The author was director of the New Mexico Legislative Finance Committee from 1997 to 2023 when he retired. The Legislative Finance Committee proposes a state budget, evaluates state agency operations and advises the legislature on financial and management issues. Abbey previously served as chief investment officer for the state Treasurer, Director of the state Board of Finance and Chief Economist for the Department of Finance and Administration. Prior to state government service, Abbey worked at Los Alamos National Laboratory and Resources for the Future in Washington, DC. Abbey graduated from Brown University in 1975 with a degree in economics.