Ethical Guidelines for Evaluating Public Policies and Legislative Proposals
The following guidelines were developed by the Legislative Action Task Force of the New Mexico Conference Of Churches as a means of evaluating public policy in New Mexico. These guidelines function as bridges between the values and aspirations held in common by the member churches of the NMCC and the practical form public policies must take. These guidelines are intended to inform the debate on public policies and are not promoted as rigid standards.
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The State of New Mexico has a responsibility (shared with other social institutions) to foster and promote the optimum quality of life for all persons within its jurisdiction - especially for the vulnerable e.g. children, elderly, handicapped, transients, racial and ethnic minorities.
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The costs of state services should be apportioned equitably among the various revenue sources with taxes that impinge on individuals and companies levied progressively in terms of ability to pay.
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The state has a responsibility to foster and protect the human, civil, and religious rights of all persons within its jurisdiction.
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All legislative proposals should be looked at from the standpoint of their potential impact on the quality and stability of family life.
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Potential beneficiaries of human welfare programs should be participants to the maximum feasible extent in the shaping of such programs.
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The state has a legitimate concern for the health - both physical and mental - of all persons within its jurisdiction; and a responsibility to assure availability of health services to all persons who cannot afford to pay their full cost.
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State programs to deal with human problems should give priority to: a) prevention; b) rehabilitation; c) resolution in family and community contexts in preference to institutionalization.
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In attempting to provide quality education for all persons within its jurisdiction, the state through its public school systems should demand professional competence and faithful performance from all instructional and administrative personnel and should, in return, compensate personnel at rates reflective of their professional status.
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The state should provide to consumers reasonable assurance of product safety, honesty in advertising, reliable contract performance and, in general, protection from any unscrupulous element among producers/vendors.
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The earth and its resources - fertile land, clean air, clean water, and adequate minerals, forests, scenic sites - are a perpetual trust which must be conserved, developed, used and protected in the public interest for this and all future generations.
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Appropriate functions of the state are: a) to foster economic development which provides employment at adequate levels of compensation for all persons who can and should work; and b) to assure (in cooperation with federal programs) an adequate level of income maintenance for all who cannot or should not work.
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The state, in exercising its power to secure tax revenues, is responsible and accountable to ensure that all public monies are used honestly, efficiently and effectively.
