Rio Grande Foundation

Recent Articles

• 
  Video of discussion: Kevin Hassett and Paul Gessing Evaluate the Impact of President Biden’s Energy Policy
  by Paul Gessing
  February 25, 2021
  On Wednesday Feb. 24, the Paul Gessing of the Rio Grande Foundation and Kevin Hassett of the National Review Institute discussed the impact of the Biden Administration’s energy policies on New Mexico. You can watch the discussion which lasts about an hour below:
• 
  RGF’s Gessing in National Review: Deb Haaland Could Be a Disaster at Interior
  by Paul Gessing
  February 23, 2021
  This week, President Biden’s nominee for secretary of the Interior, New Mexico congresswoman Deb Haaland, is up for confirmation in the Senate. Haaland, a self-described “progressive,” and a member of the Pueblo of Laguna, would, if confirmed, become the first Native American to head Interior. The Department manages approximately 500 million acres of surface land, or about one-fifth […]
• 
  Independent analysis: New Mexico K-12 school opening rate among slowest in US
  by Paul Gessing
  February 23, 2021
  As if New Mexico students didn’t already face serious challenges, see this quote from the New York Times (which, to their credit has been pushing for schools to reopen).  Unfortunately, you can’t embed the map here, but as of Feb. 22, New  Mexico schools are among the least reopened in the entire nation, a situation that is […]
• 
  Let them play! And let them go to school!
  by Paul Gessing
  February 22, 2021
  The fact that Albuquerque Public Schools has refused to reopen its doors to students for the duration of the 2020-2021 school year means (under Gov. Lujan Grisham’s COVID 19 rubric) that students at APS schools won’t be able to play sports. This led to protests over the weekend. Should APS students be able to play […]

Errors of Enchantment

Errors of Enchantment is the official blog of the Rio Grande Foundation that addresses public policy issues facing New Mexico.

• The Legislature’s proposed pay raises are uncalled for & the budget COULD be used to reopen schools
  February 24, 2021 by Paul Gessing
  The two-tiered nature of New Mexico’s economy is displayed in stark relief in the budget being voted on today in the New Mexico House. While many private sector workers, especially low wage workers have lost their jobs thanks to Gov. Lujan Grisham’s COVID-induced lockdown, State workers in New Mexico are in line for a nice […]
• RGF’s Gessing in National Review: Deb Haaland Could Be a Disaster at Interior
  February 23, 2021 by Paul Gessing
      This week, President Biden’s nominee for secretary of the Interior, New Mexico congresswoman Deb Haaland, is up for confirmation in the Senate. Haaland, a self-described “progressive,” and a member of the Pueblo of Laguna, would, if confirmed, become the first Native American to head Interior. The Department manages approximately 500 million acres of surface land, or […]
• Independent analysis: New Mexico K-12 school opening rate among slowest in US
  February 23, 2021 by Paul Gessing
  As if New Mexico students didn’t already face serious challenges, see this quote from the New York Times (which, to their credit has been pushing for schools to reopen).  Unfortunately, you can’t embed the map here, but as of Feb. 22, New  Mexico schools are among the least reopened in the entire nation, a situation that is […]
• Ghost Guns are not the problem
  February 23, 2021 by Patrick M. Brenner
  The Rio Grande Foundation provided testimony to the House Judiciary Committee yesterday evening as it considered House Bill 166, a bill banning ghost guns and 3D printing. A ghost gun is a term for a typically homemade or improvised firearm that lacks commercial serial numbers, making these firearms harder to trace. There are laws already […]