Tags
- adult literacy
- animal cruelty
- animal traps
- attorney general
- behavioral health
- cattle
- Chama River
- corporate tax
- coyote shooting
- dams
- economic development
- education
- education funding
- elections
- genetically modified food labeling
- hunting
- Jimmy Santiago Baca
- jobs
- leghold traps
- literacy
- literacy volunteers
- managed care
- marijuana tax
- mountain lions
- New Mexico
- New Mexico Court of Appeals
- New Mexico Game Commission
- oil and gas
- phone company
- Public Reguation Commission
- reading
- regulation
- return to work
- Rio Grande
- road funding
- road maintenance
- states
- summer school
- Taos
- tax policy
- undocumented worker
- utlities
- water
- workers' compensation court
- workers compensation
-
Recent Articles
Author Archives: merilee
Combining subjects in one bill is bad lawmaking
I checked my New Mexico constitution the other day, and the provision is right there where I left it: Article IV, Section 16, “Subject of bill in title; appropriation bills.” “The subject of every bill shall be clearly expressed in … Continue reading
Finally, the behavioral health audit
The now-infamous 2013 audit of 15 nonprofit New Mexico behavioral health providers has finally been released to the public by our new Attorney General, Hector Balderas. You remember: that’s the audit that led the Human Services Department to accuse all … Continue reading
On the teen abortion issue, take a different perspective
Parental notification on abortion, an issue I hoped had been put to rest years ago, is back with New Mexico, thanks to House Bill 391, sponsored by Rep. Alonzo Baldonado (R-Valencia). The bill requires that if a minor is seeking … Continue reading
Posted in Articles
Leave a comment
Tourist’s guide to the Roundhouse
The state Capitol is once again filled to the brim with legislators, lobbyists, state agency executives, legislative staff members, and thousands of assorted visitors. If you’ve never been there, it’s worth a trip, to see your representative democracy in action. … Continue reading
Posted in Articles
Leave a comment
Free markets are not so free
As the Legislature debates the two related issues of right to work and minimum wage, we’re probably going to hear about theories like free markets and free choice. So let’s get real. Some things are still traded in completely free … Continue reading
Posted in Articles
Leave a comment
New Mexico needs happy teachers
I keep talking with public school teachers who are miserable. They’re all looking at their bank accounts trying to figure out when they can retire. The purpose of the school system is to educate students, not to make its employees … Continue reading
Posted in Articles
Leave a comment
Election analysis from our local pollster
Did Susana Martinez’ campaign strategists influence the selection of Martinez’ opponent? Did the Martinez machine want Gary King to be the Democratic nominee for governor? Brian Sanderoff thinks so. That was one of several points Sanderoff made in a recent … Continue reading
Posted in Articles
Leave a comment
Teach financial literacy and curb payday lending
A recent article from the Washington Post described Black Friday, and all the news coverage of that shopping extravaganza, as a spectacle of the poor performing for the entertainment of the rest of us. The writer likened Black Friday to … Continue reading
Posted in Articles
Leave a comment
Don’t compromise PERA for police retention
PERA’s fund is doing well. That’s very good news for you if you are one of the thousands of former state or local government employees who rely on PERA (Public Employees Retirement Association) for all or part of your retirement … Continue reading
Posted in Articles
Leave a comment
How to entice business to New Mexico
The best thing we can do for small business, said Steve Maestas, is to increase their revenue. The best way to do that is to attract big businesses – the businesses that bring new dollars into the state’s economy, making … Continue reading
Posted in Articles
Leave a comment