New Mexico’s strained rural hospitals finally got some love this year. Two bills sitting onthe governor’s desk could go far in relieving financial pressure on the state’s smallest hospitals. But medical malpractice insurance, the subject of two compromises in recent years, isstill a threat. In New Mexico, where 26 of 33 counties meet the definitions […]
Columnists
Posted inColumnists, Commentary
A better way to govern
One of the most important bills this legislative session has tiptoed through the House with scant publicity and no controversy. House Bill 232, to create the Infrastructure Planning and Development Division within the Department of Finance and Administration, sounds a dry and bureaucratic, but it could transform the state’s dysfunctional capital outlay system. Communities need […]
Posted inColumnists, Commentary
Plenty of bills would have improved public health
There is no question it is difficult to follow bills and bill action in the Legislature. For frequent users, the Secretary of State website (nmlegis.gov) is very friendly and does a timely job of updating bill status throughout the session. For first-time users it is easy to learn. According to the Legislative Council librarian, there […]
Posted inColumnists, Commentary
Family leave bills are not quite ready
Trades, especially the construction trades, have been saying for years that they need more workers. Community colleges and unions are doing their best to make that happen, but funding is up and down. A bill that easily passed the House last week would stabilize funding for apprentice and training programs in the state. It lines […]
Posted inColumnists, Commentary
APD: A cautionary tale
A federal investigation into the DWI unit of the Albuquerque Police Department and an Albuquerque law firm has resulted in the mayor, the police chief and the district attorney all pointing fingers – away from themselves. If you don’t follow Albuquerque news, here’s the gist: Albuquerque lawyer Thomas Clear (also chair of the State Public […]
Posted inColumnists
Good news pierces gloomy headlines
Sometimes I wonder if the job of the media, no matter which channels you select, is to keep Americans wringing their hands. It doesn’t really matter if you watch cable channels such as Fox News or MSNBC or network channels. There is always something to worry about: the economy, the war in Ukraine, violence, food […]
Posted inColumnists
Good news pierces gloomy headlines
Sometimes I wonder if the job of the media, no matter which channels you select, is to keep Americans wringing their hands. It doesn’t really matter if you watch cable channels such as Fox News or MSNBC or network channels. There is always something to worry about: the economy, the war in Ukraine, violence, food […]
Posted inColumnists
Good news pierces gloomy headlines
Sometimes I wonder if the job of the media, no matter which channels you select, is to keep Americans wringing their hands. It doesn’t really matter if you watch cable channels such as Fox News or MSNBC or network channels. There is always something to worry about: the economy, the war in Ukraine, violence, food […]
Posted inColumnists, Commentary
GOP’s Ethics Problem Won’t Go Away With George Santos
Former Congressman George Santos of New York is not a loveable character. Facing federal charges of conspiracy, wire fraud, false statements, falsification of records, aggravated identity theft, and credit card fraud around misuse of his campaign accounts, he is also a shameless and prolific liar. Santos has claimed: to be the descendant of Holocaust survivors; […]
Posted inColumnists, Commentary
About the off-year election
New Mexico is having an election in a couple of weeks. Now is a good time to get started figuring out whom and what you will be voting on. More precisely, we are having lots of separate elections, all at the same time and on the same ballot, coordinated by your county clerk. The official […]