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Santa Fe New Mexican: Here’s What Rate Caps Really Do To Consumers

Originally published at Santa Fe New Mexican on June 11, 2022. Earlier this year, as New Mexico debated legislation limiting to 36 percent the annual percentage rate for consumer loans in the state, the primary witness testified in support of the bill before the Consumer and Public Affairs Committee. Claims were made that do not hold […]

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With Biden Absent, Some Southwest States Combat Inflation

Erin Norman, senior messaging strategist at State Policy Network, recently published critical commentary of President Joe Biden’s inflation-fighting plan. Introduced last week, Biden highlights his plan in the Wall Street Journal. Composed of over 1,100 words, he spent one third of the article telling Americans how good things are right now. But the public begs […]

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Did School Closures Impact Education In New Mexico?

New Mexico suffered from some of the most draconian pandemic-related school closures in the country: how did this impact educational outcomes? On Tuesday, Esteban Candelaria, a staff writer with the Albuquerque Journal, reported on delays in academic assessment reporting from the New Mexico Public Education Department (NMPED). While data from SAT testing will be made […]

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Post-Pandemic, Utah’s Unemployment Rate Recovery Tops The Charts

According to WalletHub’s latest report, post-pandemic, Utah’s unemployment rate has recovered more than any other state in the nation. Source: WalletHub In order to identify the states whose unemployment rates are bouncing back most, personal finance website WalletHub compared the 50 states and the District of Columbia based on six key metrics that compare unemployment […]

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PNM Requests Proposals, Acknowledges the Energy Crisis

The Energy Transition Act is shaping up to create the worst energy crisis the southwest has ever seen. On May 17, the Southwest Public Policy Institute (SPPI) released data on a comprehensive energy survey. With over 3,000 respondents, New Mexicans clearly prioritized affordable and reliable energy with 7 out of 10 preferring either affordability or […]

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Latest Unemployment Rates of the American Southwest

The latest unemployment figures have been released by the United States Bureau of Labor Statistics. In April 2022, New Mexico tops the list as the state with the worst unemployment rate in the country at 5.3%. Utah was among the best at 1.9%, with only Nebraska reporting a lower unemployment rate. State Labor force Unemployed […]

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Budget and Spending Conservatism Domestic Policy Economy Government Regulation Government Spending Infrastructure & Technology New Mexico Political Thought Poverty and Inequality Progressivism Public Opinion Technology Top Issues Transportation

The Federalist: Sir Richard Branson Should Pay His Own Way Into Space

Why are New Mexico’s politicians lining the pockets of these already wealthy and successful entrepreneurs through taxpayer-funded, industry-specific subsidies?