Better living through better policy.

Category: Top Issues

SPPI Appoints Tim Eichenberg and Archana Pandey to Board of Directors

Post author By Southwest Public Policy Institute
Post date April 6, 2026
No Comments on SPPI Appoints Tim Eichenberg and Archana Pandey to Board of Directors

Public finance veteran and fintech operations leader join Institute’s leadership team to advance economic opportunity.

Tags Archana Pandey, Bernalillo County Treasurer, Economic Policy Think Tank, financial inclusion, Fintech Leadership, New Mexico Public Policy, Public Finance New Mexico, Southwest Economic Development, Southwest Public Policy Institute, Tim Eichenberg

Conservatism Culture Domestic Policy Economic Opportunity Economy Government Regulation Infrastructure & Technology Legal and Judicial Life Markets and Finance Political Thought Poverty & Welfare Poverty and Inequality Progressivism Public Opinion Top Issues Updates Welfare

The Future of Retirement is Here

Post author By Patrick M. Brenner
Post date March 31, 2026
No Comments on The Future of Retirement is Here

The change could quietly unlock billions in hidden retirement wealth for everyday Americans.

Tags 401(k) Plans, Alternative Investments, Department of Labor (DOL), Employee Retirement Income Security Act (ERISA), Fiduciary Duty Standards, financial inclusion, Investment Diversification, Private Equity Markets, Retirement Policy, Retirement Savings Crisis

Budget and Spending Conservatism Courts Culture Cybersecurity Domestic Policy Economy Government Regulation Government Spending Government Transparency and Accountability Infrastructure & Technology Legal and Judicial Life Markets and Finance New Mexico Political Thought Progressivism Public Opinion Reports Security Technology Top Issues Transparency Updates

Report: Rolling the Dice

Post author By Southwest Public Policy Institute
Post date March 23, 2026
No Comments on Report: Rolling the Dice

Procurement failures and vendor transition risks threaten the New Mexico Lottery.

Tags Bid Scoring Methodology, Central Gaming System, Contract Duration Limits, Contract Extension Risk, Cost Versus Technical Evaluation, Critical Infrastructure Procurement, Emergency Contract Extensions, Evaluation Committee Process, Government Accountability, Government Contracting, Government Efficiency, Government Oversight, Government Procurement, Higher Education Funding, Implementation Risk, Infrastructure Governance, Infrastructure Transition Failures, Internal Audit Review, International Game Technology (IGT), Intralot, Legislative Lottery Scholarship Program, Lottery Gaming Systems, Lottery Infrastructure, Lottery Procurement, Lottery Retailers, Lottery Revenue Risk, Lottery Technology Providers, Lottery Vendor Contracts, New Mexico Lottery Act, New Mexico Lottery Authority (NMLA), New Mexico Procurement Code, NMSA 1978 Section 6-24-9, Operational Continuity, Policy Analysis, Pollard Banknote, Procurement Accountability, Procurement Compliance, Procurement Governance, Procurement Transparency, Public Finance Risk, Public Policy Research, Public Procurement Failures, Public Sector Risk Management, Public-Private Partnerships, Regulatory Compliance, Retail Network Operations, Risk Of Service Disruption, Scholarship Funding Risk, Scientific Games, Sole-Source Contracts, Southwest Public Policy Institute (SPPI), State Lottery Operations, State Revenue Systems, State Statutes Compliance, System Conversion Risk, System Deployment Delays, Technology Procurement Failures, Think Tank Research, Transition Planning, Vendor Transition Risk

Coal, Oil, Natural Gas Conservatism Culture Domestic Policy Economy Energy & Environment Energy Economics Energy, Environment, and Natural Resources Government Regulation Infrastructure & Technology Legal and Judicial Life Markets and Finance Nuclear Energy Political Thought Progressivism Public Opinion Renewable Energy Taxes Top Issues Trade Transparency Updates

The Carbon Standardization Project

Post author By Patrick M. Brenner
Post date March 19, 2026
No Comments on The Carbon Standardization Project

International bureaucracies are undermining America’s energy policies.

Conservatism Culture Domestic Policy Economic Opportunity Economy Government Regulation Housing Markets and Finance Political Thought Poverty & Welfare Poverty and Inequality Progressivism Public Opinion Top Issues Transparency Updates

Washington Post: Mortgage rates just fell below a crucial psychological threshold

Post author By Patrick M. Brenner
Post date March 14, 2026
No Comments on Washington Post: Mortgage rates just fell below a crucial psychological threshold

The difference from a 6 percent rate is tiny, but the appeal to customers is big.

