Author: Podcast Producer

On this week’s interview, Paul sits down with Michael Johnson. Michael has a fascinating background in business and once studied economics under both Milton Friedman and Paul Samuelson.

But Mike is also a car enthusiast and collector. And he has some serious questions about Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham’s plans to take New Mexico vehicles to 52 miles per gallon by 2022.

Mike is a wealth of information and provided numerous links to find out more details about the challenge of getting automobiles to run at such high efficiency while also satisfying consumer needs.

https://cars.usnews.com/cars-trucks/cars-with-the-best-gas-mileage

https://autoalliance.org/in-your-state/NM/

https://www.greencarcongress.com/2019/09/20190930-sivak.html

https://www.insidesources.com/n-m-business-leaders-call-state-plan-for-new-emissions-standards-devastating/

https://thehill.com/opinion/energy-environment/460496-electric-vehicles-wont-save-us-from-climate-change
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Paul interviews Dick Minzner. Dick has been a long-time fixture in New Mexico politics for many years. He’s been head of the Tax and Revenue Department, a Democrat Legislator, and lobbyist to name just a few of his many roles. They begin by discussing a bit of that history as well as some of the policy decisions that have improved or harmed New Mexico’s economy.

Paul and Dick discuss tax reform and how to best leverage the $900 million surplus in ways that make New Mexico more competitive. Should we eliminate the income tax, reform the GRT (if so, how?), or should NM just ditch the GRT and go to a sales tax? What ARE the big problems with the GRT anyway? Why does it persist?

Finally, Paul and Dick discuss film subsidies and the economic reality of that program.
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On this week’s episode of Tipping Point New Mexico, Paul and Wally discuss Gov. Lujan Grisham’s latest big-government proposal. She wants to force New Mexicans to buy cars averaging 52 mpg by 2022. That’s more aggressive than California! And, does she really have that power?

APS is asking for $290 million from voters this fall albeit with no tax hike. What should voters think about this?

Liberal groups won’t debate Democracy Dollars. Our new website is set up to educate people on this issue: http://nowaynm.org/.

RGF in the news on Gov.’s plans for free college.

A judge has banned logging, timber management, and firewood collection on Forest Service lands. What’s the story here?

Finally, Paul recently presented to a group from Europe on the work of the Rio Grande Foundation.
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On this week’s interview, Paul sits down with Scott Lopez. Born and raised in Española, NM and a graduate of the University of New Mexico, Scott has served our nation in the military and been a successful business leader and entrepreneur. Paul and Scott discuss what New Mexico needs to do to unleash its vast human and economic potential.

Then, Paul and Scott discuss a nationwide project Scott is working on to improve the national political discourse called Better Angels. Scott is the State Director for New Mexico and his group recently held an event in Santa Fe. Paul and Scott discuss that and how more people around our State can get involved.
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On this week’s podcast, Paul and Wally take on Gov. Michelle Lujan-Grisham’s plan to make higher education “free.” They outline some of the major problems with the proposal as well as some of the unforeseen pitfalls associated with its design. With “free” college on the agenda for 2020, this is a must-listen!
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On this week’s Tipping Point New Mexico interview Paul talks to two staffers with Americans for Tax Reform. On the first segment, Patrick Gleason who handles state affairs discusses a new study he wrote which details both the size of each state government and the growth of government in recent years. New Mexico is both the 2nd-biggest state government AND the 2nd-fastest growing in the nation.

Gleason also shared information on the most important ballot measure in the nation which is Colorado’s vote on its Taxpayers’ Bill of Rights. Finally, Paul and Patrick talk about carbon taxes.

In the second segment Director of Special Projects, Paul Blair discusses the recent controversy over vaping and why state and federal restrictions and taxes are going to have a negative impact.
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On this week’s discussion podcast, Paul shares details about his recent trip to Carlsbad for the Mayor’s Energy Conference including an appearance from former Gov. Susana Martinez as well as a talk by Gov. Lujan-Grisham. Paul and Wally briefly discuss the drastic increase in oil prices in the wake of the attack in Saudi Arabia and the point made repeatedly at the conference that the Permian Basin is the “safest” oil source in the world.

The State of New Mexico is taking on the issue of ground-level ozone. The good news is that ozone levels are already falling and have been for some time. Regulations tend to last far beyond their utility. CAFE standards are one area in which President Trump is trying to restore reasonableness.

Christina Sandefur spoke in Albuquerque and discussed the importance of property rights including two big issues that the Rio Grande Foundation has had tangible success on.

Finally, President Trump is in New Mexico. He clearly thinks he can win the State. Wally and Paul discuss how the Electoral College makes New Mexico relevant in presidential races and whether Trump can indeed win New Mexico’s 5 electoral votes.
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Paul interviews local activist and attorney Pat Rogers about the “Democracy Dollars” ballot measure that will be on City of Albuquerque ballots this fall. What does the proposal claim to do? What are the problems with this new source of public campaign financing? Who is going to be eligible to collect and return these “Dollars” which will cost Albuquerque taxpayers real money?

This is probably the most important single issue on Albuquerque ballots this fall. Paul and Pat explain why.
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On this week’s discussion episode, Paul and Wally discuss the Foundation’s lawsuit against Bernalillo County over public records relating to the recently-passed paid time off ordinance.

In an opinion piece published in the Albuquerque Journal, the Foundation also argued against a newly-imposed fire tax in Albuquerque that was passed under the radar. Also, the Journal editorialized in a more critical manner than they ever have before on New Mexico’s generous film subsidies. They take issue with the program’s lack of transparency, but this is good news as the media has largely bought whatever Hollywood has been selling on film subsidies.

A new Americans for Tax Reform report finds New Mexico State government is 2nd-largest in the nation and that it actually grew by the 2nd most among US states even during the relatively fiscally-restrained Martinez Administration years of 2012 to 2017. Paul and Wally discuss.

No amount of money is enough for New Mexico’s grasping government. Despite record revenues and growth in government, the State’s top income tax rate looks like it will be heading from 4.9% to 5.9% in a little over one year. Paul and Wally discuss how this impacts small businesses in New Mexico.
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