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Errors of Enchantment

  • Cut Spending, Don’t Raise Taxes

    In case you missed it, New Mexico should take a cue from Louisiana of all places. [...]
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    Fetched: November 23, 2009, 7:24pm EST

  • The AP Fact Checks (and confirms) Jim Scarantino’s Phantom Stimulus Story

    The headline is pretty self-explanatory, so here is the article. If you have been living under a rock and don't know about Obama's phantom Congressional districts and our role in exposing them, check out the story here. If you want to support and continue these efforts, click here. ...' [...]
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    Fetched: November 20, 2009, 11:19am EST

  • Denish Records: False Vouchers and Irregularities in Political Worker Payments

    Jim Scarantino's latest report on how Lt. Governor Diane Denish spent stimulus funds is now available at New Mexico Watchdog. [...]
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    Fetched: November 20, 2009, 11:19am EST

  • Mammograms and Government Health Care

    If you've been listening to the news recently, you probably heard of the controversy regarding the recommendations of the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force relating to mammograms. The gist of the recommendations was to state that women in their 40s no longer need to have annual mammograms. So far, so' [...]
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    Fetched: November 20, 2009, 10:16pm EST

  • Surprise, Surprise, Richardson Hooks Up Old Friends/Studio Beneficiaries

    I'm positively shocked that Governor Richardson has been a long time friend of the Hool brothers who are behind the Santa Fe Studios. The project, which I wrote about a few months ago, is being subsidized to the tune of $10 million by state taxpayers with taxpayers in Santa Fe' [...]
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    Fetched: November 18, 2009, 2:20pm EST

  • Heard about Soros and his anti-free market think tank?

    Sometimes I am a bit jealous of liberals. The Rio Grande Foundation is one of the leanest and most effective organizations around. Just google our name and read through the reams of news articles and data and understand that our budget is sub-$500,000. Then there is left-wing billionaire George Soros [...]
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    Fetched: November 17, 2009, 3:22pm EST

  • Obama Administration Spends Millions in Nonexistent NM Congressional Districts

    I am not making this up. See my new report at New Mexico Watchdog. The Obama Administration is claiming to have created jobs and spent tens of millions of dollars in ten New Mexico Congressional districts that do not exist. I repeat: I am not making ... [...]
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    Fetched: November 16, 2009, 1:27pm EST

  • RGF Releases New Mexico Tax Friendliness Report, Tax Calculator

    New Mexico’s free market think tank, the Rio Grande Foundation, has made public on its website a revised and updated tool for families to calculate their property and gross receipts tax burdens in New Mexico’s 10 largest cities. Using publicly-available property tax and gross receipts tax (GRT) data for each city [...]
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    Fetched: November 16, 2009, 1:27pm EST

  • New Mexico Education Above Average, Really?

    I love these studies that come out on education and particularly the headlines like "N.M. Education Above Average in Report." This story ran in the Albuquerque Journal on Friday and is called "Leaders and Laggards." So, what does "above average really mean? Well, last year, the study focused on test" [...]
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    Fetched: November 14, 2009, 12:19pm EST

  • Specific Market-based Medical Alternatives that Work

    The debate in Congress has focused almost entirely on government solutions and while market advocates have brought ideas to bear, like purchasing health insurance across state lines, that have not really been applied at least in the medical sector in the United States. This article from "The American" which is [...]
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    Fetched: November 13, 2009, 1:21pm EST

  • Watchdog Round-Up ‘Round the Nation

    The Rio Grande Foundation's New Mexico Watchdog, though it stands on its own, is part of a national network of Watchdog investigative reporting projects in other states. Jim Scarantino, who edits and reports for New Mexico Watchdog, is a former attorney. The Watchdogs in other states are run ... [...]
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    Fetched: November 13, 2009, 10:22am EST

  • Cute Video on FedEx/UPS Fight

    Awhile back I blogged about the ongoing fight in Congress over FedEx and UPS. Our friends over at Reason have put together this new video loosely based on the UPS whiteboard commercials to explain the situation. [...]
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    Fetched: November 12, 2009, 4:22pm EST

  • Abortion and the Health Care Bill

    As a state-level economic policy organization, the Rio Grande Foundation does not take a position on social issues like abortion. But With narrow passage of the House health care bill made possible by strict limits on taxpayer subsidies for abortion under the plan, the debate over abortion policy has moved [...]
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    Fetched: November 12, 2009, 9:25am EST

