Lower Costs, Higher Pay: Deb Haaland Releases Affordability Agenda
ALBUQUERQUE, NM – Today, Deb Haaland, who is running to be the next governor of New Mexico, shared her full affordability agenda. Haaland’s plan lowers everyday costs for families, increases pay for workers, and makes bold investments in New Mexicans ready to build businesses, creates good-paying jobs, and expands the industries that power our state’s future.
“Donald Trump is making us poorer and I am going to fight back to get more money in New Mexicans pockets,” said Haaland. “New Mexicans aren’t afraid of hard work, they’re just tired of working hard and then getting stuck. I know what it’s like to not be able to make ends meet – New Mexicans deserve to have stability and know that they can pay for their groceries and pay their rent. Lowering costs is my number one priority.”
Pulling from Haaland’s experience running her own salsa company, Haaland announced bold initiatives at a shared kitchen that helps businesses get off the ground with fewer start-up costs. Haaland’s policy plan was written in collaboration with families, workers, experts in housing, energy, and tech, small business owners, lawmakers, and unions. It addresses cutting costs in areas that New Mexicans have seen skyrocket in recent years, while also doubling down on investments in growing industries such as renewable energy, aerospace, film, tech and outdoor recreation.
At the press conference, staunch advocate for affordable housing and addressing homelessness, Representative Christina Parajon endorsed Haaland’s affordability agenda stating, “Right now, rent is too high and home prices are out of reach. I’m proud to stand with Deb Haaland as she puts forward a bold plan that builds more housing, holds corporate landlords accountable, and protects New Mexicans in manufactured home communities.”
Megan Green, the President of the Communications Workers Union Local 7076, which voted to endorse Haaland for governor, thanked Haaland for her commitment to give New Mexicans a raise and support workers saying, “Deb Haaland has consistently stood with strong unions and working families — fighting for good-paying union jobs, pushing for investments that create union jobs with real benefits, and ensuring workers have a real seat at the table. Deb’s affordability plan will work to build a state government that provides sustainable employment so that we can better serve the people of New Mexico.”
Haaland’s affordability agenda includes bold solutions that:
- Raise the minimum wage to a living wage.
- Increase the Child Tax Credit and expand the Working Families Tax Credit.
- Ban rent fixing to protect renters from corporate landlords setting rent prices artificially high through AI algorithms.
- Reduce grocery costs by supporting local grocers and growers and by waiving permitting fees for grocers in food deserts.
- Launch an affordability navigator so New Mexicans understand what programs they have access to.
- Lower housing prices by cutting the red tape, reducing the cost to build housing, and requiring shorter timelines for approval of housing projects.
- Lower utility costs by making New Mexico the energy capital of the country by doubling down on renewable energy.
- Invest in New Mexican people and businesses by launching an Office of Small Business, outlawing predatory lending, modernizing our film industry, securing farmers’ right to repair, bringing stability to the cannabis industry, growing outdoor recreation, and turning New Mexico’s world-class research into world-class jobs.
- Protect New Mexico workers by fighting wage theft, building our workforce including bringing trades to middle and high school, and building state projects with New Mexico labor.
Haaland’s Affordability Agenda demonstrates her broad experience as a working mom who lived paycheck to paycheck, a Congresswoman who held Trump accountable and a cabinet secretary who invested billions of dollars to secure good-paying jobs in Mexico. Haaland’s Affordability Agenda has broad support from New Mexico leaders, local business owners, and families.
“Deb Haaland’s affordability plan will help us lower costs and create jobs—capitalizing on the tremendous progress we have made in the legislature to make life more affordable for our families. Working together, we can build a brighter future for all New Mexicans, while setting our economy up for long-term growth and success.” Chair of the House Appropriations Committee Nathan Small.
“Deb Haaland understands firsthand the challenges that small business owners face. Her affordability agenda puts New Mexicans first, makes it easier to do business by cutting red tape and empowering entrepreneurs – opening a permanent Office of Small Business and expanding access to the resources they need to get their businesses off the ground,” Louis Pacheco, a small business owner from Mora County.
“The City of Albuquerque has made important steps to provide access to affordable, healthy food. Deb Haaland’s affordability plan builds on this work to reduce grocery costs by supporting local businesses and growers. I am eager to work alongside her to provide more options for our neighbors.” Albuquerque City Councilor Nichole Rogers.