Corner to Corner by Diane Denish. Diane Denish is a lifelong advocate for children and a former lieutenant governor of New Mexico. Contact her at diane@dianedenish.com AI is the newest buzzword in the world of technology and its use is growing every day. Many of us are curious about what it really is and more […]
Columnists
If you must hold committee hearings at 1 am, what’s wrong with your bill?
This week, the administration’s budget-and-more bill passed the House by a single vote. After the Memorial Day recess, it will be heard by the Senate via the budget reconciliation process, meaning it can pass with a simple majority. It’s no secret that the federal budget process is broken. Case in point: this budget bill, with […]
Peaking in the Permian?
We are all too aware of New Mexico’s dependence on the oil and gas industry. I’m not the only one noting that our economy is not diversified enough or that our state budget is scarily dependent on it. We talk of the cliff we are driving toward. That cliff is alarmingly close. West Texas Intermediate […]
The best of the billionaires
Recently, Warren Buffett surprised his shareholders by announcing he was stepping aside as the CEO of Berkshire Hathway Warren Buffett is not like other billionaires who show off their wealth with rocket ships or spend it buying political favor. He’s the best of the billionaires. Financial journalist Andrew Sorokin termed him the “conscience of capitalism.” […]
The elements of a major trade deal
Thursday, an announcement was made from the Oval Office, featuring British Prime Minister Keir Starmer on speakerphone, lauding the first “very large” trade deal reached since tariffs were enacted last month. As I write this 24 hours later, the key building blocks of a White House trade deal have been revealed. From the document posted […]
Workers’ comp task force was a model for future legislation
In 1990, Raymond Sanchez took on the trial lawyers and won. Yes, that Raymond Sanchez. At the time he was Speaker of the House. Supporting that effort was none other than Marty Chavez. Yes, that Marty Chavez. Chavez was then a state senator. The challenge was workers’ compensation. Workers’ comp insurance in New Mexico had […]
A good start or too little, too late?
Pat Davis is the founder and publisher of nm.news. He is a recovering politician having served eight years as an Albuquerque City Councilor and, in another life, served as a police officer and nonprofit organizer. Pat Davis – Crime is down in major categories in Albuquerque for the first part of the year, and the […]
A little help for small business
You probably have never heard of the New Mexico Small Business Regulatory Advisory Commission. That’s okay. Nobody else has heard of it either. In 20 years, this commission hasn’t done much – maybe nothing. The statute says its job is to identify regulations proposed by state agencies that might be harmful to small business and […]
What would Churchill do?
Just over 120 years ago, Winston Churchill gave a speech in Manchester, railing against protectionist trade policy. He was only four years into his political career in 1904 but he summed up the topic of tariffs with what was, even then, Churchillian drollness: “To think you can make a man richer by putting on a […]
The most interesting legislative session in years
It’s good to be back after the longest hiatus I have taken in more than six years of writing. It’s also good, after writing six end-of-legislature columns, to finally write one that isn’t a litany of what didn’t happen. Don’t get me wrong. Not enough happened, and I will get to that. But tremendous legislation […]