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 […]
Columnists
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
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 […]
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Who, Exactly, is Served by Government Shutdowns?
Ten years ago, during a 16-day shutdown, tourists stood outside locked gates at national parks and monuments. Kirtland and Holloman Air Force bases furloughed nearly 1,500 civilian employees. The Federal Law Enforcement Training Center in Artesia closed, which delayed training for 350 agents sorely needed by the Border Patrol. The Department of Energy’s 1,000 Waste […]
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Keep Focus on Guns, Gun Violence and Crimes Using Guns
I started the week wishing lawmakers and elected leaders were as concerned about kids killing kids and families being fearful as they were about Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham’s proposed 30-day ban on guns in public places. There has been a flurry of press conferences, lawsuits, statements by various politicians in office, and by aspiring politicians. […]