  • Prisons as “Economic Development” Tools

    Rarely do opinion pieces get it as wrong as this one which appeared in the ABQ Journal on Monday. Essentially, the folks at the CCA-New Mexico Women's Correctional Facility argued that because of the facility's contributions to this community, which the writer notes include "employing almost 150 people and paying" [...]
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    Fetched: November 10, 2009, 2:20pm EST

  • Jim Scarantino on Denish and the Broken Windows Theory

    The little stuff matters. Details count. NYPD proved it with their application of the Broken Windows Theory. I think that approach applies equally to how we hold government and politicians accountable. Combing through records showing how the Lt. Governor spent $225,000 is a good case study ... [...]
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    Fetched: November 10, 2009, 11:20am EST

  • Pfizer abandons site of infamous Kelo eminent domain taking

    Amazing how corporate welfare backfires. Remember the Kelo v. New London decision on eminent domain? The Supreme Court's decision in that case essentially gave governments across the nation a green light to take any American's property for any reason so long as the public received some benefit from the taking. [...]
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    Fetched: November 10, 2009, 9:24am EST

  • Did Denish Use Fed Stimulus $$ for Work on Kerry Campaign?

    A Denish worker paid with public funds was paid for what appears to be the Kerry train rally and visit to Albuquerque. There are questions about the invoices themselves, too. They appear to have been approved before the work was done. Read my latest report at New Mexico Watchdog. [...]
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    Fetched: November 09, 2009, 2:22pm EST

  • Rep. Heinrich and the Health Care Bill

    Rep. Martin Heinrich voted in favor of the health care bill that narrowly passed the House over the weekend. He also wrote an opinion piece in the Albuquerque Journal defending the bill and his decision to support it. He points to six principles that he wanted included in the legislation: 1) [...]
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    Fetched: November 09, 2009, 11:20am EST

  • Upcoming RGF Events!

    The Rio Grande Foundation has announced two upcoming events. The first is an Albuquerque showing of "Not Evil Just Wrong." The showing will take place on November 21 and we will be co-sponsoring the event with the Citizens Alliance for Responsible Energy (CARE) and the Albuquerque Tea Party. The showing [...]
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    Fetched: November 07, 2009, 4:22pm EST

  • House to Vote on Government-Run Health Care Tomorrow

    In case you haven't already heard, the House of Representatives is expected to vote on a massive federal takeover of the nation's health care system tomorrow. While Nancy Pelosi and many in the Democratic Party leadership have put forward a confident face saying that they have the 218 votes necessary' [...]
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    Fetched: November 06, 2009, 11:23am EST

  • Denish Used Federal Funds for Personal Driver, Christmas Cards

    On New Mexico Watchdog. Read it all and related reports. [...]
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    Fetched: November 04, 2009, 12:22pm EST

  • Join My Facebook Friends For News Updates from New Mexico Watchdog.org

    You can get instant news updates from our work over at New Mexico Watchdog (http://newmexico.watchdog.org) if you join our Facebook pages. For Jim Scarantino sign up as a friend at Facebook by searching for James R. Scarantino. For New Mexico Watchdog, search for New Mexico Watchdog and sign up as a fan. Spread [...]
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    Fetched: November 03, 2009, 3:23pm EST

  • Economics 101: Private Goods, Public Goods Explained

    I've been away from the blogosphere (and New Mexico) for a few days because I'm attending the State Policy Network annual Conference in lovely Asheville, North Carolina. Needless to say, I've been busy, but learning alot. Anyway, one thing I just found out about is this excellent, interactive website which helps' [...]
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    Fetched: November 03, 2009, 1:28pm EST

  • Millions Hiding in Unencumbered Accounts

    Instead of rushing to cut services or raise taxes to find millions to plug budget holes, the Legislature might root around musty accounts held by boards, commissions, agencies and school districts. A recent report by Kansas Watchdog found billions--billions--in unencumbered or carryover accounts held by nearly 2,000 government agencies. ... [...]
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    Fetched: November 02, 2009, 2:27pm EST

  • What is New Mexico’s Real Graduation Rate?

    Back in August, the Albuquerque Journal broke a story saying that New Mexico's real graduation rate for 2008 was 54 percent. Then the state revised the rate to 60 percent or so (although I could not find an exact statewide number). Unfortunately, I've seen other studies like the "Diplomas Count" study' [...]
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    Fetched: October 30, 2009, 6:24pm EDT

  • Institute for Justice Takes on Medical Freedom by Suing U.S. Attorney General

    Every year, 1,000 Americans die because they cannot find a matching bone marrow donor. Minorities are hit especially hard. Common sense suggests that offering modest incentives to attract more bone marrow donors would be worth pursuing, but federal law makes that a felony punishable by up to five years in [...]
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    Fetched: October 30, 2009, 10:21am EDT

