Category Archives: Articles

Tax policy change is necessary for jobs

This year’s hot term in economic development jargon is the “single sales factor.” Some of the current buzz in economic development circles is that the single sales factor is the first concern of businesses considering locating in New Mexico. If … Continue reading

Posted in Articles | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment

How much should we pay those security officers?

The Sunday talk shows last week focused on two topics: the fiscal cliff the issues arising from the recent elementary school shootings, including putting security people in the public schools and increasing services for the mentally ill. You’d think the … Continue reading

Posted in Articles, Governance | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

Another look at medical marijuana

Marijuana could be a cure for drug addiction.  That’s right: a cure.  Maybe. This was one fascinating revelation from a recent presentation on the opioid epidemic. In fairness to the speaker, the statement about marijuana was a minor point in … Continue reading

Posted in Articles, Workers' Comp | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

Elections and emergencies

A snowstorm hit northern Rio Arriba County and other northern New Mexico communities on Election Day, 1986, affecting voter turnout. Rio Arriba is a Democratic stronghold. Republican Garrey Carruthers won the governorship, which was expected and probably not changed by … Continue reading

Posted in Articles, Governance | Leave a comment

TV advertising comes to the legislature

The campaign for the New Mexico state legislature reached a point this season I hoped I would never see. Four years ago I saw a billboard on I-25 in Albuquerque, advertising for a candidate for the State Senate. I thought … Continue reading

Posted in Articles | Leave a comment

Your moment in the voting booth with the PRC

New Mexico is trying to fix utility and insurance regulation yet again.  New Mexico’s  Public Regulation  Commission (PRC), created in 1996 to replace the previous, dysfunctional State Corporations Commission and the appointed Public Utilities Commission, has suffered its own dysfunction. … Continue reading

Posted in Articles | Leave a comment

Making open meetings open

Some years ago, I was present at a Legislative Finance Committee meeting in Silver City. Legislative committees hold some meetings each year outside Santa Fe, to help make government more accessible to citizens around the state. Attending the meeting were … Continue reading

Posted in Articles | Leave a comment

The call from the pollster

The phone call is from a pollster – another one. This year I decided that if they sound even halfway legitimate, I’m going to take the time and answer their questions.  I want my opinion to count.   In past years … Continue reading

Posted in Articles | Leave a comment

Janice and Michelle: Competency and communication

Janice Arnold-Jones and Michelle Lujan Grisham, candidates for Congress from New Mexico’s First District, shared a stage recently to debate the issues.  Before taking their places at separate podiums, they hugged each other. Both have a record of working on … Continue reading

Posted in Articles | Leave a comment

Can a candidate get elected and still do the job?

The ad on TV said that Congressman Martin Heinrich doesn’t stay in Washington but comes home to New Mexico  — where his wife and kids continue to live – every weekend.  In Washington, he doesn’t have an apartment.  He sleeps … Continue reading

Posted in Articles | Leave a comment