Category Archives: Articles

Do you really want to cut the safety inspectors?

Posted on June 7, 2013 by merilee

The explosion of the fertilizer plant in the small town of West, Texas, a few weeks ago, killed dozens of people, injured many more, and blew the walls off numbers of buildings. Has that affected your thinking about how to … Continue reading →

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Can New Mexico create a politically independent agency?

Posted on June 7, 2013 by merilee

An important piece of your life is about to be determined by a brand new state committee that has received very little attention so far. The Insurance Nominating Committee was created by legislation to appoint the Superintendent of Insurance, who … Continue reading →

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Fracking and the eternal dilemma: economy vs. environment

Posted on May 7, 2013 by merilee

There’s so much competition among U.S. energy-producing industries, the speaker says, that the natural gas industry is trying to kill the coal industry. The speaker is Myron Ebell, Director of the Center of Energy and Environment at the Competitive Enterprise … Continue reading →

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Another small business saga: mandatory posters

Posted on April 21, 2013 by merilee

The following is a real message (slightly edited, name changed) that I sent to a friend who owns an insurance agency. Dear Marge, As you know, I’m something of a workers’ compensation expert.  In my years at the Workers’ Compensation … Continue reading →

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The grocery store

Posted on April 5, 2013 by merilee

Years ago, a small family-owned grocery store at the north end of Taos was known for having the best meat in town.  The meat was always laid out on fresh butcher paper in immaculately clean glass-fronted display cases.   It was … Continue reading →

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Organic food grows in New Mexico

Posted on March 12, 2013 by merilee

There’s good news and bad news about the future of edible food in the world, and, specifically, in New Mexico. One item of bad news is that the New Mexico Senate rejected the bill to require labeling of genetically modified … Continue reading →

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Gun violence and social responsibility

Posted on February 24, 2013 by merilee

Nobody’s going to take your guns away. Realistically, that’s impossible. Government’s not trying to, and nobody in a responsible position is saying it should. There are too many guns and – face facts – too many places to hide them. … Continue reading →

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A healthy approach to economic development

Posted on February 17, 2013 by merilee

Are you really ticked off at the dismal condition of New Mexico’s economy? Are you sick of hearing about our lousy tax laws, our unwelcoming business climate and our unprepared work force? Have you lost patience with the reports about … Continue reading →

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Who will regulate health insurance?

Posted on February 17, 2013 by merilee

The future of health care – or at least how we pay for it – is confusing, to say the least.  One question is what happens to New Mexico state authority under the Obamacare law. New Mexico contains quite a … Continue reading →

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Who benefits from utility regulation?

Posted on January 16, 2013 by merilee

A new technical whizbang called E-911 was being introduced by the phone company.  It was baloney, the senator told me.  E-911 was going to be a new way for emergency responders to know exactly where a phone call was coming … Continue reading →

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