On this week's Tipping Point conversation Paul and Wally discuss: MLG calls a special session starting July 18. We don't have an exact agenda, but initial statements seem to point to some actual crime reforms, not gun grabs. Time will tell.  RGF publishes a report on "The Viscolli Gun Loophole" Some friends of Michelle seem to receive preferential treatment.  A new federal education report highlights the need for dramatic improvements (even from the Federal Government's perspective.  New Mexico has seen an uptick in preschool attendance, but no word on results. NM has had some level of state support for pre-K in place since 2005. Our politicians are betting on economic losers including Virgin Galactic and Maxeon Solar.  Wallethub: NM employers face 4th biggest challenge finding workers. Meanwhile the LFC tackles workforce participation issues (again):  Paul's op-ed on Biden's horrible LNG policies hits papers over the weekend

On this week's interview Paul talks to Johnny Johnson, executive director of the New Mexico Trucking Association. Like the auto industry truckers are also being forced by government policymakers to embrace electric vehicles. Find out more about that here. Paul and Johnny also talk about the importance of the trucking industry and the prospects of self-driving trucks.  Truckers are an underappreciated but critical force in both the US and New Mexico economies.

Paul and Wally discuss the potential impact of the new Israel/Iran conflict. The good news is that America's relative oil independence has not caused oil prices to skyrocket. Also, will this change Congress' approach to the stalled aid bills?   Biden's permitting ban on LNG exports is a loser across the spectrum. A former NPR executive recently said there's bias at NPR. Here's our story about NPR in New Mexico. NM is the only state in US to see a drop in immigrant numbers from 10 years ago. NM a mediocre 38th in Rich States, Poor States. A security firm "fires" their Albuquerque client due to danger of working in "International District."  NY Times: Film subsidies are money losers. A taxpayer-funded Southern NM abortion clinic location is still TBD.

On this week's interview Paul talks to Nella Domenici. Domenici is the Republican Party candidate for US Senate in New Mexico. She is longtime Senator Pete Domenici's daughter. Paul and Nella discuss what that was like and what formed her politics, her activism and efforts to reform education in New Mexico, and her candidacy for the US Senate and the issues she has with the incumbent.

New Mexico's House Republicans have elected new leaders. Paul and Wally know the players and discuss.  While I-40 crumbles NM asks feds for $250 million to reduce emissions on I-25. The left doubles down on EV mandates. MLG touts EV mandates (the transition is "inevitable" but must be subsidized and mandated). Tesla's dropping sales, MLG/Biden mandates outstrip estimates. NM ranks 30th overall in Wallethub tax burden report. APD garners national headlines for wrong reasons but the City Council fails to hold Chief Medina accountable as the department continues to languish...due to lack of accountability. RGF hosts an upcoming luncheon in Albuquerque and a dinner event in Roswell on April 22nd. Find out more about the book being discussed here.

On this week's interview Paul talks to William L. Kovacs. Kovacs was senior vice president for environment, technology & regulatory affairs for the U.S. Chamber of Commerce and a chief counsel on Capitol Hill. Kovacs has written three books including his newest, “Devolution of Power: Rolling Back the Federal State to Preserve the Republic.”  In this book Kovacs asks a basic question: Can a mismanaged federal government unite a polarized nation? If not, how do we divide? Check out this informative conversation with a former political insider.

NM SIC invests $50 million in CA-based climate investment fund.   Diane Denish used her political connections to MLG to squash a playground proposed for her neighborhood. CA fast food workers are losing their jobs as $20 minimum wage kicks in. Despite data to the contrary Santa FE County adopted a plastic bag ban.  RGF attempted to challenge NM's campaign finance laws passed in 2019. It was recently rejected by a federal judge (we're appealing). Former Rep. Williams Stapleton has been indicted on federal charges.

New Mexico's Public Education Department (under the direction of Gov. Lujan Grisham) has been aggressively pushing mandates on 5 day school weeks and a transformational change to the State's accreditation system. Paul talks to former NM legislator and current Logan Schools Superintendent Dennis Roch about these issues.

