Dems’ 2025 legislative preview: Alcohol tax hike, woke policies, CYFD neglect

As New Mexico’s legislative session nears, Democrat lawmakers are championing a slate of policies under the guise of public safety and behavioral health. However, these proposals threaten to harm the very communities they claim to help, deepen government dependency, and distract from pressing issues like the long-standing crisis within the Children, Youth, and Families Department (CYFD).

Alcohol Tax Hikes: A Step Toward Modern-Day Prohibition

Democratic lawmakers are once again pushing for higher taxes on alcohol despite evidence that such policies disproportionately harm the state’s poorest residents. The latest “hybrid” proposal seeks to combine increased wholesale taxes with a new 12% retail tax, which would drive up prices across the board, particularly for consumers in low-income brackets. Proponents, such as House Speaker Javier Martínez, D-Albuquerque, argue the move will reduce alcohol-related deaths, yet similar measures have historically failed to achieve meaningful results.

Raising alcohol prices effectively punishes responsible consumers and mirrors the prohibition-era mindset of legislating personal behavior. Instead of addressing root causes like addiction treatment and education, Democrats are targeting taxpayers to fund their schemes, diverting attention from solutions that could empower individuals rather than penalize them. This approach not only burdens working families but also risks fueling an underground market for alcohol, exacerbating the very public health crises lawmakers claim to solve.

Woke Behavioral Health Plans Masquerading as Public Safety

House Democrats have also unveiled plans to pour hundreds of millions of dollars into so-called behavioral health initiatives, framing them as public safety measures. These initiatives include providing state-funded housing, food, and other unmentionables for individuals battling addiction under the guise of “managed alcohol programs.” Such policies, popularized in Canada, enable addiction rather than confront it, creating a cycle of dependency where the government perpetuates, rather than alleviates, suffering.

Instead of enforcing accountability and implementing meaningful reforms to tackle crime and addiction, Democrats seem intent on expanding the welfare state. Public safety measures should focus on holding offenders accountable, protecting communities, and addressing the root causes of crime—not subsidizing destructive behaviors at taxpayers’ expense.

Democrat Inaction on CYFD: A History of Stalled Reform

While pushing these controversial policies, Democrats have failed year after year to address the critical failings of CYFD. This embattled department, responsible for safeguarding New Mexico’s most vulnerable children, has been plagued by allegations of mismanagement and systemic dysfunction. Efforts to establish an independent Office of the Child Advocate to oversee CYFD have repeatedly been blocked by Democratic lawmakers, who appear more concerned with protecting the status quo than ensuring transparency and accountability.

House Speaker Javier Martínez’s admission that CYFD is “broken” rings hollow when Democrats continue to stymie reform efforts. Their opposition to creating an independent ombudsman’s office, which would provide critical oversight, underscores a lack of political will to prioritize children’s safety. Instead of fixing CYFD, lawmakers are content to throw more money at the department without addressing its structural issues.

Misplaced Priorities and Empty Promises

Democratic lawmakers tout their agenda as a path to progress, but their policies reveal a disconnect from the real needs of New Mexicans. From punitive alcohol taxes to misguided behavioral health programs and a glaring failure to address CYFD, Democrats are doubling down on big-government solutions that hurt the most vulnerable and leave systemic problems unaddressed. It’s time for leadership that prioritizes practical, effective solutions over ideological posturing and political expediency.