Tags 30-Year Fixed Mortgage, American Housing Market, Annual Percentage Rate, APR, Asset Ownership, Auto Loans, Banking Regulation, Buy Now Pay Later, Charm Pricing, Consumer Credit, Consumer Finance, Consumer Psychology, Cost Of Borrowing, Credit Cards, Credit Markets, Credit Transparency, Debt Culture, Depository Institutions Deregulation And Monetary Control Act, Economic Behavior, Economic Perception, Financial Deregulation, Financial Disclosure, Financial Literacy, Financial Markets, financial regulation, Home Buying, Household Debt, Housing Affordability, Housing Demand, Housing Economics, Housing Finance, Housing Market, Housing Policy, Interest Rate Exportation, Interest Rate Perception, Interest Rate Psychology, Lending Regulation, Lending Standards, Lending Transparency, Loan Pricing, Marquette National Bank v. First Of Omaha Service Corp, Monthly Payments, Mortgage Advertising, Mortgage Economics, Mortgage Industry, Mortgage Interest Rates, Mortgage Marketing, Mortgage Policy, Mortgage Rate Threshold, Mortgage Rates, Mortgage Refinance, Mortgage Sentiment, Patrick M Brenner, Payday Loans, Personal Finance, Psychological Pricing, Real Estate Finance, Southwest Public Policy Institute, Subscription Economy, Total Loan Repayment, Truth In Lending Act, U.S. Household Debt, Washington Post Opinion

Conservatism Courts Culture Domestic Policy Economic Opportunity Economy Government Regulation Legal and Judicial Life Markets and Finance Political Thought Poverty & Welfare Poverty and Inequality Progressivism Public Opinion Top Issues Updates

National Review: Sue-Pervised Retirement

Post author By Patrick M. Brenner
Post date March 1, 2026
No Comments on National Review: Sue-Pervised Retirement

Rampant litigation against 401(k) sponsors is narrowing employees’ investment choices and eroding their retirement wealth.

Tags 401(k) Plans, Alternative Assets, American Retirement Crisis, American Workers Retirement, Capital Formation, Class Action Litigation, Congressional Tort Reform, Defined Benefit Pension Decline, Defined Contribution Plans, Democratizing Investment Access, Department Of Labor Regulation, Employee Retirement Income Security Act, Employer Sponsored Retirement Plans, ERISA Fiduciary Duty, ERISA Litigation, Excessive Fee Lawsuits, Fiduciary Liability, Financial Inclusivity, Financial Independence, Financial Policy Analysis, Financial Regulation Reform, Free Market Policy, Free Market Retirement Solutions, Hughes v. Northwestern, Illiquidity Premium, Institutional Investing Advantage, Investment Diversification, Investment Menu Diversity, Investment Policy Debate, Investment Regulation, Judicial Paternalism, Labor Department Rulemaking, Long Term Investing, Long Term Wealth Building, National Review Op Ed, Patrick M Brenner, Pension Fund Investing, Private Credit Investments, Private Equity Investing, Private Markets Access, Private Retirement Accounts, Public vs Private Markets, Retirement Economics, Retirement Investment Choice, Retirement Investment Freedom, Retirement Investment Innovation, Retirement Litigation Risk, Retirement Ownership, Retirement Plan Sponsors, Retirement Planning In America, Retirement Policy, Retirement Policy Reform, Retirement Portfolio Allocation, Retirement Reform, Retirement Safe Harbor Rules, Retirement Savings, Retirement Savings Shortfall, Retirement Security, Retirement System Reform, Retirement System Sustainability, Retirement Wealth Creation, Retirement Wealth Gap, Revenue Act Of 1978, Social Security Act Of 1935, Social Security Insolvency, Southwest Public Policy Institute, Target Date Funds, Tibble v. Edison, Trial Attorney Incentives, Trial Lawyer Litigation, Tussey v. ABB, University Endowment Investing, Wealth Accumulation

Budget and Spending Conservatism Courts Crime and Justice Domestic Policy Education Government Regulation Government Spending Government Transparency and Accountability Infrastructure & Technology Legal and Judicial New Mexico Political Thought Progressivism Public Opinion Top Issues Transparency Updates

SPPI Files Public Records Request Regarding New Mexico Lottery Contract Procurement

Post author By Southwest Public Policy Institute
Post date February 27, 2026
No Comments on SPPI Files Public Records Request Regarding New Mexico Lottery Contract Procurement

SPPI seeks transparency and legal clarity regarding the New Mexico Lottery Authority’s procurement process and transition planning for the state gaming system contract.