  • Paging Mr. Gore

    I understand the difference between "climate" and weather, but in my lifetime (34 years) which includes 21 years in Cincinnati and 9 in the DC area before moving to Albuquerque, I can't recall significant snow falling before Halloween. Well, it is coming down hard today in Albuquerque. See picture below' [...]
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    Fetched: October 29, 2009, 6:26pm EDT

  • My Take on the Albuquerque Mayor’s Race

    Liberal New Mexico Sen. Jerry Ortiz y Pino writes a regular column for the Albuquerque Alibi. While we often disagree on policy, he wrote a column about the Mayoral race recently, "We Were Mugged" that had me disagreeing with some of his analysis of why Republican RJ Berry won. I'm' [...]
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    Fetched: October 29, 2009, 6:26pm EDT

  • New Mexico is a Big Movie Lot, You’re just an extra

    We at the Rio Grande Foundation have long been critics of the massive subsidies -- 25 cents on the dollar -- not to mention $15 million interest free loans. But imagine my surprise when I saw that one of the two most important roads in New Mexico (I-40) was ... [...]
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    Fetched: October 29, 2009, 9:32am EDT

  • Empty Cars on the Rail Runner

    No wonder the Rail Runner is running huge operating deficits. Personal observations (and photographs) back up the numbers showing lots of red ink. Read "The Red Ink Express," our recent report on the Rail Runner's shortfalls. [...]
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    Fetched: October 29, 2009, 9:32am EDT

  • Health Care Socialism Cont’d

    While not receiving as many front page headlines as it did this summer and fall, the health care debate continues to rage in Washington. Recently, for starters, numbers showing the modest profits of health insurers became widespread in the media. This is a good thing, because the more educated the [...]
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    Fetched: October 29, 2009, 9:32am EDT

  • Introducing New Mexico Watchdog

    In case you haven't already seen it, the Rio Grande Foundation has launched a new site called New Mexico Watchdog. While the Rio Grande Foundation's investigative reporter Jim Scarantino handles much of the day-to-day work associated with the project, we encourage others to provide tips and help us uncover new' [...]
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    Fetched: October 29, 2009, 9:32am EDT

  • Attracting the “Best and Brightest” to New Mexico

    A few weeks ago, the Albuquerque Business Journal carried a story by Winthrop Quigley with a lot of hand-wringing from policymakers over how to keep New Mexico's "best and brightest" at home. Of course, the real issue should not be keeping highly educated New Mexico's at home, rather the ... [...]
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    Fetched: October 29, 2009, 9:32am EDT

  • Save the Planet; Eat a Dog?

    Americans love their pets. Americans also love the environment and want to be green. While recycling and treading lightly on the land are not bad things, the hard-core environmentalists want to go much further than that. In fact, according to a new book called "Eat the Dog: The real guide" [...]
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    Fetched: October 29, 2009, 9:32am EDT

  • I wish I’d written that!

    Rarely does something appear in the paper that makes me smile, but I was pleasantly surprised to see the article "Responsible People Shouldn't Pay for Bad Choices of Others,", written by Albuquerque resident Marsha Thole, in the Albuquerque Journal on Sunday morning. The article was a simple but thorough rebuttal' [...]
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    Fetched: October 29, 2009, 9:32am EDT

  • Rep. Martin Heinrich Legislation Supports Native Property Rights

    When push comes to shove, property rights form the basis of any truly free society. And, while no single group of people in North America has suffered from a loss of property rights to the extent that Native Americans have, Rep. Martin Heinrich has introduced legislation that represents one small [...]
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    Fetched: October 23, 2009, 1:57pm EDT

  • In Defense of Garduños

    Conservatives are often portrayed as "heartless" by the left and those in government. After all, it is our view that individuals who earn money, should by and large be able to keep it and that expansive government programs (even those supposedly dedicated to benefiting the poor) are ineffective and even [...]
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    Fetched: October 22, 2009, 3:56pm EDT

  • Positive Response to Government Employment Work

    In case you missed it, the Rio Grande Foundation has been doing a great deal of work on the issue of New Mexico's bloated government bureaucracy. This should be a prime area for cuts during the ongoing special session. Thankfully, it seems like we have a fair amount of support [...]
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    Fetched: October 22, 2009, 12:01pm EDT

  • New Mexico’s New Watchdog

    The Rio Grande Foundation has launched an investigative news site: http://newmexico.watchdog.org/ We're still building the site and will do a "hard launch" soon. This is an early notice to our friends who visit this site. New Mexico Watchdog is associated with other Watchdog investigative reporting sites launched so far in' [...]
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    Fetched: October 21, 2009, 5:54pm EDT

