Jim Baca

With all the excitement about the Lobos and the Aggies in the NCAA, let’s talk about how much of an impact athletics really have on economic development. Should New Mexico be investing as much money as it does in college athletics?

Gov. Bill Richardson says he “hates” the food tax, but by reimposing the gross receipts tax on food, the state would save around $68 million that it’s been giving local governments to compensate for stripping the tax a few years ago. That’s lot of money. Are Richardson’s hands tied? Most of our panelists vote for a veto.

At the request of legislative leaders, Gov. Richardson on Tuesday postponed the special legislative session by five days. Why do lawmakers want to craft a budget deal before they deliberate in public?

“Stop and think about it: A legislator doesn’t feel comfortable with somebody with a concealed weapon in the place that he works, but it’s OK for that person to go into other places where other people work,” Jim Baca, former New Mexico state liquor director, told The Independent Monday. Baca was referring to a bill [...]

Just before sunrise, the House shot SB 40, Concealed Weapons in Certain Restaurants, to the Governor’s desk without much of a bang.

So far this legislative session, we’ve seen several proposals to reinstate the gross receipts tax on food. The one that seems to have gained traction would apply the GRT to non-staple foods, using the WIC guidelines. That means that while soda and ketchup would be taxable, so would white flour tortillas, pasta and rice. But taxing food could bring in millions to fill a gaping budget hole. Should the state tax food?

Nine states allow voters to register and vote on the same day; Here in New Mexico, two bills working through the Legislature would allow same-day registration at early voting sites. The New Mexico County Clerks Affiliate has endorsed the bills, as have several independent groups. But many Republicans believe it will lead to voter fraud. What do you think?

According to an analysis released this week by the Foundation for Open Government, the current proposals for an independent state ethics commission would make virtually all of the meetings and documents of that commission confidential. But is it worth establishing an independent ethics commission if the panel’s work is secret?

The New Mexico Independent was back for another day of live blogging from the Roundhouse in Santa Fe. Today our co-host was former Albuquerque mayor, former New Mexico Natural Resources Trustee, former State Land Commissioner and blogger Jim Baca.

Click the box below to read all of the action.

This week we’re talking about something many of us probably couldn’t have envisioned only a few years ago: With New Mexico’s adoption of medical marijuana comes a bill that would tax the sale of medical marijuana. Should New Mexico tax legal sale of the drug?

UPDATED This week our panelists respond to the question: “Should we amend the New Mexico state constitution to define marriage as being between one man and one woman?” On Friday, panelist Bill Jordan added his thoughts, including this: “…as Dr. [Martin Luther] King so rightly noted, when discrimination against anyone is tolerated, discrimination against everyone is possible.”

A bill in the state Legislature could change the way the state deals with guns and alcohol. See what our panelists say and share your own opinions. Updated Friday: The New Mexico Restaurant Association expresses its strong opposition to the bill.

Gov. Bill Richardson’s budget proposal is similar to the recommendations issued by the Legislative Finance Committee, the Legislature’s budget committee: Bottom line, the competing budget proposals are similar. They recommend pain.

Welcome to our new feature, The Independent Forum! Every week we’ll ask a different question and solicit responses from a diverse group of New Mexico thinkers. New responses are added all the time. From Wednesday: Bill Jordan of Voices for Children and Steven Robert Allen of Common Cause.

State oil and gas regulators are spread too thin to do their jobs effectively, concludes an investigative piece by ProPublica that compares the degree to which drilling has increased in 22 states with staffing levels at the state agencies charged with overseeing the drilling. Data in the report, from the Bureau of Land Management and [...]