Efforts to Kill Cap and Trade? Not Dead Yet
Posted by
Jim Spence
on Wednesday, February 9, 2011
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Economics,
New Mexico News
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Capitol Report New Mexico - Like that scene in “Monty Python and the Holy Grail,” the fight to undo cap and trade in New Mexico isn’t dead yet. Two pieces of legislation aimed at reversing regulations passed by the state Environmental Improvement Board (EIB) have been tabled in recent days, but that doesn’t mean more attempts won’t be made in this 60-day legislative session – or even, that those attempts won’t be successful. There’s been plenty of three-dimensional chess-playing at the Roundhouse when it comes to the EIB regulations, which were passed in November and December of last year before Bill Richardson left the governor’s office. Read full story here:
A.G. King Wants Richardson Docs UNSEALED
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Jim Spence
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New Mexico News
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| Gary King |
A.G. King Wants Richardson Docs UNSEALED
Martinez Names Spaceport Board
Posted by
Jim Spence
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New Mexico News
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| Susan Martinez |
Martinez Names Spaceport Board
Richardson's Seal Efforts Facing Full Assault
Posted by
Jim Spence
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New Mexico News
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| Bill Richardson |
Richardson's Seal Efforts Facing Full Assault
Governor Ticked Off at NM Gas Company
Posted by
Jim Spence
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Economics,
New Mexico News
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| Rob Nikolewski |
Governor Ticked Off at NM Gas Company
Pay to Play Losses Targeted
Posted by
Jim Spence
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New Mexico News
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| George Munoz |
The State Investment Council manages New Mexico's $14 billion permanent trust funds; the Land Grant Permanent Fund, the Severance Tax Permanent Fund, the Tobacco Settlement Permanent Fund and the Water Trust Permanent Fund. Those funds contribute recurring revenue for the operating budget of the state and provide resources to various fund beneficiaries. The SIC investment goals are to preserve the permanent endowment funds for future generations and also to provide future benefits by growing the funds at a rate at least equal to inflation.

Pay to Play Losses Targeted
Unemployment Fund in Jeopardy
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Jim Spence
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New Mexico News
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| Mimi Stewart |
Rep.Stewart said, “The money from this fund is important to the day-to-day lives of so many New Mexican families and it is imperative that it remain solvent. This measure will shore up the fund while preventing a deficit which would then require even greater contributions by employers. Sacrifices on both sides of the spectrum have to be made in order to make the fund financially sound.” She added, “I appreciate the input I’ve received from Governor Martinez and Secretary-Designee Bussey on this critical matter.” House Bill 59cs would increase employer contributions from Schedule 1 to Schedule 3 on January 1, 2012 and it would also reduce expenses.
Expense reductions would come from reforms that have been made in previous years. They include: full-time students; reduce dependent allowance from 4 to 2; and discontinuance of EB/HUP (Extended Benefits/High Unemployment Period) extensions contingent of 100% federal funding on July 1, 2011. Modernization reforms that were made in previous legislation that garnered federal money sponsored by Rep. Stewart will remain intact as a good-faith effort. Beverlee McClure, President and CEO of the Association of Commerce and Industry, and Jeff Parker, Regional Vice President for Manpower (a global employment services agency) and Chairman of Albuquerque Economic Development spoke in support of the bill. McClure called it “the best of a worst-case scenario.” House Bill 59cs now heads to the House Judiciary Committee for consideration.Unemployment Fund in Jeopardy
Sustainable Growth: A Threat to Private Property (Part 3)
Posted by
Jim Spence
Labels:
Guest Columns
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| Jim Harbison |
This editorial is based on an article from the American Policy Center. There are four parts to this drive to destroy private property. The first is the rural process called the Wildlands Project which calls for returning 50% of the lands in each state back to wilderness status. It does this by creating buffer zones around government owned lands such as national parks or forests. Human activity within the buffer zone is limited and is increasingly restricted until all human activity ceases.
Once this is accomplished the buffer zone is again extended and the process is repeated. Another method to stop human activity is to restrict livestock access to river banks which forces ranchers out of business. They also lock down access to natural resources (minerals and forests) on government lands to shut down these activities. When this occurs the towns that were supported by these industries die and the population moves into large towns and the former towns are abandoned. These programs are also known as “Heritage” areas for land management, protection and re-introduction of bears and wolves, rails to trails, conservation easements, and open space. There are currently 31 Wildlands Projects, 22 in the West including New Mexico, seeking to lock away 40 percent of the nation’s lands.The second part called Smart Growth occurs after they have driven people from the rural areas and into regimented and dense urban communities. Because of restrictions on development inside the controlled City limits housing prices rise. This is caused by a shortage of housing and the implementation of mandatory “green” initiatives or regulations. The Vision 2040 plan being adopted by the City of Las Cruces is an example of the restrictive guidelines that will force people into “growth nodes” and mandate if or where your private property can be developed.
The third part of this strategy requires the local Councils be controlled by a ruling elite class and the environmentally driven progressives supported by the many bureaucratic boards, commissions and non-government organizations (NGO’s) that live off the public trough. It is usually necessary to seek approval from many of these “socially driven” groups to make any changes or dispositions of your private property. In San Francisco, for example, the new federal building was required to install an elevator that only stopped at every third floor so that occupants are required to use the stairs as a forced method of exercise for “their own health”.The fourth part is the Public/Private Partnerships (PPPs) purportedly free enterprise organizations used to keep taxes down and using business to make society better. Many PPPs are nothing more than government-sanctioned monopolies that can charge what they want and use the power of the government to drive out any competition. The success of PPPs is not based on the quality of the product and service but on accepting the mantra of Sustainable Development even if it means going against their own products. This is why Home Depot uses its commercials to oppose cutting down trees and British Petroleum advocates reducing the use of oil.
Sustainable Development is not driven by free enterprise, but rather by the UN’s Agenda 21 blueprint for Sustainable Development. Unfortunately under the guise of some “better for society” banner we get involved in organizations or causes that have hidden motives, goals, and agendas. My intent in raising this issue is to raise public awareness of some of the unpublicized but clear objectives of the UN’s Agenda 21, and the ICLEI, to adversely impact private property ownership under the Sustainable Development banner.
Sustainable Growth: A Threat to Private Property (Part 3)
EMT Background Checks Coming?
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Jim Spence
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New Mexico News
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Las Cruces Sun-News - SANTA FE - A bill that would require criminal background checks for paramedics and emergency medical technicians cleared another hurdle Tuesday. Members of the Senate Public Affairs Committee passed the measure, the second committee to endorse it. The sponsor, Sen. Sander Rue, R-Albuquerque, said in an interview that he was optimistic it would become law. His bill would require applicants and license holders under the Emergency Medical Services Act to submit to a national criminal background check. Read full story here:

EMT Background Checks Coming?
Gradually Gas Service Restored in Espanola and Taos
Posted by
Jim Spence
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New Mexico News
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| Susana Martinez |

Gradually Gas Service Restored in Espanola and Taos















