Rio Grande Foundation
Encyclopedia
The Rio Grande Foundation is an economic policy
advocacy group in Albuquerque, New Mexico
, and affiliated with the U.S. nationwide State Policy Network
.
The Foundation's stated mission is "to increase liberty and prosperity for all of New Mexico
's citizens" by "informing New Mexicans of the importance of individual freedom, limited government
, and economic opportunity".
The Foundation maintains a website, a blog, and regularly contributes opinion pieces to local newspapers, as well as publishes studies related to state economic policy. The Foundation's current President, Paul Gessing, has been featured on local talk shows and radio programs to discuss economic issues.
, education reform
through school choice
by means of tax credits or school vouchers, and the preservation of liberties protected by the United States Constitution
, such as supporting the rights of property owners against wanton government seizure (see Takings Clause, Fifth Amendment
).
ran an article on January 19, 2009, outlining several allegations of state corruption in New Mexico and pointing to the state's lack of comprehensive ethics laws as a possible cause. On January 29, The Wall Street Journal published a letter by Rio Grande Foundation president Paul Gessing, suggesting that government transparency would improve New Mexico's political situation. Gessing pointed out that the legislature had failed to follow through with any of the proposed ethics reforms of recent years. He suggested that the legislature begin Webcasting its sessions to give citizens the opportunity to monitor their government's actions.
During the 2009 legislative session, state Rep. Janice Arnold-Jones made arrangements to Webcast legislative committee meetings herself. The meetings were Webcast on Civicplaza.net.
House Bill 146 calls for the creation of a Department of Motor Vehicles with a cabinet-level secretary. The new department would have some capability to regulate commerce. It would have the authority to seize privately-owned vehicles used for commerce in cases where the owner owes taxes to the state. The bill would also make it easier to seize vehicles used for interstate commerce than it would for vehicles used only within state lines. It was sponsored by Rep. Patricia A. Lundstrom.
Senate Bill 21 calls for the creation of a Hispanic Affairs Department with a cabinet-level secretary. It was sponsored by Sen. Michael S. Sanchez.
Rio Grande Foundation president Paul Gessing has criticized the proposed creation of new departments and cabinet-level positions during a period of economic recession. In an interview with the Santa Fe New Mexican, Gessing said, "the last thing we need is to hire more highly-paid cabinet-level state bureaucrats."
until 2020. The tax was initially set to expire in 2009. Half of the funds levied through the extended tax were intended to be diverted to a streetcar project, which was supported by several councilors as well as Mayor Martin Chavez
. The cost of the first phase of the project was estimated at $270 million.
The Rio Grande Foundation helped organize a group of concerned citizens called Stop Wasting Albuquerque's Taxes (SWAT). Members of SWAT felt that the existing city bus system met transportation needs and that a streetcar project would be a severe waste of taxpayers' money. SWAT also questioned whether the streetcar project would boost the property values of citizens connected with the city government, at the expense of the city's populace
. Mayor Martin Chavez called SWAT an "illegal group" because it didn't register with the city government.
On November 19, 2006, the Rio Grande Foundation and SWAT held a rally to voice opposition to the streetcar project. City Transit Director Greg Payne attended the rally, but refused to defend the streetcar project.
through eminent domain
. He became the nation's first governor to veto legislation intended to protect property owners after the U.S. Supreme Court ruled in Kelo v. New London (2005) that a government could transfer land from one private owner to another to further economic development.
House Bill 746 specified that the state could not transfer property between private parties within five years of its initial seizure. By vetoing this bill, Governor Richardson was upholding the provisions of New Mexico's 1979 Metropolitan Redevelopment Code, which allowed for the seizure of private property for economic development. After his veto, the Governor appointed a task force to recommend solutions to the eminent domain provision in the Metropolitan Redevelopment Code.
Rio Grande Foundation President Paul Gessing published opinion pieces on the Heartland Institute
's website and in the Albuquerque Journal
, condemning Governor Richardson's veto of House Bill 746.
Subsequently, the Governor's task force found that there was need for reform in the state's eminent domain law. On April 3, 2007, both houses of the state legislature passed laws to remove the eminent domain provision from the Metropolitan Redevelopment Code.
at the Albuquerque Marriott Pyramid. Mr. Stossel spoke to the attendees concerning excessive government regulation of business and excessive government spending.
