NMPolitics.net (https://nmpolitics.net/index/author/carter-bundy/page/3/)
Being a legislator in this state, during this crisis, is pretty darn thankless. Be true to yourself and the people who elected you to represent them, and I would respectfully submit that your choices, while still incredibly difficult, will at least be a bit more palatable — to voters and to yourself. Continue Reading
Now that we’re running a major deficit, the millionaire tax breaks and corporate-loophole fiesta has to end. We need some sanity and common sense when it comes to balancing our budget. Here are three common sense ideas — including cuts — to save money and raise revenue without slowing the recovery. Continue Reading
Following two debates with the Cato Institute’s health policy director, I’m still convinced that none of the arguments to let markets alone take care of health will work if your goal is to make sure sick people get health care. Continue Reading
I’m betting history repeats itself and Dems get their act together to pass once-in-a-generation, real, important change. I’ll double down that even tea partiers praise the Dems’ work 50 years from now. Continue Reading
By Carter Bundy The central argument over health care reform is whether free market solutions can solve American health care’s massive access and cost problems. Over the last few columns, I’ve tried to make the case that normal free market principles and assumptions simply don’t work in the field of health care. The first four assumptions that fail are: • Assuming consumers know what products and services they’ll need. • Assuming consumers know anything about the products and services they buy. • Assuming that consumers have a choice. • Assuming that private insurers have a motivation to provide good services. Continue Reading
By Carter Bundy Many Americans, including myself, generally believe that strong, competitive, private free markets are effective creators of wealth. In our national health debate, a central question is whether such markets can also solve our access, cost and (to a lesser degree) quality problems. A key to analyzing whether markets can solve our health issues is to look at whether health systems inherently follow the assumptions necessary for markets to be efficient. Last column I noted that a major assumption about efficient, effective markets is that consumers have perfect information about themselves and their needs. But no matter how much genealogical research you do, you never really know what kind of health care coverage you and your family will need. Assumption No. Continue Reading
By Carter Bundy If America is going to ever improve in the three big areas of health care (access, affordability and quality), we have to have a public insurance option. There are dozens of major reforms that need to be implemented in American health care. Having a public insurance option won’t come close to solving all of our problems. A public insurance option is not sufficient for America to enter the 21st Century of health care, but it is necessary. The problem America is still the wealthiest country in the world. Yet we consistently rank near the bottom of developed nations by almost every measure of health. Continue Reading
By Carter Bundy One of the most common refrains in politics is that each of the major parties should be tolerant of a wide range of views. As a general rule, the party with the biggest tent tends to win elections. And winning elections is the primary purpose of the two major parties. To have a big tent, a party has to accept that not all of its members, and not even all of its leaders, will agree on every issue or every candidate. Democrats have benefited over the last two cycles from a relentless Republican purge of voices who don’t toe the party line. Continue Reading
By Carter Bundy This Memorial Day, we should celebrate more than those who died in defense of our country. We should also focus on protecting the ideals that they died for, including freedoms of thought and speech. Last week I expressed disagreement with the European model of subsidizing and promoting religion. Another more recent European example of government getting involved in core personal beliefs should also be shunned by America. The United Kingdom just banned right-wing psycho Michael Savage from entering the U.K. That suits me politically, but makes me ill as a supporter of free speech. Continue Reading
By Carter Bundy Last week I criticized Hawaii for declaring “Islam Day.” But despite the assault on the wall separating church and state from all directions, the United States is still the world’s leader in the area of free speech, free thought and freedom of religion. We’re not that way by accident. Advocates stand vigilant every day to ensure we remain the freest country in the world. To do that, we can’t pick and choose when to support free speech or separation of church and state. It has to be a consistent, all-the-time watch. Continue Reading
By Carter Bundy The Hawaii Legislature made a mistake this week in proclaiming September 24 “Islam Day,” but not for the reasons bigots would have you believe. I said bigots. Yup. The outcry that we can’t respect a religion because a handful of wackjob extremists is bigotry, pure and simple. We have anywhere from two to seven million American Muslims, depending on whose estimates you believe — somewhere between just over half a percent to just over 2 percent of all Americans. Continue Reading
By Carter Bundy Here’s my standard disclaimer when I generalize about parties: I’m a Democrat, but admire many Republicans. Here in New Mexico, there are plenty of Republicans with whom I work, who I respect, and who I think are talented, concerned public servants. There are certainly some in Washington who fit that profile as well, and for the quiet, dedicated, solutions-oriented Republicans out there, know that this doesn’t apply to you. Unfortunately, those serious policymakers aren’t leading the GOP nationally these days, and aren’t even close to having their voices heard in the public debate. I’m enjoying listening to the Rush, Sean, John Boehner and Michael Steele of 2009. Continue Reading
By Carter Bundy The 2009 Legislature passed, and Governor Richardson signed, several important bills for public employees. In a tough economic year, those non-economic bills meant a lot to public servants. One of the more unusual events of the last few weeks, though, ironically stems from public employees maybe being too appreciated: the veto of the double-dipping reform bill — House Bill 616, sponsored by Rep. Luicano “Lucky” Varela, D-Santa Fe. If you read the governor’s explanation of the veto, there’s little question it was well-intentioned. It’s encouraging that the governor acknowledged that there are problems, is assembling a task force, and is considering putting double-dipping reform on his special session call. Continue Reading
By Carter Bundy New Mexico is in the full throes of recession/depression. While things are worse elsewhere, it’s bad here and not looking good for the next few years. One of the most common phrases heard around the Roundhouse this year is “shared sacrifice.” Problem is, that sharing is limited to working families. Good times, bad times During good times, everyone did well. The wealthiest New Mexicans saw their tax rate nearly cut in half. Continue Reading
By Carter Bundy There are many times when labor and corporations are on the same page. All unions want to see companies prosper. If you’re a private-sector union, more profits mean more ability to offer good wages and benefits. If you’re a public-sector union, more success means more revenue for the state. And presumably companies agree with unions that there should be due process for employees and that abusive managers should be reined in. Continue Reading