On this week's interview, Paul talks to Patrick Brenner. Patrick is Director of Giving with the Foundation, so they talk a bit about end of year opportunities to support the Foundation and its work in New Mexico. Of course, at a small organization like RGF, Patrick wears more than one hat and Patrick has personal experience working with New Mexico's public records laws both independently and with the Foundation. Paul and Patrick discuss these and many other issues in the final interview episode of 2019.

RGF sues on New Mexico's overreaching donor disclosure law.

Legislative Finance Committee: “State child care assistance is not impacting education outcomes for kids.” What TABOR could mean to New Mexico. Left-wing groups take us "through the looking glass" in a video attacking the NM Senate for being "too conservative."  How do NM electricity rates compare?

Paul talks with Steven Slivinski with the Center for the Study of Economic Liberty at Arizona State University. Steven and his organization recently published the first-ever "Doing Business North America 2019" report which is modeled on a similar report done by the World Bank but on a global basis. Paul and Steven discuss the report's methodology and Albuquerque's results (it is the only New Mexico city included) in some detail. Interestingly, New Mexico actually fares reasonably well in the index.

ART bus crashes were a regular occurrence during the first week of operation.  What might happen next? The latest NM budget information is in. UNM asks for TIDD, why? San Juan College faculty votes to unionize. APS 2020 budget: $1,475,755,646, 79,000 students = $18,680 per student. The Governor is looking at buying a plane. Will it be green?

On this week's interview podcast, Paul sits down with Jeff Apodaca. Jeff ran for governor of New Mexico in 2018 as a Democrat. He is the son of a former Governor of New Mexico. He played for the UNM Lobos football team and is now an entrepreneur and still very involved in New Mexico politics including having a television show. Check out this wide-ranging and informative discussion as Paul and Jeff talk about the issues facing New Mexico while both agreeing and disagreeing often.

Paul and Wally discuss the departure of UNM football coach Bob Davie and the University's payout to him. Paul and Wally attempt to shed some light on the City of Albuquerque's botched reporting of crime data. ART is finally rolling down Albuquerque streets. Paul and Wally do a "deep dive" into the importance of donor privacy and some of the Foundation's ongoing work. Listeners can read more about the NAACP vs. Alabama US Supreme Court decision and the Foundation's case against the City of Santa Fe.

Paul talks with Jason Harper, one of the most knowledgeable people in the New Mexico Legislature when it comes to taxation and especially the horrendous New Mexico Gross Receipts Tax. They discuss the disastrous 2019 legislative session, the oil boom, and the opportunities it poses for New Mexico. Jason has some hopeful news on the issue of GRT reform in the upcoming 2020 session. Learn why the GRT is a problem for New Mexico's economy and what can/must be done about it/

NM slides to 45th in economic freedom report. Rep. Javier Martinez calls New Mexico's education results "tragic" but when asked to support school choice, his response is "tragic." How much more would New Mexicans have in their pockets if we had Colorado's TABOR on the books? Proposed hazardous waste fees unnecessary and simply anti-business. Some claim NM needs to raise the gas tax. Albuquerque City Council just adopted new regulations and fees on closed captioning on televisions at local businesses.

Paul visits with Zachary Fort of the New Mexico Shooting Sports Association and Alexandra Garza a lobbyist for gun rights issues. Topics include recent legislation, the growing gap between rural and urban citizens of New Mexico, and possible legislation that may be considered in the coming session of the legislature.

Why should Republicans who are out of power these days take the ATR pledge not to raise taxes? New data from Albuquerque's bus system shows just how bad our existing bus system is. New Mexico'spersonal incomes still lag behind neighbors. New Mexico United soccer team is looking for $30 million in capital outlay money from the State for $100 million facility. An op-ed from the Albuquerque Journal makes some solid points against Social Security tax elimination.