*PLEASE READ ALL THE WAY DOWN AND MAKE PHONE CALLS--WE'RE REACHING OUT TO
THE SAME GROUP OF SENATORS FOR ALL THREE MAJOR ISSUES.*

*ALSO, PLEASE FORWARD TO HOME EMAIL ADDRESSES OF OTHER MEMBERS, FRIENDS,
FAMILY, NEIGHBORS, CHURCH ACQUAINTANCES, ETC.* Gracias!

Budget/furloughs/layoffs

The House passed the House Appropriations Committee plan with a 1.5% pay cut
for PERA and ERA members, by increasing our members' contributions by 1.5%
of pay and decreasing the employers' contributions. We are pursuing a
seven-pronged strategy to change this.

First, we are pushing hard for revenue alternatives, particularly combined
reporting (which is a way of making sure that big international companies
don't scam New Mexico out of state taxes--it would bring in about $70
million).

Second, we are asking that federal stimulus money be used to help offset the
state deficit. While no one--including the feds--is entirely sure how the
money can be used, we're pursuing this option as hard as we can so that even
if decisions aren't made right now, we may have a head start on a special
budget session in April or May.

Third, we are teaming up with other public employee unions like AFT, NEA and
CWA to push to allow each agency to determine how to cut 1.5% if it comes to
that. We believe that there are additional vacancy savings that would at
least bring that number down some, and we also would like the percentage to
be lowered for lower- and middle-income employees and raised for the
six-figure crowd that has done so well over the last few years.

Fourth, Josh and I have received instruction from the Council that, in the
event we can't get the entire amount filled from alternative revenue
sources, furloughs in that same amount are preferable to shifting PERA/ERA
payments. This is for two reasons: first, most people, if they're taking a
pay cut, would rather take a day off than lose a day's pay and still work.
Second, transferring the PERA payments from the employer to the employee,
even if it's the same amount, will cost the PERA fund millions of dollars
(because employee-side money can be withdrawn if, for example, a member
doesn't vest by staying for 5 years).

Fifth, we're going to all of our political allies, from the Governor to Lt.
Governor to Speaker to some of the Senate's leaders to ask them to find
alternatives to the 1.5% pay cut. We're also obviously speaking in person
to every Senator who we think even remotely will support our efforts, and
even some who might not.

Sixth, we're looking at legal strategies and rights with our union and PERA,
and even the State Personnel Office.

Seventh, but far from least, we need YOU to call and email Senate Finance
Committee members and Senate leadership to ask them to find revenue
alternatives to the 1.5% pay cut. *SEE BELOW FOR PHONE NUMBERS*

Child care organizing

It was a mixed week for child care organizing. On the bright side, the
House floor passed HB 245 (Miguel Garcia) 41-26, which was about as strong a
showing as we could have hoped for.

The more challenging development was that the Senate, under the leadership
of Tim Jennings and John Arthur Smith, referred the bill to Senate Finance.
Senator Smith chairs Senate Finance and our first concern is to ensure that
our House child care bill gets a fair hearing--Smith has consistently voted
against this bill over the last few years.

Senate Bill 402 (Cisneros) will likely be heard in Senate Judiciary Friday
afternoon. You've all done a great job of calling that group, and we hope
to hold onto enough Democrats to get 402 to the Senate floor (where there
may be another attempt to pull it into Senate Finance, but we don't want to
highlight that possibility right now, so don't mention that bill in our
calls).

Arbitration

Not much has happened with our arbitration bills because the Senate Finance
Committee isn't moving SB 164 (Eric Griego). That's precisely why we need
your calls to SFC members to encourage them to give SB 164 a fair hearing.

HB 15 (Speaker Lujan) fortunately did not get a Senate Finance referral, at
least not yet. For now, don't mention that bill to SFC members. We'll have
members call when it's up before Senate Public Affairs, probably late next
week.

Other bills

One major bill affecting PERA is moving towards positive resolution. First,
we're working with Representative Varela and the Municipal League on HB 616
to greatly rein in double dipping.

Earlier today, domestic partnership was killed in the Senate 25-17.
Regardless of personal or religious views, all of which are respected by
AFSCME, domestic partnership would have meant that hundreds more of our
sisters and brothers would have had health and retirement benefits.

On a more positive note, the cigarette tax, which will generate $33
million/year in recurring revenue, passed House Health and Government
Affairs this morning 5-1 with AFSCME's support.

This afternoon, HB 79 (Varela), which allows AFSCME and the other retiree
organization to get a list of PERA members for elections, passed the House
floor on a nearly exact party-line vote.

*ACTION*

Please call the following Senate Finance Committee members with three
messages:

1. Ask that they reject the 1.5% PERA/ERA pay cut in House Bill 854 and
find alternatives for state revenue.

2. Ask that they give Senate Bill 164 a fair hearing and support state
employee arbitration.

3. Ask that they support House Bill 245 to allow HOME-BASED (very important
to mention "home-based") child care providers the right to organize.

Senate Finance Democrats

Chair John Arthur Smith (D-Deming) 986-4363 john.smith@nmlegis.gov

Vice Chair Carlos Cisneros (D-Questa) 986-4362 carlos.cisneros@nmlegis.gov

Pete Campos (D-Las Vegas) 986-4311 petecampos@newmexico.com

Howie Morales (D-Silver City) 986-4863 howiemorales@yahoo.com

Jerry Ortiz y Pino (D-central Albuquerque) 986-4380 jortizyp@msn.com

Mary Kay Papen (D-Las Cruces) 986-4270 marykay.papen@nmlegis.gov

Nancy Rodriguez (D-Santa Fe) 986-4264 [no email]

Senate Finance Republicans

Rod Adair (R-Roswell) 986-4385 radair@dfn.com

Sue Wilson Beffort (R-Sandia Park) 986-4395 sue.beffort@nmlegis.gov

Carroll Leavell (R-Jal) 986-4278 leavell4@leaco.net

Steven Neville (R-Aztec) 986-4266 nmsenate@msn.com


Carter Bundy
Political Action Representative
AFSCME International
1202 Pennsylvania St. NE
Albuquerque, NM 87110
(505) 266-2177 ext. 13 (work)
(505) 266-3155 (fax)