Podcast
Tipping Point New Mexico
Hosted by Paul Gessing · EN
Podcast of the Rio Grande Foundation that addresses public policy issues facing New Mexico.
41episodes
Episodes
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821 Maggie Toulouse Oliver Drops Out of Race, UNM Law Dean Under Fire, Is a $1,000 Rebate Headed Our Way? and more
Yesterday00:42:51Tap to summarizeRGF won BIG for taxpayers last week in Albuquerque's City Council defeating Councilor Bassan's proposed gross receipts tax hike (again). Paul recently traveled around Southeast New Mexico. Here's what he heard and said. Democrat Lt. Gov candidate Maggie Toulouse Oliver drops out of race. What's next? Sen. Peter Wirth announced that he won't run again and won't stand for Senate Majority Leader in 2027. Paul has thoughts. UNM's Law School dean is under fire for lack of diversity. Paul believes the dean's opponents should join him in opposing state spending for the Law School. The ABQ Journal talks to home builder and recent podcast guest Mackenzie Bishop about his plans to increase his business out of state. New Mexico, time for a rebate on $850 million. This money would provide for a $1,000 rebate per filed tax return. LFC: New Mexico SNAP program rife with fraud and abuse. The state's SNAP payment error rate has climbed to 16.6 percent, the fifth highest in the country. As a result, New Mexico could face up to $173 million annually in federal cost-sharing penalties.
Transcribe →820 Matthew Monte - New Mexico's Business Climate
6d ago00:38:06Tap to summarizeIn this week's interview Paul sits down with Matthew Monte, formerly of Monte's Cigar Shop in Albuquerque. The business was a family enterprise. Paul and Matt have worked together over the years on issues in the Legislature (tobacco and otherwise). Monte recently told Paul that he had sold his shop and was leaving New Mexico and heading to Fort Worth, Texas where he plans to start a "state of the art" tobacco shop. Monte and Paul discuss New Mexico's difficult business climate and the challenges facing his business due to policies of the City of Albuquerque. Check this important conversation out!
Transcribe →819 Iran War and Oil Prices, MLG Wins at Appeal Court, Social Security to Become Insolvent by 2032, SpaceX and more
1w ago00:45:57Tap to summarizeTrump and Iran have agreed to end the Iran War. Is it real this time? What will it do to oil prices? What are the benefits and drawbacks of cheaper gasoline? Appeals Court Judge Elaine Lujan rules "free childcare" adopted by MLG on her own without legislative approval is fine. The national group Independent Women's Forum launches an ad campaign on NM schools. The Social Security retirement fund is projected to become insolvent by 2032. This will trigger an automatic, across-the-board benefit cut of roughly 22% for all retirees unless Congress acts. Paul and Wally discuss interesting state by state data from Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget. Space X had an initial public offering and Elon Musk is now said to be a "trillionaire." What does it mean? Are the lefties correct that this is bad? RGF is hosting an America 250 event with Timothy Sandefur.
Transcribe →818 Mackenzie Bishop - Homes and Housing in New Mexico
2w ago00:45:11Tap to summarizeOn this week's show Paul talks to Mackenzie Bishop. Mackenzie is a home builder and owns Abrazo Homes which works throughout the central New Mexico region. Paul and Mackenzie discuss the New Mexico housing market/shortage and latest dynamics with regard to housing. What are the challenges for affordable housing especially in central New Mexico in terms of land use, taxes, and other economic policies? What is the Legislature doing on these issues? If you care about housing in New Mexico or the State's economic condition don't miss this conversation!
