There is mean things happenin’ in this land;There is mean things happenin’ in this land;There is mean things happenin’ in this land.There is mean things happenin’ in this land.Oh, the rich man boasts and brags,Oh, the rich man boasts and brags,While the poor man goes in rags,While the poor man goes in rags,There is mean things happenin’ in this land.There is mean things happenin’ in this land.

Take care of yourself first, then you will be able totake care of students.

Depression Chant, 1934Depression Chant, 1934

AFT New Mexico COPEAFT New Mexico COPE

Warren Buffett, one of the richest men in Warren Buffett, one of the richest men in America said, “When people get outraged, America said, “When people get outraged, politicians respond.”politicians respond.”

Take care of yourself first, then you will be able totake care of students.

One rich man’s adviceOne rich man’s advice

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Take Buffett’s advice Take Buffett’s advice

Repeal tax cuts for richRepeal tax cuts for richClose corporate tax loopholesClose corporate tax loopholes

Repeal HB 854Repeal HB 854Restore per-pupil unit funding cutsRestore per-pupil unit funding cuts

Save, create new jobsSave, create new jobs

Take care of yourself first, then you will be able totake care of students.

AFT New Mexico COPEAFT New Mexico COPE

Our planOur plan

• Tell all school employees…– What New Mexico’s lawmakers did

– What President Obama did

– What we must do: take direct action

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What lawmakers didWhat lawmakers did• Passed budget with…

– $29.68 cut in per-pupil unit value funding– No money for schools’ higher utility bills,

insurance costs– Higher employee retirement deductions– No cost-of-living increases

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Why they cut educationWhy they cut education

• Lawmakers said…– New Mexico has a deficit

– Constitution prohibits deficits

– They had no other choices

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New Mexico’s deficitNew Mexico’s deficit

• Created by…– Lawmakers who cut state taxes which fund public

education • Cut income taxes for the rich• Opened corporate tax loopholes• Balanced deficit with higher oil, gas revenues

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New Mexico’s deficitNew Mexico’s deficit

• In 2008, energy prices collapsed– Oil, gas tax revenues dropped– $500 million budget deficit reappeared – Lawmakers refused to repeal tax cuts for the rich– Lawmakers refused to close corporate tax loopholes

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Constitution doesn’tConstitution doesn’tprohibit deficitsprohibit deficits

• Article 9, Section 7– “…The state may also contract debts to suppress

insurrection and to provide for the public defense.”

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Constitution prohibitsConstitution prohibitseducation cutseducation cuts

• Article 12, Section 1– “A uniform system of free public schools sufficient for

the education of, and open to, all the children of school age shall be established and maintained.”

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LawmakersLawmakerscut education’scut education’sshare of budgetshare of budget

0.0

10.0

20.0

30.0

40.0

50.0

60.0

'82

'86

'90

2000

'07

'08

'09

• 1982 – lawmakers responsible for public education per-pupil funding

• 1986 – 51.6%• 1990 – 50.0%• 2000 – 47.0%• 2007 – 44.0%• 2008 – 43.3%• 2009 – 40.1%

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Instead of education cutsInstead of education cuts

• Five better choices1. Repeal $500m in tax cuts for rich

2. Close $130m in corporate tax loopholes

3. Invest $7b Permanent School Fund

4. Invest $3b Severance Tax Fund

5. Invest Obama’s $3b - $1.8b stimulusAFT New Mexico COPEAFT New Mexico COPE

What others didWhat others did• New York State Lawmakers

– Repealed tax cuts for rich– Closed corporate tax loopholes– Increased budget spending

• $1.75b for schools, colleges and universities• 5 percent increase

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What our legislators didWhat our legislators did• New Mexico senators, representatives

– Refused to repeal tax cuts for the rich– Refused to close corporate tax loopholes– Increased our retirement deductions– Banked President Obama’s stimulus– Cut per-pupil funding unit value $29.68

AFT New Mexico COPE

What Obama saidWhat Obama said

• “The last thing a government should do in a recession is to cut spending.”

Georgetown University, April 14,

2009

AFT New Mexico COPE

What Obama didWhat Obama did• Sent stimulus to New Mexico

– Additional $3b - $1.8b to…• Restore cuts in per-pupil funding unit value• Put 26,400 New Mexicans back to work• Save the economy from a depression

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President Obama said…President Obama said…

• “Spend this stimulus quickly and wisely to save jobs and create new jobs.”

AFT New Mexico COPEAFT New Mexico COPE

Our planOur plan

• Tell all school employees- What our lawmakers did

- What President Obama did

- What we must do: take direct action

AFT New Mexico COPEAFT New Mexico COPE

What is direct action ?What is direct action ?• Strongly express our attitudes• Clearly communicate our positions• Tell lawmakers what we need

AFT New Mexico COPEAFT New Mexico COPE

Direct action phase 1Direct action phase 1

• Sign petition• Take home

– Family– Friends– neighbors

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Direct action phase 2 ?Direct action phase 2 ?

• In Los Angeles, CA– Employees protest

7,000 job cuts

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Direct action phase 3 ?Direct action phase 3 ?

Fighting for our student’s education

• One-third of APS education assistants called-in sick last November

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Direct action phase 4 ?Direct action phase 4 ?

Fighting for our student’s education

• Go to Santa Fe when session begins

• Stay at Capitol until lawmakers respond

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Direct action phase 5 ?Direct action phase 5 ?

Fighting for our student’s education

• Elect new lawmakers Nov. 2010

AFT New Mexico COPEAFT New Mexico COPE

Questions, answers,Questions, answers,schedule meetingsschedule meetings

800-224-3270800-224-3270505-266-6638505-266-6638

http://nm.aft.orghttp://nm.aft.org

Take care of yourself first, then you will be able totake care of students.

Fight for what’s right.

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