Fiscal impact reports (FIRs) are prepared by the Legislative Finance Committee (LFC) for standing finance
committees of the NM Legislature. The LFC does not assume responsibility for the accuracy of these reports
if they are used for other purposes.
Current FIRs (in HTML & Adobe PDF formats) are a vailable on the NM Legislative Website (legis.state.nm.us).
Adobe PDF versions include all attachments, whereas HTML versions may not. Previously issued FIRs and
attachments may be obtained from the LFC in Suite 101 of the State Capitol Building North.
F I S C A L I M P A C T R E P O R T
SPONSOR Carraro
ORIGINAL DATE
LAST UPDATED
01/29/08
HB
SHORT TITLE Reform U.S. Tax Code
SM 8
ANALYST Escudero
APPROPRIATION (dollars in thousands)
Appropriation
Recurring
or Non-Rec
Fund
Affected
FY08
FY09
NFI
(Parenthesis ( ) Indicate Expenditure Decreases)
Duplicates HM 33
SOURCES OF INFORMATION
LFC Files
SUMMARY
Synopsis of Bill
Senate Memorial 8 is requesting that The New Mexico Congressional Delegation work to reform
the United States Tax Code.
The United States tax code has become increasingly complex and burdensome for
American families and businesses.
Congress has enacted fifteen thousand changes to the tax code since 1986, with each
change resulting in more complexity and burdensome requirements on American
taxpayers.
Increased complexity and lack of transparency create substantial uncertainty for
taxpayers in figuring out their tax bills each year.
The tax base has become increasingly diluted as tax deductions for particular economic
activities receive special preferences.
American families and businesses spend more than three and one-half billion hours filling
out their tax forms, costing one hundred fifty billion dollars ($150,000,000,000), just to
ensure that their taxes are paid correctly.
High marginal tax rates on income and investment penalize work, savings and
investment; and
Multiple layers of double taxation on savings and investment coupled with increasing
compliance costs are reducing economic growth, job creation and household savings; and
pg_0002
Senate Memorial 8 – Page
2
Tax law changes have not kept pace with a growing and dynamic international economy,
thus leaving American workers and businesses at a significant competitive disadvantage
with foreign competitors.
For America to continue to be a leader in the global economy, congress needs to enact tax
reform that greatly reduces compliance costs, eliminates double taxation of savings and
investment and taxes income one time at one rate;
Now, Therefore, Be It Resolved By The Senate Of The State Of New Mexico that the
members of the New Mexico congressional delegation be requested to support tax reform
that moves to a system that greatly reduces compliance costs, eliminates double taxation
of savings and investment and taxes income one time at one rate; and
Be It Further Resolved, that copies of this memorial be transmitted to each member of the
New Mexico congressional delegation.
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS
There are no appropriations attached to this legislation.
SIGNIFICANT ISSUES
Multiple layers of double taxation on savings and investment coupled with increasing
compliance costs are reducing economic growth, job creation and household savings; and
Tax law changes have not kept pace with a growing and dynamic international economy,
thus leaving American workers and businesses at a significant competitive disadvantage
with foreign competitors.
For America to continue to be a leader in the global economy, congress needs to enact tax
reform that greatly reduces compliance costs, eliminates double taxation of savings and
investment and taxes income one time at one rate;
PME/bb