Noon: The 3rd Ring of the Climate Change Circus

Marita Noon

During his 2008 campaign, President Obama made his support of climate-change interventions clear, stating that his presidency would slow the rise of the oceans and begin to heal the planet. He promised that a cap-and-trade system would curb global warming. He was elected, but the electorate hasn’t liked many of his policies. Cap and trade never passed Congress. To this day, President Obama has remained comparatively popular, but people believe he is taking the country in the wrong direction—toward a European system. Even his Secretary of Energy, Steven Chu, believes our gasoline prices should be higher, like Europe’s. Two weeks ago, my column addressed China’s act (ring #1) in the climate-change circus. Last week, I looked at Europe’s staunch support for climate-change intervention when the majority of the industrialized countries have rejected or resisted a Kyoto-style deal (ring #2). Using Italy as an example, I suggested that the country’s lack of natural resources made expensive renewable energy a viable option for them—though an economic tightrope destined to failure.

While Italy is in the news for its brutal economic woes, it shares several components with the US. Italy has a declining private sector with growth in government, disappearing industrial production being filled in with goods from China, and high gas prices/imported oil. Italians are still consuming, but now their euros are going to other countries—most notably China and the OPEC countries, resulting in exploding trade deficits. (Sound familiar?) Climate-change mitigation adds to the problem as it artificially inflates energy prices through the troubled Ponzi-like cap-and-trade scheme and creates more government jobs, regulation, fees, and hidden taxes. With the increasing production costs, industry declines and unemployment rises. Over time, some of those put out of work in industry may get absorbed by government—which keeps the unemployment numbers from looking as grim as they might without the government jobs. Government jobs do not create wealth, as mining and farming do, but like a funhouse mirror, they distort the true picture. Read rest of column here: News New Mexico

Noon: The 3rd Ring of the Climate Change Circus

There is a New Sheriff in Town, the Office of Business Advocacy is Advocating

Albuquerque Journal - A state electrical inspector who alleged code violations at a hotel remodeling project in Silver City was pulled off the job after a complaint by a hotel representative and intervention by the state’s new Office of Business Advocacy. The episode last summer prompted dissent within the Construction Industries Division, including from a deputy director who argued against reassigning the inspector, according to emails obtained by the Journal. After George A. Baldonado was removed from the remodeling project at the historic Murray Hotel in downtown Silver City in August, an out-of-town inspector was assigned. Meanwhile, top officials at CID rendered a different interpretation of the electrical code, and that apparently resolved the dispute. Read full story here (subscription required) News New Mexico

There is a New Sheriff in Town, the Office of Business Advocacy is Advocating

Governor Invites Skiers and Snowboarders

Susana Martinez

SANTA FE – With plenty of fresh new snow on the ground thanks to a recent string of winter weather, Governor Susana Martinez is urging all winter sports enthusiasts to take advantage of New Mexico’s ski areas, which are all open and operating. According to the New Mexico Tourism Department, ski conditions in the state are the best they have been in years, making the Land of Enchantment a great place to enjoy a winter vacation.

“New Mexico is truly a playground for anyone who enjoys the outdoors,” said Governor Martinez. “We have some of the best skiing and snowboarding opportunities anywhere in the United States. I hope that New Mexicans will take advantage of the outstanding conditions and anyone thinking of a vacation this winter will look to New Mexico for some great snow.”

Governor Invites Skiers and Snowboarders

Holder Blocks Photo Voter ID in S.C.

Eric Holder

Big Government - Eric Holder has been on a racialist bender the last few weeks. Last week, he said his skin color is responsible for the fury of criticism over his Justice Department allowing thousands of guns to flood Mexico. Friday, he blocked South Carolina from implementing a voter ID law under the Voting Rights Act saying it was racially discriminatory.
Sixteen states, including South Carolina, must submit all election law changes to the United States Justice Department for approval. States also have the option of bypassing DOJ and going straight to court for approval, an option they should readily choose. This law, unlike so many federal laws, actually has a legitimate Constitutional basis – the Fifteenth Amendment to the Constitution, which bars racial discrimination in voting.

Passed in 1965, it was designed to prevent states from drifting toward renewed discrimination. It is now being challenged as unconstitutionally outdated by Arizona and Shelby County (AL) in federal court.