  • Social Security Bailout

    A few days ago I discussed President Obama's "reverse Robin Hood" plan to send $250 checks to all seniors because they are not receiving a cost of living adjustment during the coming year. I decided to write an op-ed on the issue and it has appeared in a few papers [...]
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    Fetched: October 21, 2009, 3:55pm EDT

  • Special Session: Avoiding the Michigan Model

    New Mexico's Legislature is now engaged in a difficult special session. The crux of the issues they face is whether to raise taxes, cut government spending, or patch the hole with one time money in hopes that the economy turns around. At this point, it appears that the latter two [...]
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    Fetched: October 21, 2009, 12:05pm EDT

  • Not Evil Just Wrong = Big Success

    In case you were unable to attend our showings in Santa Fe and Las Cruces, you missed out. We had turnouts of 70+ people for each showing of Note Evil Just Wrong and the crowds were enthusiastic about the film and its message of not falling prey to the hysteria [...]
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    Fetched: October 19, 2009, 12:00pm EDT

  • Obama’s Reverse Robin Hood

    In case you haven't heard, because the federal government's cost of living indicators are showing slight deflation, there will be no cost of living increase for Social Security recipients next year. Of course, seniors vote in large numbers and are a politically-powerful voting bloc, so as soon as word came' [...]
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    Fetched: October 16, 2009, 2:55pm EDT

  • Cuts, what cuts?

    If you don't normally read the Albuquerque Journal, you're missing out. There's my plug for dead-tree media. But in all seriousness, there have been some really interesting articles on the paper's opinion pages recently and I'm not just saying that because one of ours ran yesterday. One recent opinion piece' [...]
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    Fetched: October 16, 2009, 11:55am EDT

  • Making Transit Work

    A friend of mine from my days at the National Taxpayers Union wrote an excellent piece for the Washington Times about a transit system that works (Hong Kong) and a transit system that is showing ever-increasing signs of failure (Washington, DC). You can find the article here. While Albuquerque seems [...]
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    Fetched: October 15, 2009, 6:58pm EDT

  • Solve New Mexico’s Budget Crisis Without Tax Hikes or Draconian Cuts

    The Legislature meets this Saturday, and possibly for longer depending on how reasonable Governor Richardson plans to be, New Mexico's Legislature must act now to solve the state's significant budget deficit. The Rio Grande Foundation has put forth a number of ideas and today, the Albuquerque Journal ran an article [...]
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    Fetched: October 15, 2009, 10:58am EDT

  • Join Me for a Tea Party this Saturday!

    There will be a Tea Party rally at the State Capitol on Saturday, October 17th - the first day of the Special Session. This is one of the most important events for the TEA Party movement because the State Legislature will begin work on the budget shortfall - now estimated [...]
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    Fetched: October 14, 2009, 5:02pm EDT

  • New Mexico has a good Constitution…if only we’d enforce it

    Recently, our friends at the Goldwater Institute -- our sister think tank which is based in Arizona -- did a 50 state analysis of state constitutions. The idea behind the analysis is to figure out which state constitutions are the strongest in protecting individual liberties and to analyze which states [...]
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    Fetched: October 14, 2009, 12:00pm EDT

  • Drill Here, Drill Now, Create Jobs

    While the debate over global warming rages, the Obama Administration and other policymakers in Washington continue to make it more difficult to find and use home-grown resources. As Jon Basil Utley wrote for Reason recently, drilling in Alaska would have a positive impact both in terms of economic activity and [...]
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    Fetched: October 13, 2009, 4:53pm EDT

  • Maker of “Not Evil Just Wrong” Gets Cut Off Asking Al Gore a Question

    Phelim McAleer is one of the co-directors/producers of "Not Evil Just Wrong," a new film, the premiers of which the Rio Grande Foundation is co-sponsoring in Las Cruces and Santa Fe this Sunday. At a recent conference, McAleer asks former Vice President and high priest of global warming Al Gore [...]
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    Fetched: October 13, 2009, 10:52am EDT

  • Capitalism and Michael Moore

    If you've been watched the news recently, you are probably aware that Michael Moore has a new movie out that picks apart all the problems with capitalism. Of course, socialism hasn't fared so well either. The reality is that, despite its flaws and the fact that we have not really [...]
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    Fetched: October 11, 2009, 7:53pm EDT

  • Are New Transportation Spending Goals (Focused on Transit, of Course) Needed?

