Rio Grande Foundation

Recent Articles

• 
  RGF had a day in court (10th Circuit to be exact) defending free speech
  by Paul Gessing
  January 22, 2021
  The Rio Grande Foundation is a staunch advocate for free speech and the ability for speech by those who want to speak without having their name and personal information spread all over the Internet and media outlets. Dating back to our efforts against Santa Fe’s proposed (and defeated) soda and sugary drinks tax, the Foundation […]
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  Initial wave of Worst Senate Bills to watch in 2021
  by Paul Gessing
  January 21, 2021
  With the Legislature meeting behind closed doors in a “virtual” environment, the potential for mischief is extreme in the 2021 Legislature. We know that Gov. Lujan Grisham has a few stated priorities for the session, but when it comes to the most “progressive” (big-government-oriented) Legislature in New Mexico history, some truly awful bills will be […]
• 
  Some quick facts before the 2021 legislative session kicks off
  by Paul Gessing
  January 19, 2021
  As the first-ever “virtual” New Mexico legislative session kicks off we believe it is important for New Mexico policymakers to have some basic information about New Mexico’s economy. New Mexico tax burdens are not low relative to neighboring states. The chart below is from the Federation of Tax Administrators. With far heavier tax burdens than […]
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  Paul talks to KOB TV about drawbacks of a closed New Mexico legislative session
  by Paul Gessing
  January 18, 2021
  Populists on both sides of the political aisle may believe that not having lobbyists in the Roundhouse for the 2021 Legislative session will be a good thing. RGF’s Paul Gessing sat down with KOB TV to discuss why the lack of lobbyists (both citizens AND professionals) and the information they provide could result in “half-baked” […]

Errors of Enchantment

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

• Tipping Point NM episode 268: Representative Greg Nibert – NM Legislative Session
  January 21, 2021 by Paul Gessing
  Paul interviews Rep. Greg Nibert, a member of the New Mexico House of Representatives from Roswell. Nibert is sponsoring critical legislation that would give legislators a “seat at the table” in future emergencies. No longer would one person, the Gov., be given or be able to take the kind of absolute control we have seen […]
• Initial wave of Worst Senate Bills to watch in 2021
  January 21, 2021 by Paul Gessing
  With the Legislature meeting behind closed doors in a “virtual” environment, the potential for mischief is extreme in the 2021 Legislature. We know that Gov. Lujan Grisham has a few stated priorities for the session, but when it comes to the most “progressive” (big-government-oriented) Legislature in New Mexico history, some truly awful bills will be […]
• Assessing New Mexico’s “Green” Amendment
  January 20, 2021 by Paul Gessing
  A group of Democratic Senators has proposed a “Green” amendment to New Mexico’s Constitution. It has been introduced as SJR 3 and, relative to most bills, it is very short. If adopted by the Legislature and passed via a vote of the people, the amendment essentially creates a “right” to a clean environment (whatever that […]
• Tipping Point New Mexico episode 267: Unemployment, Vaccine, Back to School?, NM Capitol Lockdown and more
  January 19, 2021 by Paul Gessing
  Wallethub’s latest report on unemployment shows that New Mexico remains the 2nd-most impacted state in the nation when it comes to unemployment during the COVID 19 situation. Gov. Lujan Grisham held a press conference in which she discussed distribution of the vaccine and her latest plans. 400 person Harding County is in the green and Union County […]