American Federation of Teachers New Mexico President Stephanie Ly
AFTNM News:
- Changes to Previously Passed House Version Prioritize Education
SANTA FE – American Federation of Teachers New Mexico President Stephanie Ly released the following statement on the New Mexico Senate’s passage Of House Bill 2:
“Senate Finance Committee amendments to the General Appropriations Act of 2017 (House Bill 2/a), builds upon the work from the House of Representatives, and continues to keep the needs of the New Mexico’s public schools in the forefront of budgetary priorities in an extremely difficult financial year.
“In addition to the funding from the New Mexico House, the New Mexico Senate today passed a budget including a $10.6 million special appropriation to the State Equalization Guarantee, the mechanism used to fund our public schools, bringing funding to a total to $2.69 billion for the 2018 fiscal year. Additionally, the Senate minimized the proposed Governor Martinez’s cuts to early education programs and higher education in New Mexico.
“Leadership in the Senate under President Pro Tempore Mary Kay Papen, Majority Leader Peter Wirth, and Senate Finance Chair John Arthur Smith was critical to keep New Mexico’s schools and educational institutions protected during this challenging financial time. New Mexicans must continue to demand Governor Martinez recognize the very real and long-term harm which could come to New Mexico’s schools and educational institutions should House Bill 2/a and related revenue bills not be signed into law in a responsible way.
“We renew our call to the Governor to sign this budget and related revenue bills and avoid the need for a Special Legislative Session. New Mexicans deserve a budget fulfilling the State’s responsibility to provide a quality public education, and Governor Martinez must honor this critical promise to our future generations.”