I am writing today to announce the closure of the New Mexico Independent. After three and a half years of operation in New Mexico, the board of the American Independent News Network, has decided to shift publication of its news…
While environmental activists played their part yesterday during demonstrations at the capitol building, going so far as to dress up as solar panels and to sing the tune of “You Are My Sunshine,” their counterparts, the anti-cap-and-trade contingency who has…
Roughly one quarter of University of New Mexico students are unimpressed with the state’s flagship public school, according to a survey that questioned college students about their higher education experiences.
According to our panelists, winners include women and Hispanic Republicans. Losers include Libertarian Republicans and policy wonks.
President Obama told Senate Republicans today that he will send up to 1,200 National Guard troops to the border and request an additional $500 million in supplemental funding for border security. If you had $500 million to spend on improving the situation at the border, what would you spend it on?
What effect with Sarah Palin’s endorsement of Susana Martinez have on the governor’s race? So far, our panelists seem to think it will help her in the primary election June 1—but not in the general election in November.
This week, The Independent, KNME and KUNM teamed up for a live event with New Mexico mayors, and we talked about what they’re doing to shore up local economies and how they’re trying to create and retain jobs. So this week our online panelists are talking about what innovative steps can local governments take to bring good jobs to New Mexico—and keep them here?
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?
A person filing an ethics complaint and then going public would face much harsher penalties than a public official found to have violated the public trust under a State Ethics Commission proposal the Senate Finance Committee passed Tuesday.
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?
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.
Sen. Peter Wirth plans to introduce legislation that would change the way the state collects corporate income tax, requiring multi-state companies with stores in New Mexico to pay taxes to the state on profits earned here. Although similar bills have been defeated several times before, Wirth is hoping that the state’s budget crisis may increase support.
While good-government organizations such as Common Cause were lauded for their efforts in pushing for contribution limits, a sometimes unheralded ally was New Mexico’s business community, whose representatives doggedly lobbied state lawmakers through this year’s session.
What’s the old line? Be careful what you ask for.
That thought must have crossed Gov. Bill Richardson‘s mind Thursday. His staff called a news conference at the Capitol to showcase the governor signing two ethics reform bills. One…
Not only is New Mexico’s unemployment fund one of the most solvent in the nation, its economy is getting a boost from unemployment payments.
For every $1 in unemployment benefits paid, the local economy benefits by $1.73, according…
