Columns

One of the most difficult tasks we face in crafting a balanced budget is rebuilding New Mexico’s budget “re-serves,”the stash of cash that helps state government get through unexpected economic downturns and keeps the state’s credit rating high.

Rebuilding the budget reserves — the goal is to have a cushion of between five percent and 10 percent of the amount of money we spend each year — is critical for a couple of reasons.

Compiled by The Associated Press

The Pittsburgh (Pennsylvania) Post-Gazette on another U.S. ally getting presidential disapproval (Feb. 21):

On Saturday President Donald J. Trump added Sweden to a list of allies that he had insulted publicly.

REYKJAVIK, ICELAND — One of the more memorable lines in a locally-produced play called “The Odd Couple” was about a minor character, a card player named Vinnie, who decided to vacation in Florida in the summer. I played the role of Vinnie, and during rehearsals often wondered who in all creation would even think of such a trip at such a place.

We did. Well, kind of.

Tomorrow we celebrate Presidents’ Day, a holiday that includes President Lincoln’s birthday.

President Lincoln led our country through a low point in our history. The Civil War resulted in the deaths of over 700,000 of our own citizens (according to Wikipedia). President Lincoln had to carry the weight of a divided country on his shoulders each day of his Presidency.