分类: Commentaries

Walt Rubel Commentary: Legislature’s social calendar gets in the way

12/2/2025

Like all 30-day sessions, next year’s is going to be a busy one for the New Mexico Legislature, starting with the opening day, Jan. 20, when the Democratic Party will host an invitation-only dinner at the La Fonda Hotel.

Jan. 21 is Eastern New Mexico University Day. Jan 22 is Elevate the Spectrum; Autism Day. There are no social events on Jan. 23, as lawmakers traditionally take off the first Friday of each session to allow staff time to print and copy bills.

Walt Rubel Commentary: Loss of penny first step toward no-cash economy

11/25/2025

I still like money. Most people don’t.

According to WalletHub, only 14 percent of purchases in the United States now involve cash. Credit card usage is up 94 percent since 2016.

It’s not hard to understand why. It’s easier to keep track of one card than a fist full of bills. If you lose a credit card, you can simply make a phone call and keep all of your money. And, the transactions are much faster and easier. I fear it won’t be long before cashiers are experts on card readers but won’t be able to make change.

Walt Rubel Commentary: War in Venezuela won’t solve our drug problem

11/18/2025

When did drug dealers become “narco-terrorists?”

The word “terrorist” is typically used to describe religious or political fanatics who kill or injure innocent people, often in horrific ways, in an attempt to instill a sense of terror in the public. Their motive is to destabilize their enemies. And, their victims, such as the 2,977 employees who showed up for work at the Twin Towers on Sept. 11, 2001, did absolutely nothing to contribute to their deaths.

Walt Rubel Commentary: Leaders are exploiting the politics of hunger

11/11/2025

Poor kids don’t get candy.

That’s pretty much the gist of Republican arguments defending the loss of food assistance payments.

Walt Rubel Commentary: NBA’s gambling problem is likely to spread

10/28/2025

To me, the Kentucky Derby really is the most exciting two minutes in sports. Twenty horses fire out of the gate, each trained precisely for this moment and willing to give every drop of energy to be first to the finish, a mile and a quarter away.

But, horse racing has always been more about gambling than sport. And so, it’s seen as being shady. And with good reason. Medina Spirit, the winner of the 2021 Kentucky Derby, was disqualified after failing the post-race drug test.

Walt Rubel Commentary: State gets Holtec to cry “uncle”

10/14/2025

New Mexico may not become the nation’s nuclear dump site after all. I suppose that’s a good thing.

Holtec International spokesman Patrick O’Brien announced last week that it is giving up on plans to build a nuclear waste storage facility near Carlsbad, “due to the untenable path forward for used fuel storage in New Mexico.”

Walt Rubel Commentary: Health care continues to vex GOP

10/7/2025

No matter how much the president and his supporters want to focus on crime and immigration, going so far as to send Black Hawk helicopters on a nighttime raid into Chicago last week, health care continues to be the issue that has vexed him and his party since the Obama administration.

It is the reason the federal government is now shut down, as Democrats try to prevent the expiration of tax credits that would mean huge increases in health care insurance premiums. A worker making $45,000 a year would see their health care premiums nearly double, from $2,475 to $4,311. Those making $28,000 would have their premiums nearly quadrupled, from $325 to $1,562.

Walt Rubel Commentary: Skids were greased for Project Jupiter

9/30/2025

I feel like we just got suckered into buying a timeshare based on the sales pitch that it’s a one-day-only deal and if we don’t act now we’ll never have this chance again.

I don’t know enough about Project Jupiter, an AI data center campus to be built in Santa Teresa, to have a well-informed opinion as to whether the benefits will outweigh the obvious dangers to our air and water. And, I don’t think I’m alone.

Walt Rubel Commentary: Limit special session to H.R.-1

9/9/2025

There are typically two types of special sessions of the Legislature called in New Mexico, one to address circumstances that didn’t exist when lawmakers adjourned and can’t wait until January; the other to punish legislators for not passing a bill the governor wanted.

Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham attempted the latter when lawmakers wouldn’t go along with her public safety agenda last year, and it failed miserably. This year is different.

Walt Rubel Commentary: Case management deadlines needed

9/2/2025

As a candidate running for district attorney last year, Fernando Macias argued that the reason the office was unable to comply with caseload deadlines imposed by the state Supreme Court was mismanagement by Gerald Byers, the beleaguered incumbent, leading to chronic understaffing of the office.

“Right now, there are 70 employees at the DAs Office,” Macias said during a community radio interview last October. “There are 21 attorney positions, if you include the DA. There are basically eight out of the 21 that are actual attorneys in court handling thousands of cases over the course of the year. So how can an office like that truly operate effectively?”

<<Previous