Agriculture Alaska Arizona California Coal, Oil, Natural Gas Colorado Conservatism Culture Domestic Policy Energy & Environment Energy Economics Energy, Environment, and Natural Resources Firearms Government Regulation Government Spending Homeland Security Infrastructure & Technology Life Nevada New Mexico North Dakota Oklahoma Political Thought Progressivism Public Opinion Security Texas Top Issues Updates Utah

Zachary Fort Featured in National Public Lands Debate

Post author By Southwest Public Policy Institute
Post date February 26, 2026
No Comments on Zachary Fort Featured in National Public Lands Debate

Media coverage highlights SPPI Vice Chairman Zachary Fort’s leadership and policy engagement during debate over Bureau of Land Management nomination.

Tags Albuquerque Journal Opinion, American West Policy, BLM Director Nomination, Bureau Of Land Management, Center For Western Priorities, Conservation And Recreation Balance, Conservation Policy, Department Of The Interior, Energy Development Policy, Federal Land Management, Federal Land Policy, Federal Land Sales, Federal Lands Governance, Federal Resource Management, Government Accountability, Hunting Access, Hunting And Recreation Communities, Land Stewardship, Landscape Podcast, Las Cruces Sun News, Media Coverage Roundup, Multiple Use Land Management, National Conservation Debate, National Policy Debate, New Mexico Politics, New Mexico Public Lands, New Mexico Shooting Sports Association, New York Times Coverage, Oil And Gas Development, Organ Mountains Desert Peaks National Monument, Outdoor Heritage Protection, Outdoor Recreation Policy, Patrick M Brenner, Policy Advocacy Campaign, Public Land Access, Public Land Privatization, Public Lands Advocacy, Public Lands Campaign, Public Lands Conservation, Public Lands Debate, Public Lands Policy, Public Lands Stewardship, Public Policy Leadership, Recreational Land Use, Santa Fe New Mexican, Senate Confirmation Hearing, Senate Energy And Natural Resources Committee, Shooting Sports Advocacy, Southwest Public Policy Institute, SPPI, SPPI In The Media, Stakeholder Governance, Steve Pearce Nomination, Think Tank Advocacy, Trump Administration Interior Policy, Vet Voice Foundation, Washington Post Opinion, Western Economic Policy, Western Governance, Western Land Use Policy, Western Public Lands, Zachary Fort

Conservatism Culture Legal and Judicial Life Political Thought Progressivism Public Opinion Top Issues Transparency Updates

When Silence Speaks: The Optics of Editorial Conflict

Post author By Patrick M. Brenner
Post date February 18, 2026
No Comments on When Silence Speaks: The Optics of Editorial Conflict

A statistical coverage disparity raises transparency questions at the Financial Times.

Tags Abbas Khalaf, Apollo Global Management, Aquarian Acquisition, Asset Management, Athene, Brighthouse Financial, Capital Markets, Conflict Of Interest Disclosure, Corporate Governance, Corporate Media Ethics, Coverage Disparity, Editorial Conflict Of Interest, Editorial Independence, Editorial Safeguards, Editorial Standards, Ethical Journalism Practices, Financial Journalism Analysis, Financial Media Scrutiny, Financial Times, Global Atlantic, Global Financial Media, Governance And Oversight, Industry Coverage Imbalance, Institutional Credibility, Institutional Trust Erosion, Insurance And Annuity Market, Insurance Industry Reporting, Insurance Sector Coverage, Journalism Integrity, KKR, Lebanese Economy Minister, Life Insurance Industry, Life Insurer Market Share, Media Accountability, Media Bias Concerns, Media Ethics, Media Governance, Media Independence Standards, Media Transparency Protocols, MetLife, Michel Khalaf, Newsroom Transparency, Patrick M. Brenner, Perceived Conflict Of Interest, Perception Versus Proof In Journalism, Private Capital In Insurance, Private Equity In Insurance, Public Trust In Media, Recusal Policy, Reputation Risk In Media, Roula Khalaf, Southwest Public Policy Institute, The Optics Of Editorial Conflict, Transparency In Journalism, When Silence Speaks

Conservatism Culture Cybersecurity Debt Domestic Policy Economic Opportunity Economy Government Regulation Housing Infrastructure & Technology Legal and Judicial Life Markets and Finance Political Thought Poverty & Welfare Poverty and Inequality Progressivism Public Opinion Technology Top Issues Transparency Updates

Weakening Tri-Merge Would Make Housing Less Affordable

Post author By Patrick M. Brenner
Post date February 6, 2026
1 Comment on Weakening Tri-Merge Would Make Housing Less Affordable

Why cutting credit reporting costs won’t fix housing affordability, and may make it worse.