**PRESS RELEASE**

For immediate release:                                                          Contact:  Josh Anderson

October 29, 2009                                                                                    (505) 350-2200

Workers Ask Governor to Veto 7.6% Agency Cuts

Legislature's Extreme Cuts Would Cripple New Mexico’s Economy

Albuquerque, NM:  State public servants represented by the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME) have requested that Governor Richardson veto the legislature's planned 7.6% slashing of state agencies.

Joel Villarreal, the President of the local representing state employees in Albuquerque, noted that "It is no secret that we have a problem on our hands that needs to be fixed, and that problem is our economy.  Everyday more people lose jobs, more people have less money to spend on basic goods and services, and more people have to rely on critical state services to survive this great recession.  Additional cuts of nearly 8%, which is closer to 10%-12% because we are 5 months into the fiscal year, will deny much needed services to a significant part of our state’s population."

Economists around the state have already pointed out that these cuts would hurt the most vulnerable New Mexicans, sap our economic recovery, and add to unemployment lines and foreclosures.

Council 18 President Andrew Padilla added:  "These cuts would have a negative impact on our already over-crowded prisons, they would make it more difficult for state police officers to patrol our highways, and they would cripple the jobs of those at CYFD who take care of our youth."

Patrick Gutierrez, President of the local for state employees in Las Vegas, said: "We understand the meaning of shared sacrifice in these though times.  Moderate cuts along with enhanced revenue streams is the only we can get out of this mess, but we must make sure that any cuts or revenue enhancements are responsible and are done in a way to help us recover quickly and not dig us deeper in a hole." 

AFSCME believes the legislature's state agency cuts are far too drastic and do not follow the intent of the Governor's call for a special session.  Cuts of this magnitude will only make it harder for the state of New Mexico to recover, hurting both state employees' families and citizens who need critical services.