The New Mexico Association of Commerce and Industry is traveling to communities around the state to talk to businesses about problems in their communities in order to lay out a policy plan for this years legislative session.
Jason Espinoza, President of the New Mexico Association of Commerce and Industry says their fall focus tour will help them develop policy.
“So as a statewide organization it’s really important for us to travel across the state,” Espinoza said. “Partner with local chambers and hear from their members. What are the issues affecting them, what can we do in Santa Fe to advocate on their behalf.”
Espinoza says they work with policy teams and legislators to help make New Mexico more business friendly.
“What we’re really looking for because of the fiscal situation in Santa Fe is what are ways that we can improve the business environment that don’t cost a dollar,” Espinoza said. “We can look at legal reform, we can look at consistent labor laws throughout the state. You can look at public-private partnerships to help with infrastructure. There’s no shortage of ideas that we’re going to be pushing for in Santa Fe.”
Tory Tudor, Vice-President of the Greater Las Cruces Chamber of Commerce, says issues important in Southern New Mexico are important around the state.
“Today tort reform was mentioned,” Tudor said. “It really is a hindrance to us in recruiting physicians, which then affects quality of life and other issues in our community, and so those are the kinds of things. Over regulation makes an environment where it’s difficult for businesses, so they’ll choose an environment where it’s easy to make money and the regulation isn’t quite so heavy.”
Jason Espinoza says if a special session is called for the state budget crisis he hopes they don’t cut programs that have a return on investment.
“We’ve had a lot of discussions with legislators and our members and we think it’s critical that we preserve a lot of the economic development incentives that we’ve done,” Espinoza said. “It’s crucial that we diversify our economy, that we strengthen the private sector. So, we’re not doing the same boom and bust cycle with the oil and gas industry with the state revenues. We need to be sure to preserve those funds and double down our efforts on economic development.”