    Recently re-elected City Councilor Isaac Benton is one of Albuquerque's leading proponents of the deeply unpopular streetcar. Not surprisingly, his support for mass transit does not begin and end there. Recently, he wrote about the federal transportation bill and the "need" to direct more transportation money to alternatives to cars. [...]
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    Fetched: October 09, 2009, 9:55am EDT

  • Is the 10th Amendment a bad idea?

    According to the prolific Albuquerque Journal columnist Winthrop Quigley, the concept of "nullification" (or re-assertion of the 9th and 10th amendments to the Constitution) is a terrible idea. He wrote about this in the Business Outlook section of Monday's paper and the link can be found here if you subscribe [...]
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    Fetched: October 07, 2009, 12:01pm EDT

  • My Election Predictions; What are yours?

    I predict that RJ Berry and Richard Romero will wind up in a runoff. I believe Berry will win the overall vote total, but not attain the magical 40% level needed to avoid a runoff. Romero will nudge Mayor Marty out by a few percentage points. I also believe that Dan [...]
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    Fetched: October 06, 2009, 10:56am EDT

  • Q: When is a tax hike not a tax hike?

    A: When Ellen Bernstein says it isn't. How else do you explain the ridiculous statement, in her recent opinion piece in the Albuquerque Journal in which she writes: "Rolling back tax cuts granted by lawmakers during a time of huge state budget surpluses is not the same as raising taxes.'" [...]
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    Fetched: October 05, 2009, 3:58pm EDT

  • Stimulating Alcohol Consumption?

    The $700+ billion federal stimulus represented a massive pot of money. Given that kind of honey pot, it was inevitable that the politicians would direct some of it to their friends. The RGF's investigative reporter, Jim Scarantino, has found an interesting confluence of political connections and federal stimulus money as [...]
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    Fetched: October 05, 2009, 1:56pm EDT

  • Medicare for All Revisited

    Awhile back I wrote about the many issues with "Medicare for All." Dr. J. Deane Waldman, a University of New Mexico professor in the Health Sciences Center, offers a few "inconvenient truths" about Medicare. Medicare was intended to be self-sustaining by having workers pay in while employed and taking out [...]
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    Fetched: October 03, 2009, 8:51pm EDT

  • Hispanos Unidos: Tackling Voter Fraud/Out of Control Government

    There is an organization called Hispanos Unidos that is working to make sure that the American principle of "one person, one vote" is adhered to. If you are heading to the polls in municipal elections around New Mexico, you may have noticed that for the first time photo ID is [...]
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    Fetched: October 02, 2009, 1:02pm EDT

  • Show Me the (Stimulus) Money!

    At long last, the federal government has its new stimulus-tracking website up and running. Interested taxpayers and journalists can now start digging to find out where some of the billions of dollars that have been printed up in Washington under Obama's stimulus plan are going. The website is recovery.gov and [...]
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    Fetched: October 02, 2009, 11:03am EDT

  • Guv. Richardson = Love Child of Adam Smith and Milton Friedman?

    South Valley-area Representative Miguel Garcia has a really entertaining column on the state's budget crisis and steps that need to be taken to resolve it in today's Albuquerque Journal. Garcia, who is apparently just to the left of Karl Marx, portrays Governor Richardson, who cut income and capital gains taxes [...]
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    Fetched: October 01, 2009, 11:00am EDT

  • More Taxpayer-Financed Advertising for Bigger Government

    I have repeatedly cited the use of taxpayer money to lobby citizens for even more government spending as a serious problem. Now, enclosed in your most recent water bill from the government-controlled Albuquerque Bernalillo County Water Authority, "customers" of the authority are receiving the following notices alerting them to the [...]
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    Fetched: September 28, 2009, 3:56pm EDT

  • Bingaman and Udall Putting Land “Off Limits” in New Mexico

    Did you know that the federal government owns nearly 50 percent of the land area in New Mexico? Check out the map below and you'll be surprised to see just how much of the Land of Enchantment the Feds control Why is that so important? Well, our Senators, Jeff Bingaman and' [...]
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    Fetched: September 28, 2009, 11:52am EDT

  • Just the Facts: The Real State of the State of New Mexico

    At last weekend's New Mexico Turnaround Conference, I presented a wide variety of facts and figures on the state of the state of New Mexico as it compares to other states on a variety of economic and education measures. Check the presentation out here. [...]
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    Fetched: September 26, 2009, 11:53am EDT

  • I agree with the single-payer crowd (but just this once)

    A few days ago, I read the following headline for an opinion piece in the ABQ Journal "Bill Needs States' Flexibility." The article, surprisingly enough, was not written by some free market advocate, but some folks from the Health Security for New Mexicans Campaign. While the group's mission statement ...' [...]
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    Fetched: September 25, 2009, 11:50am EDT

  • You’re Invited to the world premier of “Not Evil, Just Wrong” in Las Cruces!

