our public schools.”

The Democratic Party is pursuing a raise in the minimum wage. Soules sponsored a living wage bill that passed the Legislature last year, but was vetoed by the governor. So, he said, this year the party is pursuing a constitutional amendment that would bring a vote on a $10 minimum wage to voters this November.

“Research is clear. Modest raises to the minimum wage don’t impact jobs,” he said. “It’s clear they don’t make businesses relocate. Santa Fe, which has a higher minimum wage, is not losing jobs to Española. When money moves, the economy improves.”

Soules said overall, the problems New Mexico faces are caused by poverty.

“We need more than a few jobs. We need to talk real job growth. If you look at the data, New Mexico has not had real job growth, and all of the states around us have. We need a real jobs program in New Mexico to make a difference,” Soules said.

Soules also said the Democratic Party is looking at other issues from Martinez’s speech, such as challenges in various state departments, including the Children, Youth and Families Department, and addressing the state’s mental health care issues.

505.348.8308 | dmayfield@bizjournals.com
Technology, economic development