PODCAST

Tipping Point New Mexico

Paul Gessing

Podcast of the Rio Grande Foundation that addresses public policy issues facing New Mexico.

All Episodes

42:33

598 LNG Ban is Loser, New Mexico only State to See...

Tipping Point New Mexico ·

2024/04/16

Paul and Wally discuss the potential impact of the new Israel/Iran conflict. The good news is that America's relative oil independence has not caused oil prices to skyrocket. Also, will this change Congress' approach to the stalled aid bills? Biden's permitting ban on LNG exports is a loser across the spectrum. A former NPR executive recently said there's bias at NPR. Here's our story about NPR in New Mexico. NM is the only state in US to see a drop in immigrant numbers from 10 years ago. NM a

37:57

597 Nella Domenici, Candidate for United States Senate

Tipping Point New Mexico ·

2024/04/11

On this week's interview Paul talks to Nella Domenici. Domenici is the Republican Party candidate for US Senate in New Mexico. She is longtime Senator Pete Domenici's daughter. Paul and Nella discuss what that was like and what formed her politics, her activism and efforts to reform education in New Mexico, and her candidacy for the US Senate and the issues she has with the incumbent.

46:48

596 House Republicans Elect Leaders, I-40 Crumbles,...

Tipping Point New Mexico ·

2024/04/09

New Mexico's House Republicans have elected new leaders. Paul and Wally know the players and discuss. While I-40 crumbles NM asks feds for $250 million to reduce emissions on I-25. The left doubles down on EV mandates. MLG touts EV mandates (the transition is "inevitable" but must be subsidized and mandated). Tesla's dropping sales, MLG/Biden mandates outstrip estimates. NM ranks 30th overall in Wallethub tax burden report. APD garners national headlines for wrong reasons but the City Council

37:29

595 William L. Kovacs - "Devolution of Power: Rolling...

Tipping Point New Mexico ·

2024/04/04

On this week's interview Paul talks to William L. Kovacs. Kovacs was senior vice president for environment, technology & regulatory affairs for the U.S. Chamber of Commerce and a chief counsel on Capitol Hill. Kovacs has written three books including his newest, “Devolution of Power: Rolling Back the Federal State to Preserve the Republic.” In this book Kovacs asks a basic question: Can a mismanaged federal government unite a polarized nation? If not, how do we divide? Check out this informative

42:10

594 NM Invests $50 million in California Climate...

Tipping Point New Mexico ·

2024/04/02

NM SIC invests $50 million in CA-based climate investment fund. Diane Denish used her political connections to MLG to squash a playground proposed for her neighborhood. CA fast food workers are losing their jobs as $20 minimum wage kicks in. Despite data to the contrary Santa FE County adopted a plastic bag ban. RGF attempted to challenge NM's campaign finance laws passed in 2019. It was recently rejected by a federal judge (we're appealing). Former Rep. Williams Stapleton has been indicted on

44:21

593 Dennis Roch - PED's Power Trip

Tipping Point New Mexico ·

2024/03/28

New Mexico's Public Education Department (under the direction of Gov. Lujan Grisham) has been aggressively pushing mandates on 5 day school weeks and a transformational change to the State's accreditation system. Paul talks to former NM legislator and current Logan Schools Superintendent Dennis Roch about these issues.

44:59

592 Baltimore Bridge Collapse, Utility Cost...

Tipping Point New Mexico ·

2024/03/26

On this week's show Paul and Wally recognize the victims of the recent bridge collapse and boat incident in Baltimore and discuss how that will impact the economy. New Mexico utility cost increases starting to kick in. But, at least in California, the carbon intensity of electricity generation is not falling. Land Commissioner Garcia Richard is right about one thing. Joe Biden has imposed his own EV mandate. RGF releases candidate guide for legislative candidates (and the public):

49:08

591 Senator Bill Tallman's Negative Assessment of New...

Tipping Point New Mexico ·

2024/03/21

On this week's show Paul interviews retiring Democrat State Senator Bill Tallman. Tallman and Gessing discuss his long track record of public service prior to coming to New Mexico and serving as a State Senator. Tallman is a critic of New Mexico's capital outlay system and economic development approaches and Paul and Sen. Tallman discuss those. Tallman is also a supporter of electric vehicles and their subsidies and mandates which Paul questions him on.

40:17

590 Why do New Mexicans Even Pay Taxes, A Few Texans...

Tipping Point New Mexico ·

2024/03/19

Paul was in Alamogordo last week speaking to a Rotary club. He also had an opportunity to tour the New Mexico Museum of Space History. A few Texans move to New Mexico & this is news? Why do New Mexicans even pay taxes? Despite Biden’s hostile policies toward the industry American oil production hit record levels this year amidst record global demand. You can find New Mexico data here. NM ranked 2nd-most-dependent state on federal government by Wallethub. City of ABQ begins taxpayer-funded

42:35

589 Larry Behrens - Emergencies and Energy

Tipping Point New Mexico ·

2024/03/14

On this week's Tipping Point interview Paul talks to Larry Behrens Communications Director of Power the Future, a pro-energy non-profit that works nationwide including here in New Mexico. Paul and Larry discuss the start of the COVID emergency four years ago and their efforts to push back against the Gov.'s misguided and special-interest-favoring approach to COVID restrictions which destroyed numerous businesses and harmed New Mexico children (to name two impacts). Ultimately her policies failed to

45:53

588 New Mexico Rich State - Poor State, Still No...

Tipping Point New Mexico ·

2024/03/12

Paul recently had a piece in National Review Online which details why New Mexico is a “Rich State with Poor People” In a second op-ed Paul discusses the fact that after four years New Mexico Still has no limits on public health emergencies. Paul experienced an electronic candidate nominating petition issue. The 4 day school week saga continues. No royalty rate increase was padded in the Legislature this session: Land Commissioner Garcia Richard reacted by taking her "marbles" and going home.