Transcribe →817 New Mexico 49th in Kids Count, $850 Million Oil and Gas Windfall, $1.2 Billion Proposal for IRBs for Solar and more
2w ago00:43:55Tap to summarizeNM manages to squeak out a gain to 49th in Kids Count. Paul and Wally discuss the latest numbers. NM has an $850 million oil and gas windfall, but New Mexicans won't see any of that. MLG is proud of our higher education ranking? Bernalillo County is looking to offer $1.2 billion in IRB's for a massive West Side solar facility. New Mexico's Chamber of Commerce issued a report that provides sound ideas for economic reform. ABQ City Council to reconsider a gross receipts tax hike for a swimming pool and possibly place it on the ballot for this fall. RGF has an opinion piece on the LFC study on economic development incentives. Paul provides a recap on the Foundation's recent event with Anastasia Boden. Paul is heading to SE New Mexico for a series of talks.
Transcribe →816 Anastasia Boden - Legal Issues and U.S. Supreme Court
3w ago00:46:37Tap to summarizeOn this week's interview Paul sits down with Anastasia Boden. Boden is Director of Constitutional Scholarship at Pacific Legal Foundation, a non-profit law firm. Anastasia recently spoke at an RGF luncheon on the US Supreme Court's upcoming decisions. She recently launched a new podcast called "In Dissent." Paul and Anastasia discuss some important dissents offered by the Court as well as some of the Court's most recent decisions and the Court's relationship with President Trump. Check out this important conversation!
Transcribe →815 ABQ's Minimum Wage, Guaranteed Basic Income, SPEED Act and more
3w ago00:50:49Tap to summarizeAlbuquerque City Council votes to raise the City's minimum wage albeit over three years to $15 an hour instead of right away. Paul and Wally also critique a video put out by Mayor Keller on the issue. Paul and Wally handicap the Republican and Democrat primaries for governor. In a bizarre comment MLG tells a group at a public speech that "Democrats don't need men's votes" ABQ claims the "guaranteed basic income" is a success. What's the real story? NM's Supreme Court recently ruled that APS had to disclose a big payout to a former superintendent. What's the federal SPEED Act & why would it be a win for both left and right? Paul was recently on another podcast discussing data centers. New Mexico's teacher unions are 20th-strongest among US states. Why? What does this mean?
Transcribe →814 Reeve Bull - Regulatory Reform
4w ago00:31:58Tap to summarizeOn this week's interview Paul sits down with Reeve Bull of the newly formed Fulcrum Institute. Bull worked for Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin on regulatory issues and has started Fulcrum Institute to spread some of those successful ideas elsewhere. Paul and Reeve discuss how New Mexico could achieve similar regulatory reforms right here in "Blue" New Mexico.
Transcribe →813 ABQ Minimum Wage Proposal, New Mexico's Overregulation, Impact of State Tax Break, and AI to be used in State Government
4w ago00:47:28Tap to summarizeCABQ Council proposes $15 an hour minimum wage. Paul and Wally discuss the proposal and issues with minimum wages, especially among cities and how there is no such thing as a "free lunch" in economics. Overregulation is among many economic problems facing NM. A report from Cicero Institute highlights the issues and a path forward. The LFC study released dealing with tax breaks (discussed last week) has been put out. Paul and Wally have further details and thoughts. NM is actually ahead of the curve on something!
Transcribe →812 Former NM State Senator Jacob Candelaria - "Free" Childcare Lawsuit & Energy Transition Act
May 2100:43:35Tap to summarizeOn this week's Tipping Point NM Paul sits down with former New Mexico Democrat State Senator Jacob Candelaria. Candelaria is the attorney for plaintiffs in the case against Gov. Lujan Grisham's "free" childcare program which was set up by the Gov. without legislative approval on November 1, 2025. Paul and Jacob have a detailed conversation about the case including a thorough analysis of the program's provision of child care funded by New Mexico taxpayers for the benefit of those in the state illegally. Additionally, in 2019 Candelaria was the sponsor of New Mexico's Energy Transition Act which Paul calls "the worst bill passed during Lujan Grisham's time in office." They discuss the legislation, why it has created the need for PNM to find a suitor (currently Blackstone, a private equity firm), and other flaws. You don't want to miss this conversation about two of the most important policy issues in New Mexico!
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