With just a few weeks left in the 2013 legislative session, the wheat is beginning to separate from the chaff among legislators in terms of pro-and anti-freedom votes in the New Mexico Legislature.

Click here to access the site.

The good news is that two bills (both of them positive in terms of freedom) have passed both houses at this point.
Under the “Index Summary” tab, you can see how many points, positive or negative, your legislator has earned so far this session;

Under the “Compare Parties” tab you can find out which of the two parties in Santa Fe are voting FOR freedom and which are voting AGAINST freedom;

The “Legislators” tab allows you to look at details of each legislator;

The “Legislator Record” allows users to see which bills are included in the analysis and whether they are pro or anti-freedom;

The “Rated Legislation” tab allows users to access analyses for each bill included in the report and better understand the ratings.

Unfortunately, not much in the way of needed reforms has passed out of either house this session to date. Fewer bills have made it through both houses.

And, so far, the following priorities have either been killed completely or are on “life support.”

No “Right to Work;”

No pro-business tax reforms;

No serious effort at deregulation;

No school choice; and

No serious education reforms;

Our tracking site called “Freedom Index” allows users to see how all members of both parties are voting on freedom issues. More importantly, users (including legislators) can find out how pro-or anti-freedom various pending bills are.

With less than two weeks left in the legislative session, a lot can happen. We’re not impressed with the lack of action on some of the big economic and educational problems facing the state, but we remain hopeful that some additional pro-freedom reforms can take place in the closing days of the session. Be sure to contact your legislators to share your views with them.

With just a few weeks left in the 2013 legislative session, the wheat is beginning to separate from the chaff among legislators in terms of pro-and anti-freedom votes in the New Mexico Legislature.

Click here to access the site.

The good news is that two bills (both of them positive in terms of freedom) have passed both houses at this point.
Under the “Index Summary” tab, you can see how many points, positive or negative, your legislator has earned so far this session;

Under the “Compare Parties” tab you can find out which of the two parties in Santa Fe are voting FOR freedom and which are voting AGAINST freedom;

The “Legislators” tab allows you to look at details of each legislator;

The “Legislator Record” allows users to see which bills are included in the analysis and whether they are pro or anti-freedom;

The “Rated Legislation” tab allows users to access analyses for each bill included in the report and better understand the ratings.

Unfortunately, not much in the way of needed reforms has passed out of either house this session to date. Fewer bills have made it through both houses.

And, so far, the following priorities have either been killed completely or are on “life support.”

No “Right to Work;”

No pro-business tax reforms;

No serious effort at deregulation;

No school choice; and

No serious education reforms;

Our tracking site called “Freedom Index” allows users to see how all members of both parties are voting on freedom issues. More importantly, users (including legislators) can find out how pro-or anti-freedom various pending bills are.

With less than two weeks left in the legislative session, a lot can happen. We’re not impressed with the lack of action on some of the big economic and educational problems facing the state, but we remain hopeful that some additional pro-freedom reforms can take place in the closing days of the session. Be sure to contact your legislators to share your views with them.

If you don't read the great reporting over at New Mexico Watchdog, you should. Recently, our watchdog, Scarantino, reported that a local member of the New Mexico House of Representatives, Miguel Garcia, has been reimbursed for some unusual "campaign expenditures" and dubious travel expenses to and from Santa Fe. KRQE Channel 13 picked up the story and did a great in-depth interview with Jim on last night's 10pm broadcast.

Representative bills for massages, miles

The Rio Grande Foundation and Drug Policy Alliance recently hosted a briefing for candidates on criminal justice issues including civil asset forfeiture. Marc Levin of the Texas Public Policy Foundation and Right on Crime made the following remarks:

7-31-12 Marc Levin on Criminal Justice from Paul Gessing on Vimeo.

Summer vacations may be in full-swing for many, but the upcoming week will be an extremely busy one for the Rio Grande Foundation.

This Tuesday, July 17, Rio Grande Foundation president Paul Gessing will be speaking to the Albuquerque Tea Party's meeting. The meeting will last from 7:00-9:00pm and is held at East Gate Church at 12120 Copper Avenue, NE, in Albuquerque.