Economic policy
Economic policy refers to the actions that governments take in the economic field. It covers the systems for setting interest rates and government budget as well as the labor market, national ownership, and many other areas of government interventions into the economy.Such policies are often...
advocacy group in Albuquerque, New Mexico
Albuquerque, New Mexico
Albuquerque is the largest city in the state of New Mexico, United States. It is the county seat of Bernalillo County and is situated in the central part of the state, straddling the Rio Grande. The city population was 545,852 as of the 2010 Census and ranks as the 32nd-largest city in the U.S. As...
, and affiliated with the U.S. nationwide State Policy Network
State Policy Network
The State Policy Network is a U.S. national network of free-market oriented think tanks focused on individual U.S. states. SPN is based in Arlington, Virginia.-History:SPN was founded in 1992 by Thomas A...
.
The Foundation's stated mission is "to increase liberty and prosperity for all of New Mexico
New Mexico
New Mexico is a state located in the southwest and western regions of the United States. New Mexico is also usually considered one of the Mountain States. With a population density of 16 per square mile, New Mexico is the sixth-most sparsely inhabited U.S...
's citizens" by "informing New Mexicans of the importance of individual freedom, limited government
Government
Government refers to the legislators, administrators, and arbitrators in the administrative bureaucracy who control a state at a given time, and to the system of government by which they are organized...
, and economic opportunity".
The Foundation maintains a website, a blog, and regularly contributes opinion pieces to local newspapers, as well as publishes studies related to state economic policy. The Foundation's current President, Paul Gessing, has been featured on local talk shows and radio programs to discuss economic issues.
Policy goals
The Rio Grande Foundation researches issues of government policy and educates the public on many government reform measures. Some areas of government reform the Foundation advocates are limited taxation and reduced government spendingGovernment spending
Government spending includes all government consumption, investment but excludes transfer payments made by a state. Government acquisition of goods and services for current use to directly satisfy individual or collective needs of the members of the community is classed as government final...
, education reform
Education reform
Education reform is the process of improving public education. Small improvements in education theoretically have large social returns, in health, wealth and well-being. Historically, reforms have taken different forms because the motivations of reformers have differed.A continuing motivation has...
through school choice
School choice
School choice is a term used to describe a wide array of programs aimed at giving families the opportunity to choose the school their children will attend. As a matter of form, school choice does not give preference to one form of schooling or another, rather manifests itself whenever a student...
by means of tax credits or school vouchers, and the preservation of liberties protected by the United States Constitution
United States Constitution
The Constitution of the United States is the supreme law of the United States of America. It is the framework for the organization of the United States government and for the relationship of the federal government with the states, citizens, and all people within the United States.The first three...
, such as supporting the rights of property owners against wanton government seizure (see Takings Clause, Fifth Amendment
Fifth Amendment to the United States Constitution
The Fifth Amendment to the United States Constitution, which is part of the Bill of Rights, protects against abuse of government authority in a legal procedure. Its guarantees stem from English common law which traces back to the Magna Carta in 1215...
).
Support for Government Transparency
The Wall Street JournalThe Wall Street Journal
The Wall Street Journal is an American English-language international daily newspaper. It is published in New York City by Dow Jones & Company, a division of News Corporation, along with the Asian and European editions of the Journal....
ran an article on January 19, 2009, outlining several allegations of state corruption in New Mexico and pointing to the state's lack of comprehensive ethics laws as a possible cause. On January 29, The Wall Street Journal published a letter by Rio Grande Foundation president Paul Gessing, suggesting that government transparency would improve New Mexico's political situation. Gessing pointed out that the legislature had failed to follow through with any of the proposed ethics reforms of recent years. He suggested that the legislature begin Webcasting its sessions to give citizens the opportunity to monitor their government's actions.
During the 2009 legislative session, state Rep. Janice Arnold-Jones made arrangements to Webcast legislative committee meetings herself. The meetings were Webcast on Civicplaza.net.
Opposition to New Cabinet-level Positions
The Rio Grande Foundation has voiced opposition to the proposed creation of two new cabinet-level positions by the New Mexico legislature in its 2009 regular session.House Bill 146 calls for the creation of a Department of Motor Vehicles with a cabinet-level secretary. The new department would have some capability to regulate commerce. It would have the authority to seize privately-owned vehicles used for commerce in cases where the owner owes taxes to the state. The bill would also make it easier to seize vehicles used for interstate commerce than it would for vehicles used only within state lines. It was sponsored by Rep. Patricia A. Lundstrom.
Senate Bill 21 calls for the creation of a Hispanic Affairs Department with a cabinet-level secretary. It was sponsored by Sen. Michael S. Sanchez.
