Progressives will not cut and run — struggle not only about economics

One consequence of Donald Trump’s victory could be the end of the age of federal government and the beginning of the preeminence of states’ rights and state rule. And, inevitably, of state budgets.

Rural Western states could soon be on their own, fiscally, and paying a hefty price for Hillary Clinton’s disastrous loss. Ironically, many red states will now be losing the federal money that has always kept them in the black.

Colorado and New Mexico, with newly-elected Democratic legislatures, are in a better position than most to enact new progressive measures to counter the looming Republican cutbacks. For example, New Mexico legislators could pass a bill to make sure that companies operating here are well-regulated and paying their own way for a change. Right now, international corporations in this state are getting rock-bottom tax and royalty rates for extracting oil, gas and minerals on public lands, often with inadequate environmental oversight.

Under President Trump, the folks at the EPA will be lucky to keep the lights on. And for now, we can forget about the only real answer to climate change, which is a federal and international carbon tax.

On the bright side, forward-looking state and local governments could become the new players in climate change solutions. Local and regional carbon taxes, with generous rebates to the public, could replace the federal dollars which may soon disappear from state treasuries.

State legislation could authorize local government surcharges on sales of natural gas, gasoline and diesel. A carbon tax would be popular in Taos, encouraging energy conservation and clean energy investment. It would also generate much-needed local revenue for education, affordable housing and infrastructure.

Another revenue possibility: property taxes could be made progressive. Taoseños should consider a progressive tax law that would spare homeowners and agriculturalists from increases, while raising the rate for a new top bracket of high-assessment properties like multimillion-dollar estates and five-story hotels.

And don’t space this one out: In a time of budget shortfalls, the tax revenues and corrections-cost savings from legalizing marijuana should not be delayed any longer.

Also, most New Mexicans today strongly support a higher minimum wage. The legislature should put a new, improved minimum wage bill back on Gov. Susana Martinez’s desk and force her hand on the living-wage issue.

The progressive struggle in the wake of the election is not only about economics. There is also the urgent problem of a violent reaction against peaceful dissent and civil rights which is being perpetrated by some individuals and organizations. Disturbingly, these bad actors have often been encouraged in their offenses by Trump.

Yeargin is a social justice Democrat and a resident of Taos County.