Gessing will be discussing the recent US Supreme Court ruling on Obamacare and how this will/can effect the upcoming General Election and what average citizens can do in response.

On Wednesday, July 18, The Libre Initiative and Rio Grande Foundation present:

LIBRE ON THE ROCKS!

From 5:30 pm – 7:30 pm at The Apothecary Lounge Rooftop Patio at Hotel Parq Central which is located at: 806 Central Ave, SE in Albuquerque.

Come join us for a unique opportunity to gather in an informal setting, share drinks, food and conversation, and celebrate liberty and freedom. Light appetizers and non-alcoholic beverages will be provided. Happy Hour special will be available during the event!

Lastly, join us this Thursday, July 19, from 4:30 - 6:30 pm at the MCM Elegante Hotel, Albuquerque for the New Mexico Business and Social Hour sponsored by the New Mexico Business Coalition.

The Rio Grande Foundation is pleased to send out the following message in support of the New Mexico Business Coalition’s “Business and Social Hour.” In addition to the agenda outlined below, Foundation President Paul Gessing will briefly address the meeting on the topic of the Foundation’s new report “Right-to-Work and Economic Growth.”

The New Mexico Business Coalition (NMBC) is pleased to invite you to a BASH (Business and Social Hour) on July 19th!

We will also have a presentation by journalist turned media analyst, Mark Mathis. Mark studied our use of oil for ten years and what he found shocked him so much he made a movie called 'spOILed'.

The oil and gas industry is a key economic driver in New Mexico which frequently leads to debate among policymakers and voters. Mark's comments on what he believes is misinformation, distortions, and outright lies about the industry are sure to generate some great discussion! Be a part of that discussion on July 19th!

Introductions of elected, appointed and those running for office begin at 5:10 pm. Limited Seating, RSVP today

Jonah Goldberg spoke in Albuquerque on his new book "Tyranny of Cliches: How Liberals Cheat in the War of Ideas" and the 2012 elections. We had another sellout crowd in attendance and a great time. Video of Jonah's speech can be found below. For those who couldn't make it or would like a copy of Jonah's book, the Rio Grande Foundation has a limited supply of signed copies. Call us at: 505-264-6090 for details.

Jonah Goldberg presentation on Tyranny of Cliches in Albuquerque, New Mexico from Paul Gessing on Vimeo.

Journalist and author John Stossel recently spoke at a Rio Grande Foundation event in Albuquerque. Footage of his talk can be found below:

John Stossel's presentation in Albuquerque: April 25, 2012 from Paul Gessing on Vimeo.

His slides are available here.

(Albuquerque) The Rio Grande Foundation has hired Thomas Molitor as the new, New Mexico Watchdog.

Molitor is a graduate of University of California, Berkeley, School of Economics. He spent 15 years in the corporate communications field where he occupied senior management roles for agencies inside the four largest communications holding companies worldwide – Omnicom, WPP, Publicis and Interpublic. Living in Silicon Valley at the time, Thomas moved over to the world of venture capital for 10 years, having helped found three internet startup companies.

Since moving to New Mexico in 2005, Thomas has made economics, government affairs and politics a full-time obsession. He ran for the New Mexico state legislature, became a regular columnist for two years on NMPolitics.Net, wrote op-ep pieces that have appeared in the Albuquerque Journal, Huffington Post, Wall Street Journal and American Action Forum.

Thomas believes there is a modern day citizen journalist reformation emerging – an Internet Reformation. It is led by the Internet making everything in life more transparent, most importantly government affairs and how taxpayers’ money is being spent. Prior to joining New Mexico Watchdog as a reporter, Thomas was an adjunct scholar at the Rio Grande Foundation.

Said Rio Grande Foundation president Paul Gessing, “Molitor will be a great addition to watchdog journalism in New Mexico. In recent years, we have made great strides in making government in the Land of Enchantment more accountable and transparent. Thomas Molitor will be working full-time (and more) to expand upon those successes.” Molitor’s work, including the latest update on the “Earthstone” saga at the State Investment Council, will be available at: http://newmexico.watchdog.org/