NMPolitics.net (https://nmpolitics.net/index/category/guest-columns/page/88/)
We can reasonably conclude that Dec. 25 is a date chosen to celebrate the birth of Jesus for political reasons by the emperor Constantine. Dec. 21, the day we call the solstice, is arguably a more appropriate holy day. Continue Reading
I first met Bruce when he was serving as governor, getting an appointment to speak to him about his support for the Equal Rights Amendment. I was ushered into his office and there he was, bigger than life, pushed back in his gubernatorial chair, cowboy hat pushed to the back on his head, and his well-worn cowboy boots on top of the beautiful marble desk in front of him. Continue Reading
In his opinion piece about mandatory combined reporting (“Corporate tax debate has been misleading,” Nov. 10, 2009) Dick Minzner complains that the public debate on this issue has been misleading. Then he sets out misleading arguments of his own. Continue Reading
Health-care reform, as Congress presents it to us, is incomprehensively complex and non-understandable. If you want to control things, that’s exactly the situation you would want to create. There are hundreds of lobbyists trying mostly to keep things really complicated for us – the folks who will pay for it – so they can keep it their way. Continue Reading
Good things have happened for New Mexico so far in 2009. We should be thankful for the good, and perhaps the bad can be put into proper perspective. Here are a few of those good things in which the Attorney General’s Office was involved. Continue Reading
I have been surprised at the minimal attention given to the recent indictment of the heads of CDR Financial Products — David Rubin, Zevi Wolmark and Evan Zarefsky. Here’s a look at what’s contained in the indictments. Continue Reading
Amid the latest revelations about political cronies taking the taxpayer for a very expensive ride, I want to remind New Mexicans that they really don’t need to settle for an ‘everybody does it’ state, or state of mind. Continue Reading
The characterization of combined reporting being spread by proponents – that it will eliminate a loophole that permits large, multi-state corporations to shift income earned in New Mexico to other, more tax-friendly states — omits the principal features of combined reporting, misstates the tax liability of local companies and exaggerates the likely state revenue impact of combined reporting. Continue Reading
Any efforts to balance the budget by compromising environmental protection will only create long-term problems that are prohibitively expensive, or impossible, to fix. Once an aquifer is contaminated by toxic waste, for example, it can rarely be reclaimed. Continue Reading
The minds behind Republican Richard Berry’s recent win in the Albuquerque mayoral race explain how it happened and what they think it means for the 2010 election. Continue Reading
Some legislators have rightly suggested that budget cuts that will force state police to park their cars and reduce patrols are an unacceptable option under any circumstance, and I wholeheartedly agree. The same standard should be applied to prosecutors as well. Continue Reading
I would suggest that instead of concentrating on cutting salaries, which are critical to bringing and retaining quality educators into the state, we should look at programs and unfunded mandates first. Continue Reading
Having a one-sided conversation about cutting spending but not raising revenue ties the hands of legislators who want to protect their communities from education and Medicaid cuts and future job losses. The governor needs to recognize that his tax policy is a failed policy. Continue Reading
As we head into the special session, projections of our state’s budget shortfall get worse and worse. And the specter of massive cuts — or even a few tax increases — looms larger every day. So here they are, my guidelines for making these hard budget decisions. Continue Reading
New Mexico has a long history of battling corruption dating back to before statehood. It’s time to take the next step by prohibiting contractors, lobbyists and other special interests seeking subsidies or tax breaks from making or bundling political contributions. Continue Reading