By Freedom Newspapers Always in search of a gimmicky way to mass market lousy ideas, some members of Congress have been lining up behind something called the 25 X 25 plan. The plan would set the country on the course of getting 25 percent of its electricity and motor fuels from so-called renewables by 2025. […]
Xcel proposes increase, plans upgrades
July 30, 2007
By Gabriel Monte: CNJ staff writer Energy company Xcel Energy is proposing a base-rate increase from the New Mexico Public Regulation Commission. The electric and natural gas company is seeking an overall increase of 6.6 percent from all customer classes. Residential rates would increase by 7.3 percent a month for an average household that uses […]
Carbon tax may be best way to halt polluters
July 19, 2007
Freedom Newspapers Michigan Congressman John Dingell, a Democrat who chairs the House Energy and Commerce Committee, through which any major climate change measures must pass, is calling the bluff of colleagues who demand that something, anything, everything be done to address global warming. And while Dingell’s gambit might backfire, given the atmosphere of alarmism that […]
$54 million pants lawsuit abuses judicial system
June 30, 2007
By Freedom Newspapers Washington, D.C., administrative law judge Roy Pearson last week lost his $54 million case against his drycleaners for losing a pair of his pants. Fifty-four million dollars. Over a pair of pants. Thankfully, he lost the case, but why was such an absurd lawsuit even allowed to get that far? Not surprisingly, […]
Defense bill includes payday loan limitations
October 17, 2006
By CNJ Staff WASHINGTON — With a long list of caveats, President Bush signed a bill Tuesday authorizing $532.8 billion in defense spending, including a 2.2 percent pay raise for members of the military. The measure, for the 2007 fiscal year that began Oct. 1, authorizes $70 billion in supplemental funding to support the war […]
New water rates to provide for long-term
July 29, 2006
By Kathy Wright: guest columnist As a lifelong resident of the Clovis area, I have been proud to see our community grow and prosper. I shared the joy of many to hear that Cannon Air Force Base has a new mission, and what a mission it is! Cannon is the economic engine of our community […]
Fuel duel: Fire marshal ends gas war on Prince
July 26, 2006
Gas prices dropped to 49.9 cents a gallon Wednesday at the Allsup’s at the corner of Prince Street and Llano Estacado. (Staff photo: Andy DeLislie) By Sharna Johnson: CNJ staff writer When a fevered gas war between rival convenience stores snarled traffic at one of the city’s busiest intersections Wednesday afternoon, Clovis Fire Marshal Allan […]
Drug lobby, White House resist TRICARE rebates
July 24, 2006
By Tom Philpott: Military Update As the Justice Department prepares to battle drug manufacturers in court to win what U.S. lawyers say are long overdue price rebates for the TRICARE retail pharmacy network, the White House quietly is pressuring Congress not to pass legislation that would support the cause. Bush administration politicos, in effect, have […]
Lawmakers should listen to soldiers
June 26, 2006
Tom Philpott: military columnist The Bush administration continues to sound an alarm over rising military personnel costs from steady gains in pay and benefits voted by the Congress, including more new initiatives in the 2007 defense budget bill. But Congress shows no sign of heeding the alarm, not while U.S. forces “stay the course” in […]
Shift in funding could relieve pressure
April 17, 2006
By Tom Philpott: Military Update The Joint Chiefs support a sharp rise in TRICARE fees for under-65 retirees and their families, they say, because retiree health costs are soaking up dollars needed to buy new weapons and sustain force readiness. The problem they describe is real but their solution is flawed, says Dov S. Zakheim, […]
4/2 Letters to the editor
April 2, 2006
State Democratic Party looking forward The New Mexico Democratic Party is an optimistic and inclusive organization that takes its inspiration from hundreds of thousands of state Democrats, but several beliefs stand out. We believe the 55,000 new jobs created since Democrats took over the state government are a step forward. We believe Gov. Richardson’s continuing […]
Government meddling causes high drug costs
March 16, 2006
Freedom Newspapers Our southern border isn’t the only one where drugs come into this country illegally. Thousands of Americans buy prescription medications on the Internet and have them shipped from Canada. They spend less money and most likely get medicine identical to what’s available at the corner pharmacy. Everyone’s a winner. Not exactly. Reimporting medicine […]
Removing tax credit will drive up prices
March 5, 2006
By Keith Gardner: Guest columnist In recognition of higher home heating and fuel costs nationwide, the New Mexico Legislature recently approved a small tax relief package intended to help — at least a little bit — with offsetting those higher energy costs. As your representative, I was proud to support the effort. But the fight […]
Some medical benefits moving online
February 6, 2006
Tom Philpott: Military Update Every month, about 400,000 users of the military’s retail pharmacy network — those who have other health insurance — have to file paper claims with TRICARE to be reimbursed for co-payments and other costs incurred that their primary insurance won’t cover. The paper hassle is about to end, said Navy Cmdr. […]
Spaceport at Cannon makes sense
January 17, 2006
Joseph Carraro: Guest Columnist If this proposed spaceport for private and commercial rocket launches is actually going to be able to fly, why not save some money and bring it to an area that already has infrastructure? It’s going to cost taxpayers $225 million to get it going. Plans call for its location north of […]
Officials planning health-care changes
January 16, 2006
By Tom Philpott: Military Update Senior defense officials characterized the military health benefit as “extremely rich” during a Wednesday meeting with service association representatives over plans to raise retirees’ TRICARE fees. Officials requested the meeting, say attendees, to explain to The Military Coalition, an umbrella group of three dozen military and veterans groups, why the […]
Miliarty Digest: Health insurance bump on way
January 3, 2006
By Tom Philpott Alarmed that soaring health care costs are crimping budget dollars for higher-priority defense programs, the Joint Chiefs intend to endorse the Defense Department’s plan to raise TRICARE fees sharply over the next three years for retirees under 65 and their families, say senior military officers. One officer described a likely scenario, early […]
Companies have right to regulate workers’ habits
December 13, 2005
Freedom Newspapers What you do on your own time increasingly looks like it could be your employer’s business. Smokers are the focus right now as businesses look at ways to contain health-care costs, with some companies increasing the insurance premiums of smokers or even firing them. In Ohio, Marysville-based Scotts Miracle-Gro has told employees who […]
