Lujan Grisham Announces 10 Point Jumpstart NM Plan

The Jumpstart New Mexico plan includes 10 specific job-creation proposals (listed below) that Congressperson Lujan Grisham will pursue during the first months of her Gubernatorial administration. Additional details can be found here.  Retake commentary is provided in red after each plank in her platform.

1. Make New Mexico the Clean Energy State.

• Get new transmission infrastructure online by 2020 to ensure that New Mexico’s wind can be used to generate power and jobs
• Increase New Mexico’s Renewable Portfolio Standards to 50% by 2030, expand it to include small-scale customer-owned solar and wind systems and include incentives for production in rural areas.
• Accelerate development of a green energy workforce
• Make state buildings energy efficient
• Expand access to new markets hungry for clean energy

Retake finds the NM Renewable Portfolio standards far to cautious and much prefer New Energy Economy’s 80% by 2030. Otherwise the agenda is good.

2. Immediately Raise the Minimum Wage to $10

• Immediately raising the minimum wage will provide a pay raise for 112,000 New Mexicans
• Bring up the minimum wage to $12 in four years and index it to inflation

We would like a faster ramp-up to $15/hour, but moving to $10 and then to $12 in four years is aligned with Our Revolution’s pace on their $15 minimum wage bill. We will continue to press, Congressperson Lujan-Grisham to commit to the full time line to get to $!5/hour.

3. Lift the Cap on Film Tax Credits and Increase Production Capability

• Double the amount of film production in the first two years
• Increase or eliminate the annual cap on the payout of incentives, streamlining the program so credits are available
• Expand soundstage and other physical production capacity
• Support and expand the resident crew base to handle increased production

A good plan. Film production revenue to the state has been increasing tremendously and should continue to be encouraged.

4. Invest in New Mexico Businesses

• Invest the full 9% currently allowed from the Severance Tax Permanent Fund to help businesses grow
• Nearly $200 million would be available for direct investment
• Leverage those investments to bring in an additional $2.4 billion into the state’s economy
• Double the NM Small Business Investment Corporation (SBIC) program to a 2.0% allocation of the Severance Tax Permanent Fund, making $50 million more available to strong, growing small business that banks are not serving

This is a strong commitment to small business development.

5. Invest the Permanent School Fund in Pre-K Education 

• In addition to the long-term investment in children, an investment from the Permanent School Fund would create immediate opportunities for employment
• Teachers and educational assistants would be needed to lead more than 1,700 early childhood classrooms
• An investment of $285 million over 5 years is a prudent investment to help the economy now and ensure every kid has the best opportunity in life

I have an email out to NM Voices for Children to see if they feel this is a sufficient commitment, but it is $285M more than the current governor would commit to.

6. Invest now in a Modern, Efficient, and Effective Infrastructure System

• Work with the Legislature to fast-track investments to modernize roads, bridges, water systems and broadband Internet lines
• Work with the private sector to ensure we are meeting infrastructure needs that expand our economic footprint

While lacking a mechanism for funding this commitment, I am told by MLG’s aide that a plan related to revenues is forthcoming.

7. Appoint a Small Business and Entrepreneur Advocate within the Office of the Governor 

• A small business and entrepreneur advocate, representing the Governor’s Office, will work on the ground level with New Mexico’s business and startup communities to direct policy and more effectively realign resources

A good idea as small business is key to job creation.

8. Fix the State Procurement System to buy from Local New Mexico Businesses

• Overhauling state sourcing to prioritize New Mexico jobs
• Ensure if a New Mexico company is competitive on price and can deliver, the company should get contracts with the state, not an out-of-state competitor

Details on what ‘overhauling’ might mean would likely be beyond most voters’ bandwidth, but the commitment to do this is a good one.

9. Increase Education and Workforce Training 

• Invest in more apprenticeships, internships and more on-line learning opportunities
• Invest in existing programs with proven outcomes like I-Best (Integrated Basic Education and Skills Training), which is available at six community colleges around the state
• Work with programs like New Mexico’s SoloWorks program, which is a consortium-sponsored workforce development program

Given the commitment to a specific level of funding in #s 4 and 5 above, it would be good to have a funding level here, along with a source for that funding.

10. Invest in Rural New Mexico

• Improve sustainable agriculture and value-added agriculture practices, including wineries and craft breweries
• Invest in MainStreet programs
• Increase access to Broadband to boost productivity and incomes across the state
• Partner with New Mexico’s tribes and pueblos so they are an integral part of the state’s economic development strategy. The Film Office, for example, will partner with tribes
• Support business incubators in rural areas and small towns

We applaud support for incubators, partnering with NM’s tribes and pueblos, increasing broadband and investment in MainStreet programs, although it would be good to have more specifics here. As relates to sustainable farming, a specific commitment to hemp and a transition from alfalfa would be welcome, as would specific reference to a economic transition process away from coal, gas and oil to renewables.