Columns

My youngest son played T-ball a couple of years ago.  He didn’t really play. He kept the dugout safe, though.  
He made sure the dugout bench was warm by lying on it.
He kept track of the equipment too.  When asked to go out to the field to play, he refused because it was too cold.  
I am not even sure if he went up to bat.  He probably did, because that is the fun part.  He sat on the ground when he was at base.  
He was a horrible T-ball player. But, regardless of his complete lack of participation he got a trophy at the end of the season. It was a cute little bobble-head thing.  He liked his trophy.

We face a significant decision on the Trinity Site.  It is essential to consider the impact on future generations and closely look at the business details because the agreement will last 73 years.  
Whether or not one agrees with the project, the citizens and staff who worked tirelessly should be thanked.  
Hundreds of hours, good faith  and personal commitment mark their efforts.  
In business terms, we are playing a very weak hand.  
The worst economic downturn since the Depression serves as the backdrop to our effort to bring new retail to a community struggling to attract business.  
It is not surprising that the results are uninspiring.  

It’s disturbing the way key decisions of state import — decisions, which properly should be left to the states’ legislatures and governors — are more and more being made or re-made by federal judges.
Only a couple of weeks ago, federal District Judge William P. Johnson issued a preliminary injunction blocking enforcement of a 2009 law passed by the legislature and signed by then-Gov. Bill Richardson limiting election year contributions by individuals or certain organizations to political campaign committees.
This is a state law that emerged by fits and starts after years of legislative struggle and compromises calculated to reign in the obscene sums of money it takes to run for public office today.

Gov. Susana Martinez is proposing tax-cuts to help the economy.  
OK. That kind of depends on what kinds of cuts.
I have a recommendation: Reform the GRT. Either:
• Tax moneys earned from services as personal income;
• Apply the GRT only to the profits reported on Federal Schedule C;
• Give a $25,000/yr deduction on the GRT to self-employeds/sole proprietors, which would be considered personal income, and reported/taxed accordingly as per any individual income; or
• Some combination of the above.
The GRT is a business income tax, not a consumption tax.