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Legislative
Session Contacts for Legislators-Phone: (505) 986-4300, Letters: Bill to Help with Health Insurance Premiums Gets Do-Pass House Bill 276, State Contribution to Group Insurance, introduced by Representative Pauline Ponce, received a do-pass recommendation from the House Education Committee on Wednesday. This bill will increase the employer contribution for group insurance to 75% of premium for the lowest paid employees and will increase the premium amount for everyone else by 5% next year. The rate gradually increases to 80% for all employees over the next several years. The measure goes next to the House Appropriation and Finance Committee, ask committee members to support this important financial benefit for employees in this year of inflated health insurance premiums. Education Reform and Teacher Salaries House Bill 212, Education Reform will be heard in the House Education Committee on Friday. The bill sponsored by Representative Mimi Stewart for the Legislative Education Study Committee, will provide a new licensure system for teachers tied to minimum salary levels. While the bill mainly addresses teachers, it is a good first step to comprehensive reform and is supported by most education advocacy groups. Call members of the committee and ask them to support House Bill 212 We have received assurances from House Leaders that House Bill 451, providing 18 million dollars for a one time one percent increase for all school employees in the current school year will move out of the House soon. The bill was introduced by Representative Sheryl Williams-Stapleton. This legislation fulfills House Democrats pledge to provide supplemental salary funding this year following their approval of the Budget negotiated in the Extraordinary Session of the Legislature last summer. Urge Democratic House Members to keep their pledge and support this token salary increase now. The measure's first hearing will be in the House Education Committee.
Public Employee Collective Bargaining Sails Through Fourth Committee! The House version of the public employee bargaining bill House Bill 508, sponsored by House Speaker Ben Lujan received a do-pass recommendation in the House Labor and Human Resources Committee on Tuesday afternoon. The Vote in House Labor and Human Resources Committee was:
The Bill goes next to the House Appropriations and Finance Committee. Call committee members and all House Members and ask them to support House Bill 508. Senate Bill 46, the Senate version of public employee bargaining received a do-pass recommendation in the Senate Judiciary Committee Monday afternoon. The vote was:
The bill goes next to the
Senate
Finance Committee. Ask
committee members as well as other
Senators
to support school employees' (and other public employees) collective bargaining rights. Ask All
Legislators to Save Education Funding Harmless in Tax Cuts! The Senate Finance Committee rejected the language added by the House to prevent revenue shortages caused by the Governor's recommended tax cuts. Previously, the House Taxation and Revenue Committee added language protecting state revenues from the effects of the Governor's proposed tax decrease in the event state revenues fall below acceptable levels. The House amendments, which passed the full House on Friday night, make clear that if there is not sufficient economic growth and new business development in fiscal years 2005-2006 and 2006-2007 to provide new revenues, then the tax cuts are off; the House language requires that state reserves remain at 4% for the fiscal year ending and be projected at 5% for the next fiscal year in order for the tax cut to be triggered. We believe that this circuit-breaker protection is necessary to protect school funding (some 47% of general fund revenues). The measure passed the Senate, the House rejected the Senate changes and a conference committee has been appointed; Members: Speaker Lujan, Representative Don Whitaker, Representative Thomas Taylor, Senator Manny Aragon, Senator Carlos Cisneros, and Senator Sue Wilson-Beffort. We need to urge all conference committee members, as well as all House Members, and all Senators to provide some "save-harmless" provision for school revenues in any final tax bill! Ask members to not be fooled by Republican party "robo" calls into the districts of House members who voted for the Governor's tax package and for protection of school funding against revenue shortfalls. It has come to our attention that calls critical of Representatives Ponce, Cordova, and Swisstack have been made. These representatives voted for your interests by supporting Speaker Lujan's proposal to protect school funds against unforeseen consequences of the tax cut! Contact Legislators on Salaries and Funding We need to begin contacting all House Members, and all Senators as well as Governor Richardson, immediately regarding salaries and school budgets. Our message must be simple:
Plan to Spend Presidents' Day in Santa Fe for Education Lobby Day on February 17
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