Eric Holder’s Voting Section, where I used to work, interposed an objection late in the day today. These Christmas Eve gifts are becoming tiresome. In 2009 it was Obamacare. Today, it was blocking Voter ID. Read full story here: News New Mexico

Holder Blocks Photo Voter ID in S.C.

Occupy Santa Fe perseveres through winter

From KOB-TV.com - Occupy Santa Fe continues its protest outside at Railyard Park despite rain, sleet or snow. The group, an offshoot of the national anti-Wall Street protests, has helped Santa Fe live up to its name as the City Different by sleeping in tents, cooking outdoors and lighting campfires to keep warm every day and night. "The people who have been staying out here full time have had a real difficult time running out of wood, propane for cooking,” Kevin Williams said. The protesters are committed to their cause. "We are reclaiming the commons. We have a right to this earth. We are reclaiming a little piece of it,” Guthrie Miller said. "I have a place to go. I have a nice house. I come down here as much as I can." Read more

Occupy Santa Fe perseveres through winter

New Mexico Legislator Wants To Tax Online Purchases

From KOAT-TV.com - Millions of people looking to score a deal on Christmas gifts can find a good one online. Tax-free shopping lures people away from the lines at the mall, but now that tax break could be going away for New Mexico shoppers. Fifteen percent more tech-savvy shoppers cashed in on the tax-free online purchasing. But this year, $30 billion wasn't spend in malls, it was spent online, and New Mexico Rep. Eleanor Chavez, a Democrat from Bernalillo, says that's tax money the state is losing out on. Chavez is one of several lawmakers who will be sponsoring legislation this upcoming session that will allow New Mexico to tax online retailers. "It creates an unfair competition, so what we really want to do is level the playing field" says Chavez Small businesses suffer every time New Mexicans shop online, and at a time when the state is tightening its belt, the tax is money that could be well spent. Read more

New Mexico Legislator Wants To Tax Online Purchases

Town Hall Targets Superintendent

From the Rio Grande Sun - Española School District parents convened a town hall meeting Dec. 14 to discuss a wide array of problems — and possible solutions — facing the District since Superintendent Evelyn Maruska took over in May. Maruska was invited but did not attend the meeting, saying later she was meeting with principals. About 50 people, including one of Maruska’s bosses on the Española School Board, did attend the meeting. Parents first wanted to know why the District does not make more of an effort to let them know when the Board meets. Many also questioned the Board's 5 p.m. meeting time because this makes it extremely hard for working parents to attend. Parents, teachers and former students also criticized the integrated math program students are mandated to take to graduate. Some parents said they believe this course does not prepare students for college. Parents also lashed out at comments made by Curriculum and Instruction Director Christiana Blea-Valdez about how the District’s low test scores could not be compared to La Cueva High School or the Los Alamos School District because the ethnic makeup of those two populations is mostly Caucasian, while 90 percent of Española’s students are Hispanic. Many parents shouted for Blea-Valdez to resign or be fired for making these comments. Read more

Town Hall Targets Superintendent

Congress yanks cash away from N.M. nuke lab

From the Carlsbad Current Argus.com - LOS ALAMOS, N.M. (AP) — It will be about a year before construction can start on a new plutonium laboratory at Los Alamos after Congress pulled back funding for the project and restricted how the money can be spent.The Albuquerque Journal reports the congressional action also raises questions about the long-term prospects for the new Chemistry and Metallurgy Research Replacement Nuclear Facility. The final congressional report said that no construction activities are funded for the CMRR-Nuclear Facility during Fiscal Year 2012. Lab and federal documents suggest the construction to be deferred this year includes preliminary excavation work, the start of construction on a concrete plant for the massive structure and erection of the project's construction management trailers. In all, the lab has issued at least 45 notices to potential bidders regarding possible contracting opportunities on the project, according to a review by Trish Williams-Mello of the Los Alamos Study Group, which opposes the project. In addition to construction-related opportunities, the announcements include plans for acquiring equipment for the building for fire safety systems and guard facilities. While cutting from the administration's funding request for the nuclear facility, Congress gave full funding to a similar multibillion dollar project being built in Tennessee for work on uranium nuclear weapon parts. That led some observers to speculate that Congress may be setting the stage for further delays in the Los Alamos plutonium lab because of concerns the agency cannot afford to work on both large projects simultaneously. Read more

Congress yanks cash away from N.M. nuke lab