Planning a more diversified economy
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If we are to get out of this hole and stay out of it, we need to view this as an opportunity to look at diversifying our economy and reforming our tax system. Continue Reading
Governor OKs upgrades to state’s campaign finance reporting system
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Gov. Susana Martinez signed a bill on Monday that aims to make it easier for New Mexicans to track money flowing through the state’s political system. Continue Reading
NM gets REAL ID extension after driver’s license compromise
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New Mexico driver’s licenses will once again get people onto military bases and into other federal facilities. Continue Reading
Ethics, campaign-reform wins in legislative session weren’t enough
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New Mexicans have had enough and they were looking to the Legislature to ensure transparency and accountability in government. Unfortunately, that didn’t happen in 2016. Continue Reading
The magic wand of work
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Who will ride out the hard times the best? Those who can hunker down working at any job and being satisfied with making money rather than having it given to them. Continue Reading
The charade is over; it’s time to create an ethics commission
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Some members of the Senate Rules Committee want to make it look like they’re trying to create an ethics commission while they actually stand in its way. Continue Reading
Ethics commission’s death reveals why many people have given up
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COMMENTARY: “Secrecy does breed suspicion,” and the deeply corrupt system that exists in our state is one of the reasons why my people — no, scratch that — why a lot of people choose to opt-out of participating in civic life. Continue Reading
Budget woes show NM needs to cure dependence on oil and federal dollars
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There are serious challenges to diversifying New Mexico’s economy: the bulky and complicated structure of the gross receipts tax laws, schools, public infrastructure and the workforce among them. Continue Reading
Some compromises, but session also marked by splits on crime, economy
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New Mexico lawmakers ended their 30-day session Thursday with high-profile compromises to boast about but still clashing over priorities in a state with a declining population and the nation’s highest unemployment rate. Continue Reading
Bill to expand use of Narcan to fight overdoses goes to governor
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A change in state law that would allow better distribution for an overdose reversal drug known as Narcan passed the Legislature late Wednesday night. Continue Reading
Democrat blasts House GOP for stalling school funding measure
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A leading state Senate Democrat is blasting Republican leaders in the Legislature for leaving a bill hanging that could have increased funding for the state’s K-12 public schools by about $100 million a year. Continue Reading
Legislature passes bill to regulate ride-hailing services
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Lyft, a ride-booking company and competitor of Uber, could return to New Mexico if a bill that passed the Legislature during its last hours Thursday morning becomes law, says a sponsor of the measure. Continue Reading
Senate Democrats worked to do what’s best for the people
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Senate Democrats worked – frequently in a bipartisan way – to do what is best for the people while being fiscally responsible with the taxpayers’ dollars. Continue Reading
Relatively productive, cooperative session comes to an end
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For a 30-day session — one during which shifting economic forecasts necessitated a rewrite of the fiscal year 2017 budget — the session of the New Mexico Legislature that ended Thursday was arguably productive. From driver’s licenses to the state’s finances, Democrats and Republicans worked together to find compromise. Continue Reading
Many House crime bills languishing in Senate committees
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Many Democrats have said tough-on-crime bills sought by Republican Gov. Susana Martinez are politically motivated and meant to distract voters from New Mexico’s economic woes, as all 112 seats in the Legislature are up for re-election this year. Continue Reading