NMPolitics.net (https://nmpolitics.net/index/category/commentary/page/88/)
In the coming special session, the governor can continue to build a wedge issue for the next election, or she can exhibit a willingness to compromise on the issue of drivers’ licenses and place responsibility on legislators from both parties to respond in kind. Continue Reading
The usual choice presented for reforming education – money or management and technology – is a choice between irrelevancies or worse. A discussion of educational reform must start and stay with a definition of education. Continue Reading
I face health challenges including cancer, which my government does not admit causing. I am a New Mexico downwinder. We are the children of the surprise nuclear attack upon New Mexico by our government. Continue Reading
When I was one of the last people my best childhood friend told he was gay, I thought about all the times I’d said something or someone was gay (or more offensive versions of the word). I was heartbroken that I’d been a stumbling block during his journey toward being the man he wanted to be. I wanted to have been better than that. Continue Reading
Healthy forest management has been prevented by a barrage of environmental lawsuits that advocate reckless policies and hamstring responsible and effective use of taxpayer dollars. Continue Reading
While great evil exists both outside and inside our nation, it is much like every other year. There have been and will always be great danger. It does not look worse today than it did at other times in our country’s history. Continue Reading
Secretary of State Dianna Duran and Republicans have trotted out GOP Executive Director Bryan Watkins as the most recent talking head to champion their effort to sell New Mexicans the bill of goods that our state is being overrun with systematic voter fraud. Continue Reading
In the last week, Democratic U.S. Senate hopeful Hector Balderas has established himself as a serious candidate, but Martin Heinrich is formidable and remains the favorite to win the primary race – at least for now. Continue Reading
Unless voters have real, actual options to consider in an election, public officials become less accountable and our democracy is greatly weakened. For that reason, voters of all political stripes and across all parties should come together and demand that gerrymandering stop. Continue Reading
One of the governor’s recent vetoes puts the interests of the tobacco industry ahead of the health of New Mexico citizens. It also enables a continuation of unequal treatment for cigarette makers who did not join an agreement with the state, putting at risk tens of millions of dollars in state money. Continue Reading
Nelson Hultberg suggests we introduce a new third party based on at least two pillars of reform: Honest money and the equal-rate income tax. While he wants to call it the Conservative American Party, I’m leery of such a label. I think we can all agree that we are fed up with both parties and would like our elected officials to be more prudent with our tax appropriations. Continue Reading
This July 4th, we must think past fireworks and a day off with hot dogs and beer. We must consider what our founders would think of this unsustainable perversion of debt. Continue Reading
The people of Bernalillo County deserve open, transparent and ethical government. Valid ethics complaints need to be heard in public, not dismissed in secret. Continue Reading
I would place any wager that Governor Rick Perry is about to do what former President George W. Bush did in 1999. And that would be announcing his bid for president. Continue Reading
While the U.S. economy continues to suffer, manufacturing in this country is no more “dead” than the rest of the economy, regardless of what Stephan Helgesen wrote in recent columns. Continue Reading