    New Mexico’s free market think tank, the Rio Grande Foundation, and CARE, the Citizens Alliance for Responsible Energy, are teaming up – along with dozens of organizations nationwide – for a simultaneous, world premier film event. What: World premier of the film “Not Evil, Just Wrong,” which takes on the [...]
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    Fetched: September 24, 2009, 6:58pm EDT

  • Catholic Social Teaching = Bad Economics

    I am a Catholic. I'm also an economic conservative. Apparently this makes me a bad Catholic. At least that is the impression I get from an opinion piece that appeared in today's Albuquerque Journal by Allen Sanchez of the New Mexico Conference of Catholic Bishops. The basic point Sanchez makes in' [...]
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    Fetched: September 24, 2009, 9:56am EDT

  • More Film Subsidies: Are you Kidding?

    Recently, a story about Santa Fe County lending $6 million for a movie study was covered in the local media, but did not receive much attention. In the past, the Rio Grande Foundation (using data produced by the state's own Legislative Finance Council) has been critical of efforts to subsidize [...]
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    Fetched: September 23, 2009, 1:56pm EDT

  • Video of John Fund’s Speech to New Mexico Turnaround Conference Online

    In cae you missed it, the New Mexico Turnaround Conference which took place in Albuquerque on September 18 and 19 was an amazing and useful event. Some incredible speakers came to offer their thoughts on the issues of the day and how to move New Mexico (and the nation) forward. [...]
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    Fetched: September 23, 2009, 12:54pm EDT

  • Saturday’s Episode of “Speaking Freely” now Online

    On this week's episode, Jim talks with two members of the USS New Mexico Committee about their efforts to raise awareness of the world's most technoligically advanced submarine an its significance for our national defense and our state. Then, Jim is joined by John Bode, who is suing the city [...]
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    Fetched: September 22, 2009, 1:57pm EDT

  • Criminal Justice Reforms can cut costs, improve public safety

    Recently, Marc Levin of the Texas Public Policy Foundation and I collaborated on a paper that discussed some common-sense criminal justice reforms for New Mexico. Given the current budgetary environment facing New Mexico, such reforms can both save taxpayers money and reduce the number of people who get caught up [...]
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    Fetched: September 22, 2009, 8:57am EDT

  • Governor Richardson’s Unconstitutional Spending

    Since 2003, Governor Bill Richardson has been spending tens of millions of dollars of public funds without Legislative authorization. These funds have been received into the state treasury under Federal economic relief and stimulus bills. Richardson has unilaterally been deciding how these funds should be spend, in violation of the [...]
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    Fetched: September 21, 2009, 1:00pm EDT

  • Jonah Goldberg Speech at New Mexico Turnaround Conference

    In case you missed it or were unable to attend the New Mexico Turnaround conference this weekend, you really missed out on a fantastic event. Check back to this blog for more video highlights from the event, but first and foremost, check out this funny and informative talk by syndicated [...]
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    Fetched: September 21, 2009, 11:59am EDT

  • Act Now (by CoB Monday) to Support Energy!

    If you care about making sure we're not dependent on foreign countries for our energy – and that we don’t continue to hamstring our economy, jobs and revenue stream – American Solutions has a very timely call to action that will take you less than 1 minute. But you need' [...]
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    Fetched: September 21, 2009, 11:59pm EDT

  • Reform Health Care in Free Market

    University of New Mexico economics professor Micha Gisser has some straight-forward solutions for the nation's health care problems. Simply put, increased reliance on market forces will bring costs down and improve quality. The article which appeared earlier this week in the Albuquerque Journal is available here. [...]
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    Fetched: September 20, 2009, 10:56pm EDT

  • Richardson Spends State Funds Unconstitutionally

    Since 2003, Governor Bill Richardson has been usurping the constitional power of the Legislature to determine how funds are spent from the state treasury. Because the Legislature failed to act quickly enough, he asserted control over $61 million of unallocated federal funds received under the 2003 Jobs Growth Tax ... [...]
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    Fetched: September 17, 2009, 4:57pm EDT

  • Discussing the 1/4 cent transportation tax

    Recently, I sat down with Channel 13 to discuss the 1/4 cent transportation tax that is on Albuquerque ballots in this fall's municipal election (taking place now). Footage of the story is available here. Also, the Mayor's streetcar proposal landed on the front page of the Albuquerque Journal again ... [...]
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    Fetched: September 17, 2009, 12:01pm EDT

