Commentary: A recently released poll conducted by Third Eye Strategies for the Center for Civic Policy shows that while New Mexicans are divided on many issues, they come together in opposition to imposing a new sales tax on food.
Data from the poll shows that four-fifths (80%) of registered voters oppose taxing food and just 15% support it. When couched as part of a broader effort to lower the sales tax on all goods, opposition stays strong (62%) while support comes in at just 29%. Voters in all income groups oppose it similarly.
“The idea of taxing food is as unpopular now as it has ever been. Because lower-income families and individuals spend a larger proportion of their incomes on food, such a tax would hit working people particularly hard,” said Oriana Sandoval, Executive Director of the Center for Civic Policy. “With New Mexico claiming the dubious distinctions of having the nation’s highest unemployment rate, highest child-poverty rate, and third highest rate of child hunger, our leaders should not even be considering this proposal. This would simply make poverty and child hunger worse while there a number of bills that could raise needed revenue without doing it on the backs of children and the most vulnerable.”
A polling memo recapping the specific questions asked and the methodology used can be found at the link below.