Editorials
Editorial content. Content posted here may or may not reflect the opinions of the Beat. They reflect the opinions of the author.
New Mexico the Hoarder
- Category: Editorials Editorials
- Published: 13 June 2024 13 June 2024
New Mexico the Hoarder
By Paul Gessing
Occasionally the evening news reports on people keeping more animals than they can handle. Other times children of deceased parents are astonished by how much “stuff” their parents or grandparents hang onto only to leave piles of unwanted things to be thrown out.
The State of New Mexico is a hoarder. It hoards cash. One might think this is a good thing because, after all, isn’t keeping cash for a “rainy day” (such as a downturn in oil and gas) a good thing?
From Field to Fork - New Mexico Needs an Updated Farm Bill
- Category: Editorials Editorials
- Published: 13 May 2024 13 May 2024
By Larry Reagan, President of New Mexico Farm and Livestock Bureau
As a fourth-generation cattle rancher and president of the grassroots agriculture organization New Mexico Farm and Livestock Bureau, I can't stress enough how vital it is that Congress swiftly pass a farm bill this year. I am not alone in this sentiment. In light of global disruptions to the supply chain and high inflation, the majority of Americans believe it is a national security priority to ensure we have a safe and abundant food supply, according to a recent American Farm Bureau Federation survey.
Federal Overreach: Making the West Wild and Lawless Again
- Category: Editorials Editorials
- Published: 10 May 2024 10 May 2024
If you value property rights and sensible federal rules, this is for you to read. It's about a group trying to rein in federal overreach and over regulation. They point out how efforts "sound good," but take away the public's rights to public lands.
Federal Overreach: Making the West Wild and Lawless Again (land use and climate news from the Right perspective)
http://www.liberato.us/property-rights-report-2405.html
New Mexico Betting on Losers
- Category: Editorials Editorials
- Published: 06 May 2024 06 May 2024
By Paul Gessing
Left, right, or center, economists tend to agree that “corporate welfare” is not good public policy or good economics. A recent Rasmussen poll found that approximately 65% of Americans (regardless of political philosophy or affiliation) oppose corporate welfare. Definitions of what constitutes such “welfare” vary, but generally relate to policies that involve politicians picking winners and losers in the economy.
Sadly, New Mexico has a long history of picking “losers” and one of those losers appears to be in its death throes. Specifically, New Mexicans have spent hundreds-of-millions to construct, expand, staff, and maintain Spaceport America in Southern New Mexico.
Federal Education Findings Alarming
- Category: Editorials Editorials
- Published: 01 May 2024 01 May 2024
Federal Education Findings Alarming
By Rebecca Dow
New Mexico parents and families are aware of the myriad failings of New Mexico's K-12 system and sadly, often resigned to the expectation of awful outcomes. While Gov. Lujan Grisham and legislative Democrats tout more spending, policymakers refuse to embrace reforms that have worked in numerous states from Education Savings Accounts in Arizona to the "Mississippi Miracle."
A new study from the U.S. Department of Education, contains findings that SHOULD push policymakers to reform New Mexico's failed education system. According to the "Consolidated Performance Review Report for FY 2023," New Mexico is failing to meet most federal requirements related to statewide educational services, with most implementation methods in need of correction.
Hollow Promises Are Pathetic
- Category: Editorials Editorials
- Published: 25 April 2024 25 April 2024
By Rep. Gail Armstrong
It's infrequent that House Republicans and Santa Fe Public Schools agree on anything. This week, however, has demonstrated politics sometimes does make strange bedfellows. On April 18th, 60% of New Mexico's school districts – including Santa Fe - filed a lawsuit against the Public Education Department (PED) for mandating 180-instructional days beginning next school year.
New Mexico House Republicans have been banging the drum on this very issue for more than 5 months because this new rule is unworkable, unfunded, and will likely lead to fewer teachers in the most rural parts of the state. In fact, House Republicans objected to the proposed rule when it was first proposed in 2023 and just weeks ago asked PED to delay implementation until the 2025-26 school year.
Security of border No. 1 issue
- Category: Editorials Editorials
- Published: 24 April 2024 24 April 2024
By: NM House Republican Leader, Rod Montoya
The failure of the government to secure our southern border is the number one issue for my constituents.
They want policymakers to stop the tidal wave of illegal immigration and illicit drugs flowing into our country. Most counts have the number of new "undocumented" arrivals at over 8 million since President Biden took office. While most immigrants are not dangerous, human traffickers, drug cartels and terrorists are clearly taking advantage of our leaders' failure to protect the border. We have allowed some of the world's most dangerous people and 27 tons of fentanyl to come into our communities over the last four years.
LNG permit ban absurd
- Category: Editorials Editorials
- Published: 15 April 2024 15 April 2024
By Paul Gessing
What if I told you that one federal government policy could do the following:
1) Undermine Russia's war against Ukraine (without the US spending a dime);
2) Strengthen economic ties between the US and Asian and European nations;
3) Reduce CO2 emissions;
4) Increase US tax revenues and American jobs (including in New Mexico).
The policy I'm referring to is to allow American exports of liquefied natural gas (LNG). Thanks to American technological prowess the US is producing enough energy not only for itself, but for the world as well.