There are three key sets of calls and emails we need for the last 36 hours of the legislative session (the session ends at noon on Saturday). We will also let you know once the session ends which other bills we need you to call the Governor to ask for a veto or signature.
For the next 36 hours, though, please make the following calls:
1. ARBITRATION: Call Michael Sanchez at 986-4727 and email him at
senatormssanchez@aol.com to ask him to schedule House Bill 15 (Speaker Lujan) on the Senate floor.
Also call Speaker Lujan at 986-4782 and email him at
ben.lujan@nmlegis.gov to thank him for working to schedule House Bill 15 (this will encourage him to continue to push HB 15 with Michael Sanchez).
2. PERA DOUBLE DIPPING: While we are glad House Bill 616 (Varela) is going to limit double dipping, it's just wrong that corrections officers aren't included with police and fire in public safety.
Call members of Senate Finance and ask them to vote FOR a Senate floor amendment to include corrections officers in the public safety part of House Bill 616. Here are their numbers and emails again:
Senate Finance Democrats
Nancy Rodriguez (D-Santa Fe) 986-4264 [no email]
Senate Finance Republicans
CHILD CARE ORGANIZING
Please keep calling the Governor at 476-2200 thanking him for supporting child care workers and asking him to sign Senate Bill 402.
OTHER BILLS
House Bill 573 (Heaton) creates a task force including union representatives to look at PERA and ERA over the next year (and does not change ANYTHING in PERA or ERA for either current employees or anyone hired in the next year, and will unquestionably be changed again before FY '11). It is scheduled for the Senate floor and will likely get a vote tomorrow.
Senate Bill 451 (Ingle) will allow PERA candidates to get an electronic copy of the PERA voter file and also prohibits companies trying to do business with PERA from influencing elections. It no longer contains any cap on contributions from unions, other organizations, or individuals, so we are supporting it. It is scheduled for the House floor, probably for tomorrow, after getting out of House Judiciary earlier this evening.
We are also watching a number of bills that would change our ability to participate in politics, but so far (knock on wood) things look good. There may be new campaign finance limits, but those would affect everyone and are not bad for us.
The big tax increment development district bills are also still awaiting hearing on the House floor, and it looks as though there is a movement to adopt AFSCME's position. Our position has been that we are very concerned about the effect on future general fund revenue, and want language that ensures that only new revenues, not existing revenues, are subject to being given to developers.
END OF SESSION PLANS
I'll try to do at least one more update in the next 36 hours, but tomorrow may go so late that I don't get to it. Personal thanks to Josh Anderson, the Council 18 Political Coordinator, who has worked absurdly long hours with some, ummm...sometimes challenging legislators and has become one of the finest lobbyists in Santa Fe.
We'll continue to update you on what bills are being signed and vetoed that affect our state, university, and city/county/water authority members.
Please stay active in our political program after the session. We're almost definitely going to have a special budget session in April or May, we have city races in Albuquerque, and we're holding our bi-annual political convention in June.
If you're not a PEOPLE member, or don't know what PEOPLE is, please look for announcements about meetings to discuss this crucial component of our political and legislative work.
These are tough times, but the groups of employees who stick together and decide to strengthen our voices in politics are going to do better than if we all are left to fend for ourselves. PEOPLE is AFSCME's way of sticking together.
Mil gracias to each and every one of you who have worked so hard to give our legislative program the big grassroots support that really influences legislators. In Solidarity, Carter
Carter Bundy
Political Action Representative
AFSCME International
1202 Pennsylvania St. NE
Albuquerque, NM 87110
(505) 266-2177 ext. 13 (work)
(505) 266-3155 (fax)