  • You’re Invited to Attend New Mexico Turnaround Conference

    This coming Friday and Saturday will see the start of what will hopefully be an annual conference. The even, which is being held in Albuquerque is called "New Mexico Turnaround Conference." The schedule which is not completely filled in yet, can be found here. I will be on a panel, [...]
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    Fetched: September 16, 2009, 7:02pm EDT

  • Notes on the Albuquerque City Election

    Early voting starts today and runs through October 2nd. Details on locations etc. are available here. Remember, one vote, especially in a low-turnout election like this one, can have a far greater impact than voting in national elections (I recommend you do both). There is a 1/4-cent tax cut on [...]
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    Fetched: September 16, 2009, 10:57am EDT

  • This week’s episode of speaking freely posted

    On Speaking Freely this past Saturday (listen here), Jim and I covered both the national tea party taking place in Washington and the tea party in Santa Fe. Then, we discussed the US Constitution with New Mexico Rep. Dennis Roch who has introduced a resolution re-asserting our rights under the [...]
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    Fetched: September 15, 2009, 4:01pm EDT

  • Agreeing and Disagreeing with Doctor Critic of Obamacare

    Dr. Brian Jellison, a neuroradiologist from Santa Fe had an interesting critique of Obamacare and the Congressional authors of health care reform. In the article, which appeared in the Albuquerque Journal, Jellison critiqued the backgrounds of Reps. John Dingell, Charlie Rangel, and Henry Waxman and their lack of health care [...]
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    Fetched: September 15, 2009, 12:01pm EDT

  • Do we need to permanently extend Albuquerque’s 1/4 cent transportation tax?

    Soon, Albuquerque voters will be asked whether or not to permanently extend the 1/4 cent transportation tax that has been in place for 10 years and is set to expire. I discussed the reasons why this might not be such a good idea in an opinion piece in today's Albuquerque [...]
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    Fetched: September 14, 2009, 3:03pm EDT

  • Using Unions to Destroy FedEx (and hurt the US economy)

    The problem with government regulating every facet of the US economy is that invariably, politicians are swayed by the electoral or campaign-donation-making power of the various interests at play, not the merits of the arguments on either side. This scenario is currently being played out in a struggle between shipping [...]
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    Fetched: September 11, 2009, 12:21pm EDT

  • Obama’s Five Biggest Fibs

    The following is a list of the top five fibs contained in President Obama's health care speech last night. Link is available here. 1. Middle class tax hikes: “The middle class will realize greater [health] security, not higher taxes.” This would be a big departure from the House bill ... [...]
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    Fetched: September 10, 2009, 4:13pm EDT

  • Because there’s no such thing as a free lunch (or free blog)

    Today, on 09-09-09, the Rio Grande Foundation launched a new club called "The Nine Club." While we understand that blogging is relatively cheap based on the technologies that are now currently available, but that is only one small part of what we do. Check out The 9 Club as unique [...]
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    Fetched: September 09, 2009, 3:15pm EDT

  • This Week’s Episode of Speaking Freely Online

    This week, Jim and I discussed the science and policy of global warming including cap-and-trade and carbon taxes with John Fleck, science reporter with the Albuquerque Journal. The show can be found here. [...]
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    Fetched: September 09, 2009, 9:15am EDT

  • Internationally-Recognized Economic Expert Margo Thorning to Discuss Global Warming/Cap-and-Trade at Albuquerque Event

    The Rio Grande Foundation, New Mexico Prosperity Project, and CARE invite you to a presentation and discussion: The Impact of Climate Change Legislation on the Economy of New Mexico and the Southwest with guest speaker Dr. Margo Thorning Senior VP and Chief Economist at the American Council for Capital Formation. The [...]
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    Fetched: September 08, 2009, 1:12pm EDT

  • ObamaCare and America’s Current Entitlement Problem

    Too often when describing the size and scope of the United States government, we use massive numbers that are not relevant to regular people in their daily lives. The Center for Individual Freedom has produced an excellent video (below) to illustrate the problem and how government-run medical reforms now moving [...]
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    Fetched: September 05, 2009, 1:14pm EDT

  • Medicaid a Prime Target for State Budget Cuts

    While the health care debate has been focused on President Obama and Congress for the last several months, each state still has a great deal to say about health care spending within its borders. Nowhere is this more the case than in Medicaid. As I point out in my new [...]
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    Fetched: September 04, 2009, 11:17am EDT

