Category Archives: Governance

Filet mignon is more expensive than Hamburger Helper. If government imposes a tax based on a measure of dollars, wealthier people pay more. That’s called progressive taxation, and most of us agree it’s the right way to tax. Except when … Continue reading →

During the political season, while you’re listening to what candidates want to tell you, there’s another form of communication that most of us don’t see. It happens every election season. Maybe it should be more public. Organizations of every political … Continue reading →

Last year, the legislature passed a proposed constitutional amendment, changing one word of the state constitution.  Its purpose is to make it easier for voters to vote in local elections and considerably less expensive for local jurisdictions to hold those … Continue reading →

Think New Mexico, the well-known Santa Fe public policy think tank, is tackling the issue of economic development, yet another of New Mexico’s perpetual weak spots.  One recommendation is that the state should develop a single online portal for all … Continue reading →

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 →

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 →

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 →

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 →

In 1992, a little organization sprang up in New Mexico called “Drive the Rascals Out,”  calling on voters to vote all incumbents out of the state legislature.  This organization appeared to have just one member –Marvin something – but it … Continue reading →