Archive for the ‘Uncategorized’ Category
Who is taking corporate money?: the futile effort to get money out of politics
The “Occupy” movement is now promoting a pledge to get corporate money out of politics. Of course, what they fail to realize is that money (like life) will always find a way into politics because governments have the power to create or destroy businesses with the stroke of a pen. But that’s a different story.
What [...]
In: Uncategorized
New article: Rhode Island shows the way on pension reforms
I recently penned an article for several papers around the state, including the Las Cruces Sun-News, explaining some of the issues surrounding government employee pensions and why New Mexico policymakers should embrace the bi-partisan (or even Democrat-driven) pension reforms enacted in Rhode Island.
I was especially pleased to see that Senate Finance Committee Chair John Arthur [...]
Discussing the 2012 legislative session/State of the S
I recently appeared on KSVP radio in Southeast New Mexico to discuss the important issues being discussed during the legislative session and Gov. Martinez’s State of the State address. Go to this link and click the first podcast.
In: Uncategorized
Education tax credits LTE
I attempted to lend some sanity to the Alibi’s letters section. In the process, I tried to encourage Sen. Jerry Ortiz y Pino to look on the bright side when it comes to education reform (see my tax credits posting).
In: Uncategorized
The Rail Runner’s “Hand Grenades”
As Rob Nikolewski over at Capitol Report points out in a story, the Rail Runner is going to suck up ever larger quantities of taxpayer cash in the years ahead, including two $235 million balloon payments which come due in a bit more than a decade.
We’ve previously outlined the myriad reasons to cut our [...]
Check out these upcoming TV appearances!
Paul Gessing, president of the Rio Grande Foundation, will be discussing the legislative session and what can be done right now to help turn both New Mexico’s economy and its education system around. The following show which lasts 30 minutes and airs on KCHF, a Christian station based in Santa Fe, channel 11, will air [...]
In: Uncategorized
Support education tax credits this session!
The number one legislative priority of the Rio Grande Foundation this session is to get education tax credits for school choice. A letter on this has been posted below. Liberal Sen. Jerry Ortiz y Pino has sponsored one of the bills. Feel free to use parts of this letter to contact your own legislators.
January [...]
Thanks (again) to Mayor Berry for opposing convention center
There is an excellent, short article here from the Manhattan Institute’s City Journal. It explains that, despite an economic downturn that has significantly harmed the convention center business — on top of a longer-term, more gradual decline in the business — cities nationwide continue to build new convention centers.
Rather than embarking on this misguided and [...]
“Occupy” gone wild in Santa Fe
I was up in Santa Fe much of the day for the first day of the legislative session. And, while the Speaker’s cancer announcement was a bombshell, I was intrigued by the shenanigans of the so-called “Occupy” movement. At the start of Gov. Martinez’s “State of the State” address, they caused a disruption and yelled, [...]
Environmentalists refuse to acknowledge reality
Recently, Public Service Company of New Mexico filed an application to charge higher electricity rates to its customers in order to recoup money spent on so-called “renewable” energy projects.
Not surprisingly, the very same environmental groups who convinced policymakers to impose the “Renewable Portfolio Standard” have challenged the rate increase on the grounds that the [...]
In: Uncategorized