  • Reforming Health Care Takes Smart Shoppers

    Albuquerque Dr. Barry Krakow hits the nail on the head in his excellent opinion piece in the Albuquerque Journal. And I'm not saying this just because he mentions my advocacy for such "consumerist" behavior in the health care sector at Rep. Martin Heinrich's health care town hall meeting. Writes ...' [...]
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    Fetched: September 03, 2009, 4:14pm EDT

  • 9/12 March on Washington

    September has already been a busy month here at the Rio Grande Foundation. Although I won't personally be making my way to Washington, the Rio Grande Foundation has signed on in support of the 9/12 March on Washington. If you have the time and ability to take the anti-tax, pro-liberty' [...]
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    Fetched: September 03, 2009, 4:14pm EDT

  • Health Care Debate Footage Now Online

    In case you missed it (or you attended and want to share it with your friends), footage of the recent health care debate between Michael Cannon of the Cato Institute and Carter Bundy of the American Federation of State County and Municipal Employees. In addition to the footage which can [...]
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    Fetched: September 03, 2009, 4:14pm EDT

  • Mayor Marty interview/candidate survey now online

    In case you missed it, Jim and I interviewed Albuquerque Mayor Martin Chavez on "Speaking Freely" this past Saturday on AM 1550. The link is available here. Also, the Mayor has completed his candidate survey and that is now posted online here. The surveys of the other mayoral and council [...]
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    Fetched: September 03, 2009, 4:14pm EDT

  • Albuquerque’s Convention Center: Should it be expanded?

    A few weeks ago in the Albuquerque Journal business section, Dale Lockett of the Convention and Visitors Bureau and Charlie Gray of the Inkeepers Association made a push for a downtown arena and convention center expansion. Given what I knew to be the economic reality of the convention business, I [...]
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    Fetched: September 03, 2009, 4:14pm EDT

  • Taxpayer cash for clunker ideas

    This is an excellent commentary by Paul Driessen on "Cash for Clunkers" and other programs the politicians are considering to build on the alleged "success" of the idiotic "Cash for Clunkers" program. Feel free to distribute with attribution to Mr. Driessen First cars, next power plants. Wasting natural resources to promote [...]
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    Fetched: September 03, 2009, 4:14pm EDT

  • The Underappreciated Role of the AMA in Driving Up Health Care Costs

    Economist Milton Friedman, in his book "Capitalism and Freedom" argued passionately about the economic harms associated with professional licensing. Friedman's basic point was that "The biggest advocates for licenses in an industry are, usually, the people in the industry, wishing to keep out potential competitors." Unfortunately, with all the focus [...]
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    Fetched: September 03, 2009, 4:14pm EDT

  • New Mexico Loses Tens of Millions of Dollars in Investment Placed by Richardson Ally Correra (Again)

    New Mexico lost nearly $40 million of its $55 million investment in Antares Investment Partners, a Greenwich, CT real estate investment trust. But Marc Correra, a Richardson ally, came out a lot better. As a third-party placement agent for the deal, he participated in $600,000 in fees. The Greenwich Time concluded [...]
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    Fetched: September 03, 2009, 4:14pm EDT

  • Ted Kennedy’s Legacy

    Sen. Ted Kennedy was no friend of free markets and limited government, but as John Berlau of the free market Competitive Enterprise Institute notes, there was a brief time during the 1970s when Kennedy rightly saw free markets and "progressive" policies as one and the same. One wishes that this [...]
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    Fetched: September 03, 2009, 4:14pm EDT

  • Jim and Paul to Interview Albuquerque Mayor Martin Chavez Saturday

    Having already interviewed mayoral candidates Richard Romero and RJ Berry, Jim Scarantino and Paul Gessing will be interviewing their 3rd and final candidate for Albuquerque Mayor, the incumbent, Martin Chavez, this Saturday on Speaking Freely. The show airs from 9am to 10am on AM 1550 KIVA, Albuquerque's New Talk Radio. [...]
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    Fetched: September 03, 2009, 4:14pm EDT

  • Check Out ABQ Journal's Online Health Care Debate

    This week the Albuquerque Journal is holding an online debate over the various health care issues now being debated in Congress. I was asked to participate along with Brian Colón, the Chairman of the Democratic Party of New Mexico, Todd Sandman of Presbyterian Healthcare Services, Dr. Vicki [...]

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    Posted: July 07, 2009, 12:56pm EDT

  • Denver's Streetcar/Light Rail Horror Story

    There are so many stories out there about rail systems that over-promise, under-deliver, and go way over budget. Denver is one major city that unwisely passed major tax hikes (with voter approval) to pay for a train system. In that city's case, the train is called FasTracks. Unfortunately, although [...]

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    Posted: July 06, 2009, 1:14pm EDT
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