Bill upholds tax levy on national labs
BY KATY BARNITZ / JOURNAL STAFF WRITER
Monday, February 25th, 2019 at 12:05am
Legislation that would allow New Mexico to continue taxing national laboratory operators even when they have nonprofit status quickly made its way through the House on Sunday.
A fiscal analysis of the bill found that if the prime contractor of Los Alamos National Laboratory had tax-exempt status, the state could lose $25 million to $30 million in gross receipts tax revenue.
Rep. Christine Chandler, D-Los Alamos, said Senate Bill 11 ensures revenue stability for local governments, too.
The bill seeks to amend the section of state statute that exempts nonprofit organizations from paying GRT. It would create an exception permitting the state to tax nonprofits that have been contracted to operate a national laboratory.
Gov. Susana Martinez vetoed similar legislation last year.
The House passed the bill with a minor amendment that broadened the exception to include contractors running state-owned research facilities as well, though that does not currently exist in New Mexico.
Rep. Jason Harper, R-Rio Rancho, said the change would not “capture anyone” but it would also stop the bill from singling out federal facilities. The bill now returns to the Senate for consideration.
Triad National Security LLC, which the analysis said is organized as a non-profit and could seek to become tax exempt, ultimately took over management of LANL. Triad is made up of the University of California, Texas A&M University and the scientific non-profit Battelle Memorial Institute and is a non-profit itself.
https://www.abqjournal.com/1284907/bill-upholds-tax-levy-on-national-labs.html
BY KATY BARNITZ / JOURNAL STAFF WRITER
Monday, February 25th, 2019 at 12:05am
Legislation that would allow New Mexico to continue taxing national laboratory operators even when they have nonprofit status quickly made its way through the House on Sunday.
A fiscal analysis of the bill found that if the prime contractor of Los Alamos National Laboratory had tax-exempt status, the state could lose $25 million to $30 million in gross receipts tax revenue.
Rep. Christine Chandler, D-Los Alamos, said Senate Bill 11 ensures revenue stability for local governments, too.
The bill seeks to amend the section of state statute that exempts nonprofit organizations from paying GRT. It would create an exception permitting the state to tax nonprofits that have been contracted to operate a national laboratory.
Gov. Susana Martinez vetoed similar legislation last year.
The House passed the bill with a minor amendment that broadened the exception to include contractors running state-owned research facilities as well, though that does not currently exist in New Mexico.
Rep. Jason Harper, R-Rio Rancho, said the change would not “capture anyone” but it would also stop the bill from singling out federal facilities. The bill now returns to the Senate for consideration.
Triad National Security LLC, which the analysis said is organized as a non-profit and could seek to become tax exempt, ultimately took over management of LANL. Triad is made up of the University of California, Texas A&M University and the scientific non-profit Battelle Memorial Institute and is a non-profit itself.
https://www.abqjournal.com/1284907/bill-upholds-tax-levy-on-national-labs.html
14 comments:
A state law that applies to one and only one entity in the state. This is clearly unconstitutional. This is a "bill of attainder," unconstitutional under federal law and state law by Article I, Sections 9 and 10 of the US Constitution. New Mexico, of course is not really one of the United States.
Anything for free money. Sometimes I feel ashamed to say I come from New Mexico.
Greed at its finest. Enjoy your new welcome to Los Alamos sign and your sheriff.
Los Alamos County went on an insane spending spree with GRT revenues over the past decade. If they were to lose its cash cow, who would pay for the its bloated government, multi-million dollar buildings, and a $8M expanded kiddie pool?
Chris Chandler will ensure all progressive goals are met at taxpayer expense. Not to worry.
Chris Chandler you just lost my vote.
Ironic that a former LANL attorney, now Los Alamos representative, is the force behind this bill. Didn't you elect her Los Alamos?
Not the same since she married George.
The NM law will be overturned as unconstitutional (federally) as soon as it is challenged.
Go to the county building. You will find that there are about 3 people for every job. It is still hard to get things done as everyone goes home at 3:00. People are obviously looking for something to do most of the day and I have observed them talking about fishing for hours. Still the roads are a mess and were obviously in need of repair this summer. That wasn't done so now it is an obstacle course but I guess that was by design so they could say how very much they needed the money. The county staff run the county for the benefit of the staff and they need MONEY!
Left Los Alamos a year ago for good. Except for a few missed friends, no regrets. What a little parochial "tempest in a tea pot." If you leave Los Alamos, especially if you leave NM, you will find that no one in the rest of he country 1) knows where NM is, 2) cares where NM is, 3) has ever heard of Los Alamos, and 4) cares about Los Alamos.
The self-satisfied, self-importance of Los Alamos, especially among its precious elected representatives, is really amusing, now that I've satisfied my desire (in the words of the Beach Boys) "I can't wait to get back to the states..." I understand why I just had to "get off the hill" a couple of times a week at the end. It was just too stultifying an atmosphere. Now someone wants to immortalize the Black Hole "so no one forgets." Sheesh. Better to forget Ed Grothus permanently.
Rome. Decadence. Sad because many of the people aren’t well represented by this.
More like a company town in coal mining West VA.
With lots of Federal money to play with and no accountability.
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