Sisters and Brothers,

I want to let everyone on list know that many of the state local presidents held a conference call today to see where we are at and what the plan will be over the next week regarding the 7.6% agency cuts.

Everyone feels we have been doing a good job getting our members to make calls, but they don't want to let up now.  They also want to encourage any employee, friend, or family member to write an opinion piece to their local newspaper as well.  We want to make sure everyone uses the same talking points so our message is strong.  I am going to paste the press release we sent statewide into the email because that includes many of our talking points.

We want to make sure to focus on how these budget cuts are bad for New Mexico, bad for the citizens of New Mexico, and will only slow down the economic recovery of our state.  So please look over the press release again and continue to make calls and write letters to your newspaper.  Also, please call in to any radio program with the same message if they talk about the budget.

Governors office, 505-476-2200

**PRESS RELEASE**

For immediate release:                                                                                                                                                                                                    Contact:  Josh Anderson

October 29, 2009                                                                                                                                                                                                                               (505) 350-2200

Workers Ask Governor to Veto 7.6% Agency Cuts

Legislature's Extreme Cuts Would Cripple New Mexico’s Economy

Albuquerque, NM:  State public servants represented by the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME) have requested that Governor Richardson veto the legislature's planned 7.6% slashing of state agencies.

Joel Villarreal, the President of the local representing state employees in Albuquerque, noted that "It is no secret that we have a problem on our hands that needs to be fixed, and that problem is our economy.  Everyday more people lose jobs, more people have less money to spend on basic goods and services, and more people have to rely on critical state services to survive this great recession.  Additional cuts of nearly 8%, which is closer to 10%-12% because we are 5 months into the fiscal year, will deny much needed services to a significant part of our state’s population."

Economists around the state have already pointed out that these cuts would hurt the most vulnerable New Mexicans, sap our economic recovery, and add to unemployment lines and foreclosures.

Council 18 President Andrew Padilla added:  "These cuts would have a negative impact on our already over-crowded prisons, they would make it more difficult for state police officers to patrol our highways, and they would cripple the jobs of those at CYFD who take care of our youth."

Patrick Gutierrez, President of the local for state employees in Las Vegas, said: "We understand the meaning of shared sacrifice in these though times.  Moderate cuts along with enhanced revenue streams is the only we can get out of this mess, but we must make sure that any cuts or revenue enhancements are responsible and are done in a way to help us recover quickly and not dig us deeper in a hole." 

AFSCME believes the legislature's state agency cuts are far too drastic and do not follow the intent of the Governor's call for a special session.  Cuts of this magnitude will only make it harder for the state of New Mexico to recover, hurting both state employees' families and citizens who need critical services.

Josh Anderson

AFSCME Council 18

505-266-2177 work

505-266-3155 fax