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12 state lawmakers, called 'The Gang of 12',  have been meeting behind closed doors to come-up with a list of recommended education spending cuts in order to balance the state's budget deficit.

This time, lawmakers want to cut spending by $433 million. Last January, they cut spending by $500 million (they cut the student unit funding value by $30), and it didn't solve the problem. What's the definition of insanity? Doing the same thing over and over when it didn't work the first time?

If you want a copy the complete recommendation, then click on the resource below and download the 13-page document. More lawmakers, the Legislative Finance Committee (LFC), will meet Monday, Sept. 28, at the State Capitol to discuss and try to approve so the LFC can recommend the education cuts to a special legislative sessions, scheduled to meet in October.

Lawmakers are determined to continue protecting the tax cuts they gave the super-rich and out-of-state corporations in 2003.  

Lawmakers should not cut public spending during a recession. These cuts will only continue the death-spiral of declining tax revenues, and if constituents allow lawmakers to make these cuts, lawmakers will be back in January 2010 to cut again.

There are no options left for lawmakers but to roll back tax cuts for wealthiest New Mexicans and close tax loopholes for big out-of-state corporations.

MORE STUDENT VALUE CUTS WILL MEAN:

• Layoff teachers and increase class sizes.
• Fewer education assistants (layoffs).
• Cut more funding from small school districts.
• Moratorium on charter schools.
• Cut emergency supplemental funding.
• Cut maintenance personnel.
• Cut insurance costs.
• Cut local teachers and use Regional Educational Cooperatives instead.
• Cut funding for maintenance costs and textbooks, replace with transportation funding.
• Cut educational assistants, maintenance and custodial employees, and central office secretaries and clerks.

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