Starting tomorrow (Wednesday, Feb. 24), the legislature will reconvene to deal with the budget. We want a strong start to the special session, so make sure you and your co-workers flood them with calls and emails.
Our basic message of no more cuts and raising revenue is unchanged, but here's a slightly new angle that is key to avoiding layoffs in the next two years: ask them to make the revenue increases PERMANENT, not temporary. If the revenue enhancements are temporary, we're going to face an even worse budget deficit for the next two or three fiscal years.
Here's a good list of leaders in both houses to focus on for now. Also, keep calling Governor Richardson and Lt. Governor Denish's offices asking them to make revenue increases permanent.
Governor Bill Richardson 476-2200
Lt. Governor Diane Denish 476-2250
House Speaker Ben Lujan (Santa Fe--Santa Fe County) 986-4782 ben.lujan@nmlegis.gov
House Majority Leader Ken Martinez (Grants--Cibola, McKinley & San Juan Counties) 986-4776 mLo1@7cities.net
House Appropriations Chair Kiki Saavedra (Albuquerque--Bernalillo County) 986-4316
Legislative Finance Chair Lucky Varela (Santa Fe--Santa Fe County) 986-4318
House Education Chair Rick Miera (Albuquerque--Bernalillo County) 986-4852 rick.miera@nmlegis.gov
Senate Majority Leader Michael Sanchez (Belen--Valencia County) 986-4727 senatormssanchez@aol.com
Senate Majority Whip Mary Jane Garcia (Dona Ana--Dona Ana County) 986-4726 maryjane.garcia@nmlegis.gov
Senate Finance Chair John Arthur Smith (Deming--Hidalgo, Luna & Sierra Counties) 986-4361 john.smith@nmlegis.gov
Senate President Tim Jennings (Roswell--Chaves, Eddy, Lincoln & Otero Counties) 986-4733 timothy.jennings@nmlegis.gov
Carlos Cisneros (Questa--Los Alamos, Rio Arriba, Santa Fe & Taos Counties) 986-4365 carlos.cisneros@nmlegis.gov
Howie Morales (Silver City--Catron, Grant & Socorro Counties) 986-4863 howiemorales@yahoo.com
Phil Griego (San Jose--Los Alamos, Mora, Sandoval, San Miguel, Santa Fe & Taos Counties) 986-4861 senatorgriego@yahoo.com
Pete Campos (Las Vegas--Guadalupe, Mora, San Miguel, Santa Fe & Torrance Counties) 986-4311 petecampos@newmexico.com
Tim Eichenberg (Albuquerque--Bernalillo County) 986-4859 tim.eichenberg@nmlegis.gov