Rio Grande Foundation president Paul Gessing has criticized the proposed creation of new departments and cabinet-level positions during a period of economic recession. In an interview with the Santa Fe New Mexican, Gessing said, "the last thing we need is to hire more highly-paid cabinet-level state bureaucrats."
Opposition to Albuquerque Streetcar
On November 6, 2006, members of the Albuquerque City Council voted to extend the Transportation Infrastructure TaxTax
To tax is to impose a financial charge or other levy upon a taxpayer by a state or the functional equivalent of a state such that failure to pay is punishable by law. Taxes are also imposed by many subnational entities...
until 2020. The tax was initially set to expire in 2009. Half of the funds levied through the extended tax were intended to be diverted to a streetcar project, which was supported by several councilors as well as Mayor Martin Chavez
Martin Chavez
Martin Joseph Chávez Chávez is a former three-term mayor of Albuquerque, New Mexico and New Mexico State Senator. He currently serves as the Executive Director of ICLEI Local Governments for Sustainability USA. and Chairman of the Advisory Board for the Center for Green Schools at U.S. Green...
. The cost of the first phase of the project was estimated at $270 million.
The Rio Grande Foundation helped organize a group of concerned citizens called Stop Wasting Albuquerque's Taxes (SWAT). Members of SWAT felt that the existing city bus system met transportation needs and that a streetcar project would be a severe waste of taxpayers' money. SWAT also questioned whether the streetcar project would boost the property values of citizens connected with the city government, at the expense of the city's populace
Populace
A populace is a group of people forming the total population of a certain place. It is taken from the Latin word populus, which means "people", but also in the sense of a race, nationality, or locality. This can be compared with the Spanish word pueblo, which derives from the same Latin...
. Mayor Martin Chavez called SWAT an "illegal group" because it didn't register with the city government.
On November 19, 2006, the Rio Grande Foundation and SWAT held a rally to voice opposition to the streetcar project. City Transit Director Greg Payne attended the rally, but refused to defend the streetcar project.
Protection against Eminent Domain
On March 7, 2006, New Mexico Governor Bill Richardson vetoed House Bill 746, a measure intended to limit the seizure of private propertyPrivate property
Private property is the right of persons and firms to obtain, own, control, employ, dispose of, and bequeath land, capital, and other forms of property. Private property is distinguishable from public property, which refers to assets owned by a state, community or government rather than by...
through eminent domain
Eminent domain
Eminent domain , compulsory purchase , resumption/compulsory acquisition , or expropriation is an action of the state to seize a citizen's private property, expropriate property, or seize a citizen's rights in property with due monetary compensation, but without the owner's consent...
. He became the nation's first governor to veto legislation intended to protect property owners after the U.S. Supreme Court ruled in Kelo v. New London (2005) that a government could transfer land from one private owner to another to further economic development.
House Bill 746 specified that the state could not transfer property between private parties within five years of its initial seizure. By vetoing this bill, Governor Richardson was upholding the provisions of New Mexico's 1979 Metropolitan Redevelopment Code, which allowed for the seizure of private property for economic development. After his veto, the Governor appointed a task force to recommend solutions to the eminent domain provision in the Metropolitan Redevelopment Code.
Rio Grande Foundation President Paul Gessing published opinion pieces on the Heartland Institute
Heartland Institute
The Heartland Institute is a libertarian, American public policy think tank based in Chicago, Illinois which advocates free market policies. The Institute is designated as a 501 non-profit by the Internal Revenue Service and advised by a 15 member board of directors, which meets quarterly. As of...
's website and in the Albuquerque Journal
Albuquerque Journal
-History:Its earliest predecessor, the Albuquerque Daily Journal, was first published on October 14, 1880. The newspaper is owned by the Journal Publishing Company, a family-owned business headed by president/publisher T.H. Lang; it is operated by the Albuquerque Publishing Company...
, condemning Governor Richardson's veto of House Bill 746.
Subsequently, the Governor's task force found that there was need for reform in the state's eminent domain law. On April 3, 2007, both houses of the state legislature passed laws to remove the eminent domain provision from the Metropolitan Redevelopment Code.
Stossel luncheon
On May 1, 2008, the Rio Grande Foundation teamed with the New Mexico Prosperity Project to host a public luncheon with John StosselJohn Stossel
John F. Stossel is an American consumer reporter, investigative journalist, author and libertarian columnist. In October 2009 Stossel left his long time home on ABC News to join the Fox Business Channel and Fox News Channel, both owned and operated by News Corp...
at the Albuquerque Marriott Pyramid. Mr. Stossel spoke to the attendees concerning excessive government regulation of business and excessive government spending.