We're still not where we need to be, but this morning the Senate Finance Committee (SFC) changed the pay cuts in their budget from an additional 2.64% down to an average of an additional 1%.  

Sen. Howie Morales, a good friend of our union from Silver City, and other senators are working to further reduce the cut to state, university, and educational employees, especially those making under $50,000 a year.

We've already been hit for 1.5%, and 2% was taken by furloughs, so even an additional 1% is wrong when there are so many fair revenue options out there.  But your calls, emails, and presence at the Roundhouse have clearly made a difference.  While the Senate budget still puts a disproportionate burden on public employees, we've reduced the cuts to most of us by almost 80%.

We still have work to do, and we'll need a big showing on Sunday from 1-3 p.m. at our rally on the west side of the Roundhouse.  We also need you to be relentless with your calls and emails.  Either on Sunday or early next week we'll know who is on the conference committee, which is where the House and Senate try to hammer out their differences.  We'll send out a list for calls and emails ASAP, and that's the committee that needs to hear from each and every one of you, and each family member.  

We'll see you Sunday in Santa Fe!  --Carter