**PRESS RELEASE**  February 11, 2010

Carter Bundy, AFSCME (505-463-8499)                  Christine Trujillo, AFT (505-239-0871)

Dave Heshley, FOP (505-228-1981)                          Robin Gould, CWA (505-690-9584) 

Eduardo Holguin, NEA-NM (505-469-2125)

Police, Educational, Health Care, Correctional, University, and other State-funded Employees Question Senate Finance Budget

Budget proposal slashes services further and taxes middle class and low-income workers, while protecting millionaires and tax-dodging out-of-state corporations

Santa Fe, NM:  State workers, public safety employees, university staff, and educational public servants questioned a Senate Finance Committee proposal to balance the state budget on the backs of middle class and low-income workers.

State employees, including many public safety personnel, have already given up 3.5% of their pay to help balance the budget, and this proposal would increase total pay cuts to over 5%.  Educational workers have taken a similar hit.  Additionally, the Senate Finance budget contains even more cuts to state agencies, which will exacerbate the problems facing necessary programs.

Robin Gould of the CWA summed up public employees' sentiments:  "The entire nation is facing a budget crisis, and we're realistic about the scope of the problem.  All we ask is for a balanced approach that doesn't single us out."

Charles Bowyer of the NEA-NM said "So far, New Mexico has used only cuts, slashing $700 million in state and educational services.  Meanwhile, a majority of other states have used a combination of cuts and revenues to ensure that necessary services aren't totally decimated."

"Department of Public Safety police officers put their lives on the line every day.  We need revenue to balance out the cuts to these public safety heroes," said FOP Director Dave Heshley.

Christine Trujillo, President of AFT-NM, noted "We've had huge cuts already.  When are they going to stop the bleeding and start looking at a similar amount of revenues?  We don't mind sacrificing some if we're all in this together.  But if public employees alone are bearing the brunt of a revenue shortfall, that's just not fair."

AFSCME Local 1211 President Joel Villarreal added "This Senate budget goes after middle class workers who provide critical services, instead of sharing some of the burden with the very richest New Mexicans who benefited from a 40% tax break given when times were good."