Roman Catholic church backs soda tax in New Mexico

SANTA FE, N.M. (AP) — The Roman Catholic Church is endorsing a proposed tax on sugar-sweetened beverages in New Mexico's state capital city. The Archdiocese of Santa Fe threw its support Wednesday behind a soda tax of 2 cents per fluid ounce that would go toward expanding prekindergarten programs. Santa Fe voters will decide on the local tax May 2. In a news release the archdiocese says municipal governments are being left with little choice other than to fund their own early childhood education programs because of a lack of state funding. Santa Fe Archbishop John Wester previously criticized state lawmakers this year for not approving a proposed constitutional amendment to fund early childhood education with money from a state sovereign wealth fund.