PERA
House Bill 616 (Varela), a good bill which would limit double dipping, passed the Senate Finance Committee. Dampening the good news, though, was the fact that Albuquerque Mayor Martin Chavez was able to add additional double dipping years for police and fire but excluded corrections. This was a big slap in the face to corrections officers, who we strongly argued should have been included in any public safety change.
Senator Jerry Ortiz y Pino (D-Albuquerque) offered an amendment to include corrections officers as public safety employees for return to work, but Chairman John Arthur Smith (D-Deming) led a rejection of the amendment.
Double dipping is bad for the general fund and harms PERA, and is frustrating for many workers. We should be proud that AFSCME has taken the lead in trying to limit double dipping. But if police and fire are going to be given that opportunity for additional years, corrections should be too. In fact, given how few COs currently return to work, it's clear that there's no job--none--in the state tougher than being a CO.
Call Senate Finance Committee members and ask them to treat corrections officers the same as other public safety officers when it comes to return to work.
Say "Please support a Senate floor amendment to House Bill 616 including corrections officers as public safety employees".
Senate Finance Democrats
Nancy Rodriguez (D-Santa Fe) 986-4264 [no email]
Senate Finance Republicans
In general, though, HB 616 passing is a good for all of our workers who are PERA members. In addition to HB 616 passing, there was other good news for PERA. Senate Bill 451 (Ingle) has been amended so that there are no PERA contribution limits, but it still adds to PERA campaign transparency. With the limits lifted, SB 451 passed the House Labor Committee yesterday on a 4-0 bi-partisan vote.
BUDGET/FURLOUGHS/LAYOFFS/PAYCUTS
Late last night Eric Griego (D-Albuquerque) gave a stirring speech echoing what you have been telling legislators all session: don't balance the budget on the backs of working families in New Mexico. We all know it's a tough year, and that some sacrifices may have to be made, but so far the only people from whom the state is raising revenue are state employees, university employees, and public school employees.
Despite your great efforts and the work of people like Senator Griego, the Senate passed the 1.5% paycut 34-4. Please call Sen. Griego to thank him for his tireless leadership on behalf of public employees: 986-4862.
Call Governor Richardson and ask him to veto House Bill 854. The number is 476-2200.
Please continue calls to the following 8 representatives and senators and let them know that we want them to find other revenue sources first, and to make any changes progressive.
HOUSE LEADERS AND POSSIBLE BUDGET CONFERENCE COMMITTEE MEMBERS
House Appropriations Chair Kiki Saavedra (D-Albuquerque) 986-4316
House Appropriations Deputy Chair Lucky Varela (D-Santa Fe) 986-4318
SENATE LEADERS AND POSSIBLE BUDGET CONFERENCE COMMITTEE MEMBERS
President Pro Tem Tim Jennings (D-Roswell) 986-4733
ARBITRATION
We are still trying to get House Bill 15 (Speaker Lujan) heard on the House floor. Call Senator Michael Sanchez at 986-4727 and ask that he please bring House Bill 15 to the floor.
CHILD CARE ORGANIZING
Keep up the calls to Governor Richardson at 476-2200 asking him to sign Senate Bill 402 (Cisneros).
Carter Bundy
Political Action Representative
AFSCME International
1202 Pennsylvania St. NE
Albuquerque, NM 87110
(505) 266-2177 ext. 13 (work)
(505) 266-3155 (fax)
