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Heath Haussamen's commentaryThis is the home of Heath Haussamen's commentary on NMPolitics.net. You can contact Heath at heath@haussamen.com. |
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NMPolitics.net is shutting down; here are my final two cents (14)
9/30/12 •
I’ve not found a suitable buyer for NMPolitics.net, so I’m shutting down the site. Before I go, I want to leave you with some parting thoughts about the importance of finding common ground.
NMPolitics.net is for sale (6)
8/26/12 •
It’s time for me to focus on New Mexico In Depth, but I want this site to continue and hopefully to grow. At this point, it has a better chance of doing that if someone else takes it over.
Following tragedy, let’s focus on solving core problems (10)
7/23/12 •
In the wake of the Aurora massacre we can, and perhaps should, debate the role of guns in our society. But as long as we focus on that at the expense of working to solve our core problems, we’re seeking a Band Aid instead of true societal healing.
NMFA needs to answer questions – now (9)
7/20/12 •
As investigators scramble to figure out what’s going on at the New Mexico Finance Authority, and NMFA officials claim they were duped by a rogue employee who created a fake audit but say little else, there are questions the agency can – and needs to – answer now.
Tea Party’s use of Confederate flag is indefensible (27)
7/17/12 •
If the Las Cruces Tea Party wants to be taken more seriously, it needs to consider why so many have viewed its float as offensive and demonstrate a greater sensitivity for their feelings and opinions.
Teachers’ personal info is a hot commodity (6)
7/10/12 •
Two situations that have recently made headlines show how sought-after teachers’ personal information is. Teachers, like the students they work so hard to educate, are caught in the middle of a war.
Personal e-mail issue begs for clarity (7)
7/06/12 •
Whether personal e-mail accounts should be used for public business and whether such e-mails are public record are issues that beg for clarity. I’d accept a legislative solution or, if anyone wants to take this issue to court, a judicial solution.
Legislators should use public e-mail accounts (4)
7/03/12 •
Government officials throughout New Mexico, including legislators, should use public e-mail accounts, which are undoubtedly subject to the Inspection of Public Records Act, to discuss public business.
Lawyer’s tenure on sunshine group board needs to end (2)
7/02/12 •
Pat Rogers has spent much of his legal career fighting for government transparency, but his recent actions helped create the appearance that the Martinez administration’s controversial contract with the Downs at Albuquerque was an insider deal.
E-mail mess looks a lot like Richardson scandals (13)
6/28/12 •
A company that donated to the governor’s campaign won a lucrative state contract after hiring a political insider who was communicating privately with at least one person in the governor’s inner circle before the contract was awarded. Think I’m talking about Bill Richardson? Think again.
Behind border and immigration debates are real people (5)
6/20/12 •
My recent visit to a community cut in half by the U.S.-Mexico border served as a reminder that, despite our efforts at border “security,” we’re still connected – and that, when we debate immigration and border issues, we’re talking about real people.
New project will focus on public-interest journalism (19)
6/13/12 •
I’m helping start a new organization dedicating to fostering, promoting and publishing public-interest journalism in New Mexico called New Mexico In Depth. Don’t worry, NMPolitics.net isn’t going anywhere.
Taking a stand in one of the great civil rights battles (32)
6/06/12 •
Our government and too many churches contribute to the culture of discrimination against gay people that exists in America. I’m taking a stand because it’s time that we put an end to that discrimination.
Evans made Doña Ana County a better place (2)
5/30/12 •
Former Doña Ana County Commissioner Kent Evans helped spark a state audit that set county government on a better track, and his passion for space exploration drove him to champion Spaceport America.