41:22

587 Yvette Herrell - The Situation in Washington:...

Tipping Point New Mexico ·

2024/03/07

On this week's interview Paul sits down with former NM legislator, former Congresswoman, and current candidate to regain her congressional seat, Yvette Herrell. Paul and Yvette discuss the current situation in Washington, especially immigration. They talk about the financial hole Washington is digging for the nation and what can be done about it. Finally, they discuss partisanship in Washington and whether she got along with any Democrats when she was in Congress.

43:52

586 New Mexico a Leader?, Housing Subsidies and...

Tipping Point New Mexico ·

2024/03/05

In this week's conversation Paul and Wally discuss a fantastic editorial/cartoon in ABQ Journal Sunday. The Journal was reacting to the Gov. speaking to the ABQ Chamber of Commerce. Paul addressed the event immediately and explained that the Legislature did little for NM business this session. Wallethub report: New Mexico is a good state to be poor. Santa Fe County is pursuing a discredited plastic bag ban. MLG: we need more housing (and signs bill subsidizing housing). Also MLG: we need to add

37:34

585 Everyday Freedom with Philip K. Howard

Tipping Point New Mexico ·

2024/02/29

On this week's interview Paul talks to attorney and author Philip K. Howard. Howard is Chair of Common Good and a bestselling author, and has advised both parties on needed reforms. In his new book, Everyday Freedom (Rodin Books, 2024), he pinpoints the source of powerlessness that is fraying American culture and causing public failure, and offers a bold vision of simpler governing frameworks to re-empower Americans in their daily choices. Paul and Howard discuss the US Constitution as a framework

44:00

584 Subsidizing Marijuana, $16 million for Soccer...

Tipping Point New Mexico ·

2024/02/27

Our tax dollars are now subsidizing the marijuana industry and it makes no sense (regardless of your views on marijuana). State capital outlay bill has $16 million for UnitedStadium. PNM adds EV subsidies to existing/new subsidies and mandates. Also, Mercedes Benz said they'll continue producing gas powered cars after 2030. An electric car charger has been pulled from the market over fears it could be hacked and used to attack the power grid. A new report says 0.37% of vehicles on the road in NM

45:32

583 A Look Back and Ahead for the New Mexico...

Tipping Point New Mexico ·

2024/02/22

On this week's interview Paul sits down with Rep. John Block. Block has been a consistent voice for conservative principles in the Legislature since he took office in 2023. He also manages the Pinon Post, a political news site dealing with New Mexico politics. Block wound up coming in 2nd overall in the Foundation's Freedom Index this year. We discuss what happened and didn't happen in the 2024 session and how New Mexicans can work together to improve their state with the entire Legislature up for

39:59

582 Seinfeld, Freedom Index, Biden's EV Overreach,...

Tipping Point New Mexico ·

2024/02/20

Paul and Wally both attended the Seinfeld show. They have numerous thoughts: 1) The City did a poor job with logistics. 2) The media didn't condemn the protests for simply targeting a Jewish comedian (same with Meow Wolf): 3) While Paul and Wally believe that protestors have the right to share their beliefs, they should be doing so with their elected officials. Freedom Index votes are finalized for the 2024 New Mexico legislative session. As Paul noted in a recent blog post moderate Democrats

43:11

581 Recap of the 2024 New Mexico Legislative Session

Tipping Point New Mexico ·

2024/02/15

Recapping some of the big issues/votes of the session: Paid Leave (SB 3) narrowly fails on House Floor after having gone through the Senate. The final tax bill has some small income tax rate reductions but doesn't do much: https://errorsofenchantment.com/taxes-and-spending-in-the-2024-session/ Worse, there are capital gains and corporate income tax hikes in the bill. There WAS an interesting vote in the House that would have used the surplus effectively for economic growth but it

38:35

580 Clean Fuel Standard (House Bill 41) Impacts with...

Tipping Point New Mexico ·

2024/02/13

On this week's interview (which we are running BEFORE the end of the session due to its timely nature) Paul sits down with Todd Myers to discuss legislation moving in the Legislature to impose a Clean Fuel Standard (HB 41). What would such a law actually do if imposed in New Mexico? Would it raise gas prices? Would it improve the environment? How would its goals be accomplished?

43:34

579 Oil and Gas Industry: Impacts and Attacks with...

Tipping Point New Mexico ·

2024/02/08

On this week's interview Paul interviews Jim Winchester. Jim is Executive Director of the Independent Petroleum Association of NM. Jim's group specifically works with smaller oil and gas producers. Paul and Jim discuss the various ways in which his industry is under attack in the 2024 legislative session. They discuss the economic impact of his industry and whether these attacks are new and what they actually would do to his industry and the environment.

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