At the Southwest Public Policy Institute (SPPI), our mission is to deliver data-driven research, advance government transparency, and safeguard consumer choice across the American Southwest. Over the past few weeks, our research and expert commentary have gained significant national and regional attention. From exposing hidden consumer costs in the housing market to advocating for transparency in state-level spending and highlighting regulatory risks in consumer finance, SPPI continues to lead the conversation on critical policy issues.
Here is a breakdown of where SPPI has made headlines recently and how our team is driving impact.
Stopping the Credit Card Competition Act’s Threat to New Mexico’s Economy
On July 3, 2026, SPPI President Patrick M. Brenner published a local opinion column in the Albuquerque Journal analyzing the hidden risks of the federal Credit Card Competition Act. The article exposes how government-mandated price-control schemes on interchange fees fail to help small businesses or lower retail prices, serving instead as a massive wealth transfer from consumers and community financial institutions directly to big-box retailers.
In the piece, SPPI highlights historical data from the 2010 Durbin Amendment—where 98% of retailers simply pocketed regulatory savings rather than passing them on to shoppers—to warn against repeating past regulatory mistakes. SPPI details how dismantling the interchange fee structure threatens vital travel and airline loyalty programs that sustain New Mexico’s tourism and hospitality industries. By advocating against artificial market intervention, SPPI continues to defend consumer rewards, secure payment infrastructure, and free-market competition across the Southwest.
Demanding Accountability in New Mexico’s $920 Million Opioid Settlement
New Mexico is set to receive over $920 million in opioid settlement funds over an 18-year period to abate the ongoing substance abuse crisis. However, as reported by the Santa Fe New Mexican on July 12, 2026, tracking where these funds are going has proven nearly impossible. Unlike other states, New Mexico lacks a central dashboard to monitor disbursements, ranking near the bottom nationwide for settlement spending transparency. In cities like Santa Fe, millions of dollars remain unspent while overdose deaths continue to rise.
SPPI was featured in the Santa Fe New Mexican to address these transparency gaps and systemic delays. Our President, Patrick M. Brenner, pointed out that without robust public reporting mechanisms, taxpayers and communities have no way of knowing whether settlement dollars are being allocated effectively. Furthermore, SPPI noted that overly restrictive earmarks and bureaucratic inaction have hamstrung local governments, delaying life-saving resources. This coverage aligns with SPPI’s broader research on opioid abatement, where we advocate for strict spending guardrails, regional cooperation, and public dashboards to ensure settlement funds directly support evidence-based treatment and remediation rather than administrative waste.
Warning Against the Rise of “Mini-CFPBs” in Financial Regulation
On July 16, 2026, the Consumer Bankers Association (CBA) published a press release highlighting national commentary on the need for structural reforms at the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) following congressional testimony and the introduction of the CFPB Reform Act of 2026. The release showcased perspective from lawmakers, legal scholars, and policy experts advocating for clearer statutory guardrails and reduced regulatory overreach.
The CBA cited SPPI’s commentary alongside leading national institutions. In our cited work, SPPI warned that as the federal CFPB scales back its footprint, a dangerous regulatory vacuum is being created at the state level. Ambitious state attorneys general and legislatures are moving quickly to build their own “mini-CFPBs,” introducing untested policies and aggressive enforcement. SPPI emphasized that replacing a single federal regulator with a fragmented 50-state patchwork increases compliance costs, stifles financial innovation, and ultimately hurts low- and moderate-income consumers who pay the price through higher fees and reduced access to credit.
Uncovering the $65 Billion Mortgage Shopping Trap in the Washington Examiner
On July 8, 2026, SPPI President Patrick M. Brenner authored an op-ed in the Washington Examiner titled “Zillow traps buyers into overpriced mortgages, and it’s costing Americans $65 billion annually“. The piece highlights recent Bankrate research based on 3.2 million federal mortgage originations, revealing that home purchases since 2022 have resulted in $65 billion in avoidable annual mortgage costs simply because buyers do not shop around for competitive interest rates. Over a 30-year loan, failing to compare rates costs the average borrower more than $78,000.
In the article, SPPI examined how major real estate platforms, such as Zillow, capitalize on consumer inertia. By steering users toward partner lenders and integrated mortgage tools, these platforms lock home buyers into higher rates during an era when median home prices hover around $400,000 and mortgage interest rates remain elevated. SPPI’s analysis underscores the necessity of consumer education, market transparency, and shopping around for financing, demonstrating how uncompetitive real estate practices compound housing affordability pressures across the nation.
