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Recent Articles
Author Archives: merilee
Rules: the other way to make laws
A few bills in the New Mexico legislature this year deal with state regulations and how they are made. In discussing these bills, I was reminded that most people don’t participate in the rulemaking process, don’t understand how it works … Continue reading
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Ben Alexander and the workers’ compensation reform
Ben Alexander was still going strong the last time I saw him, about 10 years ago, when he sat on a panel for a retrospective on the New Mexico workers’ compensation reform of 1990. He had been an indispensable member … Continue reading
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Contrarian thinking about “legislative reform”
There’s an old saying that no one is safe when the legislature is in session. Most of us wouldn’t argue about whether a lawmaking body is needed; the pace of change in modern society dictates that that laws must be … Continue reading
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Workers’ comp: do you want it or not?
New legal developments related to the workers’ compensation system are affecting two important New Mexico industries – in precisely opposite ways, for precisely opposite reasons. Before this discussion continues, let me jump ahead to a conclusion, lest the reader assume … Continue reading
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Just one more special favor for the spaceport
It’s all go for Spaceport America. According to Christine Armstrong, executive director of the Spaceport Authority, five hundred people are already signed up to fly into space with Virgin Galactic, at a ticket price of $200,000 apiece. A grand visitor … Continue reading
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About lieutenant governors
Governor Susana Martinez is fond of crossing into El Paso frequently for a few hours to visit family, and this has brought some public attention to the “traveling Governor” provision of New Mexico’s state constitution. A sentence in Article 5, … Continue reading
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Work comp statistics show mostly bad news
For New Mexico small businesses with the highest cost premiums in the workers’ compensation system, a glimmer of good news: you might see a premium decrease next year. This is according to statistics presented last week by NCCI, the National … Continue reading
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Insurance for people you shouldn’t have to insure
The things that drive small businesses crazy don’t only come from government. This story involves the confusing interplay of insurance, regulation, and lawsuits. A friend who runs a small business called me to ask about this: her business uses the … Continue reading
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Flat taxes and bond issues
Senator Pete Domenici was speaking to a group of journalists. He was talking about simplifying the federal tax code by getting rid of special categories and deductions. It was about 1993. During the question period, a young man stood up … Continue reading
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Steve Jobs and the free market
The death of Apple cofounder Steve Jobs, who was well and justly eulogized in the national media, offers perspective on the meaning of the free market. Jobs became an icon of the free market by creating products that people bought … Continue reading
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