On this week's show Paul and Wally recognize the victims of the recent bridge collapse and boat incident in Baltimore and discuss how that will impact the economy.  New Mexico utility cost increases starting to kick in. But, at least in California, the carbon intensity of electricity generation is not falling. Land Commissioner Garcia Richard is right about one thing. Joe Biden has imposed his own EV mandate. RGF releases candidate guide for legislative candidates (and the public): https://errorsofenchantment.com/rgf-releases-candidate-guide-for-new-mexico-legislative-candidates/ New Mexico receives 3rd-worst ROI on its taxes according to Wallethub. The federal government hands Intel $8.5 billion in subsidies and another $11 billion in loan guarantees.

On this week's show Paul interviews retiring Democrat State Senator Bill Tallman. Tallman and Gessing discuss his long track record of public service prior to coming to New Mexico and serving as a State Senator. Tallman is a critic of New Mexico's capital outlay system and economic development approaches and Paul and Sen. Tallman discuss those. Tallman is also a supporter of electric vehicles and their subsidies and mandates which Paul questions him on.

Paul was in Alamogordo last week speaking to a Rotary club. He also had an opportunity to tour the New Mexico Museum of Space History.  A few Texans move to New Mexico & this is news?  Why do New Mexicans even pay taxes?  Despite Biden’s hostile policies toward the industry American oil production hit record levels this year amidst record global demand. You can find New Mexico data here.   NM ranked 2nd-most-dependent state on federal government by Wallethub. City of ABQ begins taxpayer-funded "ride share" service. Democrat Sen. Tallman (Bernalillo County) takes on New Mexico's broken capital outlay system in ABQ Journal op-ed.

On this week's Tipping Point interview Paul talks to Larry Behrens Communications Director of Power the Future, a pro-energy non-profit that works nationwide including here in New Mexico.  Paul and Larry discuss the start of the COVID emergency four years ago and their efforts to push back against the Gov.'s misguided and special-interest-favoring approach to COVID restrictions which destroyed numerous businesses and harmed New Mexico children (to name two impacts). Ultimately her policies failed to improve New Mexico's COVID outcomes.  The rest of the episode is dedicated to energy topics at the state and federal level from the recent legislative session and "clean fuels standard" and NM's ongoing boom. They also discuss the latest from the Biden administration and their lack of permitting for LNG projects.

Paul recently had a piece in National Review Online which details why New Mexico is a “Rich State with Poor People” In a second op-ed Paul discusses the fact that after four years New Mexico Still has no limits on public health emergencies. Paul experienced an electronic candidate nominating petition issue. The 4 day school week saga continues. No royalty rate increase was padded in the Legislature this session: Land Commissioner Garcia Richard reacted by taking her "marbles" and going home. RGF recently requested cost information relating to County EV’s. These are costly equipment. RGF provides comment on the Biden/Ben Ray Lujan vehicle kill switch. The House approved the Laken Riley Act, mandating that immigration authorities detain non-citizens charged with crimes. All NM Dems voted “no.” San Francisco voters recently (overwhelmingly) adopted Prop. F which will require single adults on city welfare to be screened for drug use. Paul wants to make New Mexico as conservative as San Francisco. In the recent Texas primary only six of the 16 anti-school-choice incumbents who ran for re-election won. Six lost outright and four were forced into May 28 runoffs. Traditionally, incumbents enter runoffs as underdogs because a majority of voters have already expressed themselves against them. Biden is wrong on shrinkflation of Snickers Bars.

On this week's interview Paul sits down with former NM legislator, former Congresswoman, and current candidate to regain her congressional seat, Yvette Herrell. Paul and Yvette discuss the current situation in Washington, especially immigration. They talk about the financial hole Washington is digging for the nation and what can be done about it. Finally, they discuss partisanship in Washington and whether she got along with any Democrats when she was in Congress.

