259 Federal Stimulus, Deb Haaland at Interior and Oil and Gas, BCSO Won’t Enforce, Tax Hikes

There is a new COVID strain in Europe. Paul and Wally discuss what we know and what is happening now.

Federal stimulus agreement reached. It’s $900 billion and VERY ugly. Here’s some of what’s in it.

BCSO sheriff “won’t enforce unconstitutional laws under COVID response” What does this mean?

Deb Haaland named to head Secretary of Interior. While sympathetic to the idea of a Native American in charge at Interior, her policies would be devastating to New Mexico. Two separate posts on the issue here and here.

According to a new study from the University of Wyoming’s Dr. Timothy Considine, New Mexico would see even steeper revenue losses under the study’s forecasts. The state would lose on average $946 million per year in oil and gas tax revenue in the first five years under a leasing moratorium and on average $1.2 billion per year in tax revenue in the first five years under a drilling ban. A drilling ban would cause the state a $48 billion loss in oil and gas tax revenue over the next 20 years.

PFM Consultants have released a report on New Mexico tax policy. Overall it makes an absurd pitch for massive tax hikes, but there was some useful information in the report.

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