Although corporate profits and the value of the stock of corporations has substantially increased over the last 20 years, workers' wages have remained stagnant and have not increased. Congress proposes $1 per hour increase phased in over 2-3 years. Two-thirds of minimum wage workers are women. How does $8 per day in 3 years buy health insurance (25% of New Mexicans have no health insurance) or a pension or keep up with inflation which erodes the dollar's value? Our state needs jobs paying more than minimum wage currently $5.15 per hour.

Most people without health insurance are working full time or in part time jobs. We must use our tax laws to give incentives to employers to cover part and full time workers with health insurance. New Mexico needs to attract companies that will pay better than minimum wages and which will provide health insurance and a pension. To accomplish this goal, New Mexico needs to provide job training and targeted skills education.

Government and businesses provide job training and education. How can the federal government expand our economy and keep jobs in the USA rather than have jobs bleed out to foreign nations if we have less tax revenue to pay for job training and education and incentives for business expansion.

Domenici voted to give windfall-tax-cuts to the most wealthy in our Nation instead of taking care of New Mexico's workforce and young people seeking education and jobs and instead of providing health care to New Mexicans.

LOBATO: Medicaid, providing health care to children and the disabled, is funded 75% by federal money and 25% by the State. Thousands of children (nearly 100,000) and adults qualify for Medicaid but are not covered due to insufficient funding. We must ensure Medicaid is fully funded. How do tax cuts for the wealthy and big business help N.M. fund its Medicaid program or help citizens to afford health insurance and pensions?