To the Editor of the El Defensor Chieftain :

I am writing to commend Representative Gail Armstrong for her continuing leadership in the effort to repeal the tax on Social Security income.

For the last several years, Representative Armstrong has sponsored legislation to fully repeal this burdensome double tax on seniors. Last year, her efforts paid off when the legislature repealed the tax on Social Security for middle and lower income seniors (the exemption applies to individuals with incomes up to $100,000 and couples with incomes up to $150,000).

This year, Representative Armstrong helped lead a successful effort to amend the legislature’s omnibus tax package to include a provision indexing those exemption levels for inflation so that middle and lower income seniors will continue to be protected from being taxed on their Social Security in the years to come.

Representative Armstrong has also been a champion of reforming New Mexico’s high school graduation requirements to ensure that all students receive financial literacy education. We were glad that the legislature followed her lead and passed a bill that explicitly states that financial literacy must be included in the economics and government course that is required for all New Mexico high school students.

The people of District 49 are fortunate to have Representative Armstrong representing them in the legislature.

Fred Nathan, Jr.

Founder & Executive Director, Think New Mexico

Fred Nathan, Think New Mexico