On this week’s podcast Paul and Wally discuss the Albuquerque City Council’s action (or lack thereof) on its plastics ban and a defeat for New Mexico’s new Land Commissioner on increasing royalty payments. Since Texas is the “model” for Commissioner Garcia-Richard, Gessing encourages New Mexico’s political leaders to consider other policies in effect in the Lone Star State.
Mark Janus (whose name is most associated with the Supreme Court’s Janus v. AFSCME case) was in town for a rally on Right to Work. Paul recaps the events and offers the latest on anti-Right to Work HB 85 which was voted on in the New Mexico House.
Also in the Legislature Paul was in Santa Fe to discuss SB 489 which would dramatically increase New Mexico’s renewable mandate and would have far-ranging impacts on energy policy in New Mexico. Paul also discussed the Democrats’ plans to raise taxes.
Finally, the Rio Grande Foundation was attacked in the Albuquerque Journal. Paul responds.
“Environmental groups continue to push for more plastic bag bans. “As U.S. natural gas production has surged and prices have fallen, the plastics industry is looking to ramp up domestic production,” reports the Earth Policy Institute. “Yet using this fossil fuel endowment to make something so short-lived, which can blow away at the slightest breeze and pollutes indefinitely, is illogical—particularly when there is a ready alternative: the reusable bag.””
https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/do-plastic-bag-bans-work/