Tax and Budget
OPINION: New Mexico’s economic freedom is now dead last
The following appeared in the Albuquerque Journal on December 7, 2025. In a study published earlier this year, we highlighted the fact that New Mexico was the only state in the U.S. to have lost economic freedom since 1981.…
Portland Public Schools’ Risky Real Estate Gamble
By Eric Fruits, Ph.D. On December 2,Portland Public Schools (PPS) board voted unanimously on purchasing the One North commercial building for $16 million to house the Center for Black Student Excellence, but the building’s…
New Mexico falls to 50th among US states in latest “Index of Economic Freedom”
The Rio Grande Foundation has never seen “eye to eye” with Gov. Lujan Grisham and the leftists in Santa Fe who have failed to improve New Mexico even with the benefit of billions of dollars in oil and gas revenues. And, while…
Multnomah Audit Finds Fraud in Construction Recycling
By Naomi Inman What happens to all that construction debris on public works projects? How is construction waste recycled and kept out of the landfill? A recent Multnomah County audit raises more questions than answers on four…
Rio Grande Foundation Soiree a Huge Success!
What do you call 175 freedom loving New Mexicans gathered in one place? A good start! In all seriousness the Rio Grande Foundation hosted its 25th anniversary Laissez Faire Soiree this past Saturday night and we are pleased…
TriMet Retreat Should Focus on Crisis, Not Expansion
By John A. Charles, Jr. On November 12, the TriMet Board will hold their Board Retreat at Gresham City Hall. In reviewing their agenda, the first thing you’d notice is what’s missing: the lack of urgency in addressing the…
$2 Trillion and No One Aboard
By Randal O’Toole Since 1965, when Congress began subsidizing urban transit, taxpayers have spent well over $1.4 trillion on transit. When adjusted for inflation to today’s dollars, that’s more than $2.1 trillion: that’s…
RGF in National Review: New Mexico’s ‘Free’ Child Care an Attempt to Cover for Past Failures
Recently, New Mexico’s Democratic Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham announced a new plan for taxpayers to fund “free” child care for all New Mexicans, regardless of their income levels. The announcement generated favorable news…
Testimony Before the PPS Bond Accountability Committee
John A. Charles, Jr.President, Cascade Policy InstituteOctober 29, 2025 Members of the Committee, my name is John Charles, representing Cascade Policy Institute. Cascade is a non-profit policy research organization,…
RGF opinion piece: Voters should be skeptical of $350 million bond for APS
The following appeared in the Albuquerque Journal on Sunday October 12, 2025. On this fall’s ballots in addition to votes for mayor, city council and school board, local voters will be asked to decide on a $350 million bond…
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