Better living through better policy.

Topic: Santa Fe

city in and county seat of Santa Fe County, New Mexico, United States, and the capitol of New Mexico

The Government Really Thinks We’re Stupid

Post author By Patrick M. Brenner
Post date August 29, 2024
No Comments on The Government Really Thinks We’re Stupid

Behold New Mexico's mythical 1,000-cylinder car: when data fabrication gets a little too creative!

New Mexico’s lack of transparency and fabricated data are undermining public trust, stifling honest policy debate, and disproportionately burdening lower-income families with unjust mandates.

Tags Data Integrity, Fabricated Data, Government Accountability, Government Transparency, Inspection of Public Records Act (IPRA), New Mexico Department of Taxation and Revenue (NMTRD), New Mexico Motor Vehicle Division (MVD), Open Government, Public Records, Transparency

Conservatism Crime and Justice Culture Domestic Policy Government Regulation Government Spending Government Transparency and Accountability Homeland Security Legal and Judicial New Mexico Political Thought Progressivism Public Opinion Security

New Mexico’s Upcoming Special Session: Safety or Statism?

Post author By Patrick M. Brenner
Post date April 17, 2024
2 Comments on New Mexico’s Upcoming Special Session: Safety or Statism?

Luis Sánchez Saturno/New Mexican file photo

Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham’s recent announcement of yet another special legislative session in New Mexico, set to commence on July 18, 2024, ostensibly aims to enhance public safety—an objective no reasonable person would oppose. However, the words of Gideon J. Tucker resonate profoundly in moments like these: “No man’s life, liberty, or property are safe […]

Tags Michelle Lujan Grisham, Safety, Safetyism, Special Session

Domestic Policy Economic Opportunity Energy & Environment Energy, Environment, and Natural Resources Government Regulation New Mexico Top Issues Updates

Albuquerque Journal: Santa Fe elites forcing California clean car rules on NM

Post author By Brooke Hajny
Post date August 28, 2023
2 Comments on Albuquerque Journal: Santa Fe elites forcing California clean car rules on NM

In 1986, Ronald Reagan quipped that the “nine most terrifying words in the English language are: ‘I’m from the government, and I’m here to help.’” Well, New Mexico’s government is “helping” again. In July, Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham announced regulations for “Advanced Clean Cars and Advanced Clean Trucks.” The dictates — crafted by New Mexico […]

Budget and Spending Conservatism Domestic Policy Government Regulation Government Spending Legal and Judicial Life Political Thought Progressivism Texas Top Issues Transparency Updates

Austin American-Statesman: It’s wrong to force Texans to pay for local-government lobbying

Post author By D. Dowd Muska
Post date June 4, 2023
No Comments on Austin American-Statesman: It’s wrong to force Texans to pay for local-government lobbying

Taxpayer-funded lobbying by organizations like the Texas Association of School Boards highlights the urgent need for a united effort to end all taxpayer-funded lobbying and protect free speech.

Tags Accountability, Conflict of Interest, County and District Clerks' Association of Texas, Ethics, Free Speech, Lobbying, School Choice, Taxpayers, Texas Association of County Auditors, Texas Association of School Administrators, Texas Association of School Boards (TASB), Texas Municipal League, Texas' Big City Mayors Group

Arizona California Economy Government Spending New Mexico Texas Top Issues Utah

Hollywood Handouts! Part Deux

Post author By D. Dowd Muska
Post date April 6, 2023
3 Comments on Hollywood Handouts! Part Deux

Why are states ignoring New Mexico’s debacle, and reviving studio subsidies?

Tags Corporate Welfare, Hollywood

Courts Energy & Environment Legal and Judicial New Mexico Nuclear Energy Texas The Constitution

Austin and Santa Fe Can’t Nuke the Constitution

Post author By D. Dowd Muska
Post date March 31, 2023
3 Comments on Austin and Santa Fe Can’t Nuke the Constitution

The Supremacy Clause is the ultimate deterrent

Tags Holtec International, Interim Storage Partners, Nuclear Energy

Domestic Policy Government Regulation Government Spending Health Care Legal and Judicial Medicaid New Mexico Political Thought Top Issues Updates

Lujan Grisham Allegedly Meddles in Medicaid Procurement

Post author By Patrick M. Brenner
Post date March 1, 2023
3 Comments on Lujan Grisham Allegedly Meddles in Medicaid Procurement

Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham speaks during a conference, Jan. 25, 2023, at the Capitol. Javier Gallegos/New Mexican file photo.

Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham’s decision to redo New Mexico’s Medicaid contracts has sparked criticism and raised concerns about potential campaign finance influences from Centene Corporation and Western Sky Community Care.

Tags Centene Corporation, Chris Hummer, Chris Koster, Colin Toney, David Scrase, John Garcia, Medicaid, Michelle Lujan Grisham, Procurement, Robert Sanders, Ryan Lane, Shannon Bagley, Transparency, Western Sky Community Care

Arizona California Coal, Oil, Natural Gas Data Energy & Environment Energy Economics Nevada New Mexico Top Issues Utah

What About the ‘Megadrought’?

Post author By D. Dowd Muska
Post date January 30, 2023
4 Comments on What About the ‘Megadrought’?

On the Arizona-California border, the Colorado River below the Palo Verde Dam is running at 110 percent of its median flow. Utah is “having an astounding winter,” and “in certain watersheds, it’s breaking records.” In New Mexico, the Pecos River near Lake Arthur is flowing at 108 percent of its median. Flagstaff’s “received 84.5 inches […]

Tags Climate, Drought, Energy, Media Bias, Water

Arizona Budget and Spending California Colorado Data Government Spending Nevada New Mexico Oklahoma Texas Top Issues Utah

Let the Sessions (and the Spending) Begin!

Post author By D. Dowd Muska
Post date January 17, 2023
No Comments on Let the Sessions (and the Spending) Begin!

All eight states of the American Southwest are, or will soon be, in session. Will legislators return budget surpluses to inflation-battered taxpayers, or launch spend-a-thons?

Tags Budget, California, Gavin Newsom, New Mexico, Spending, Tax Cuts, Taxpayers

Arizona California Colorado Conservatism Crime and Justice Culture Domestic Policy Education Firearms Legal and Judicial Life Nevada New Mexico Oklahoma Political Thought Progressivism Public Opinion Texas Top Issues Utah

Uvalde Makes The Somber Case For School Choice

Post author By Patrick M. Brenner
Post date May 27, 2022
No Comments on Uvalde Makes The Somber Case For School Choice

The nation mourns the loss of so many innocent lives. How do we prevent future tragedy? The answer is school choice. In New Mexico, Senator Martin Heinrich is capitalizing on the Uvalde school shooting to demand changes in gun laws. Elsewhere, former President Barack Obama is using the crisis to stoke racial tension. They are […]

Tags Barack Obama, Families, George H. W. Bush, Gregg Abbott, Martin Heinrich, Safety, School Choice, Security, Stefani Lord, Students, Ted Cruz, Uvalde