In this week's conversation Paul and Wally discuss a fantastic editorial/cartoon in ABQ Journal Sunday. The Journal was reacting to the Gov. speaking to the ABQ Chamber of Commerce. Paul addressed the event immediately and explained that the Legislature did little for NM business this session. Wallethub report: New Mexico is a good state to be poor.  Santa Fe County is pursuing a discredited plastic bag ban. MLG: we need more housing (and signs bill subsidizing housing). Also MLG: we need to add costly new regulations on housing. A few gun/crime bills that passed this session have been signed by MLG. Paul and Wally have thoughts.

On this week's interview Paul talks to attorney and author Philip K. Howard. Howard is Chair of Common Good and a bestselling author, and has advised both parties on needed reforms. In his new book, Everyday Freedom (Rodin Books, 2024), he pinpoints the source of powerlessness that is fraying American culture and causing public failure, and offers a bold vision of simpler governing frameworks to re-empower Americans in their daily choices. Paul and Howard discuss the US Constitution as a framework for our society and public sector labor unions as villians in driving division and failure in American society.

Our tax dollars are now subsidizing the marijuana industry and it makes no sense (regardless of your views on marijuana).  State capital outlay bill has $16 million for UnitedStadium. PNM adds EV subsidies to existing/new subsidies and mandates. Also, Mercedes Benz said they'll continue producing gas powered cars after 2030.  An electric car charger has been pulled from the market over fears it could be hacked and used to attack the power grid. A new report says 0.37% of vehicles on the road in NM are electric. Is this article by 4 "progressive" NM legislators the most out of touch article on crime yet?

On this week's interview Paul sits down with Rep. John Block. Block has been a consistent voice for conservative principles in the Legislature since he took office in 2023. He also manages the Pinon Post, a political news site dealing with New Mexico politics. Block wound up coming in 2nd overall in the Foundation's Freedom Index this year. We discuss what happened and didn't happen in the 2024 session and how New Mexicans can work together to improve their state with the entire Legislature up for election later this year.

Paul and Wally both attended the Seinfeld show. They have numerous thoughts: 1) The City did a poor job with logistics.  2) The media didn't condemn the protests for simply targeting a Jewish comedian (same with Meow Wolf): 3) While Paul and Wally believe that protestors have the right to share their beliefs, they should be doing so with their elected officials. Freedom Index votes are finalized for the 2024 New Mexico legislative session.  As Paul noted in a recent blog post moderate Democrats came to the rescue of sanity in the 2024 session. Just in time for the election President Biden appears to be backing away from his EV overreach. MLG shows no signs of backing off. Meanwhile the ABQ Journal finally covered the adoption of costly new mandates requiring EV chargers.  The State is giving a cannabis business funds through the State's LEDA corporate welfare program.  Yesterday was President's Day. Here's our take on some of the best and worst.

Recapping some of the big issues/votes of the session: Paid Leave (SB 3) narrowly fails on House Floor after having gone through the Senate. The final tax bill has some small income tax rate reductions but doesn't do much: https://errorsofenchantment.com/taxes-and-spending-in-the-2024-session/ Worse, there are capital gains and corporate income tax hikes in the bill.  There WAS an interesting vote in the House that would have used the surplus effectively for economic growth but it failed: https://errorsofenchantment.com/attempt-to-return-more-of-surplus-to-new-mexicans-fails-on-party-line-vote/ There was an interesting vote in the Senate as well on simply indexing the tax to inflation: https://errorsofenchantment.com/nm-senators-go-on-the-record-on-indexing-social-security-tax-to-inflation/ Thankfully none of the alcohol taxes passed.  The Budget DOES include a prohibition on MLG's attempt to force districts to have 5 day school weeks, but she could line item veto that.  Clean Fuel Standard DID pass (unfortunately) with the NM Environment Department advertising: https://errorsofenchantment.com/nm-environment-department-advertises-in-support-of-legislation-currently-before-legislature/ Folks can find out how their legislators voted on the issues using our Freedom Index: https://riograndefoundation.org/freedom-index/#/ Paul and his daughter had a chance to meet Riley Gaines at the Legislature.