2015 New Mexico Legislative Session Summary
2015 New Mexico Legislative Session Summary
2015 LEGISLATIVE BUDGET AND CAPITAL Capital outlay was another sadly
partisan anti-worker affair. To their
SUMMARY cont. from pg 1 OUTLAY
credit, senators in both parties, on a
oppose outsourcing our core public Governor Martinez and the Republican 40-0 vote, passed a $264 million capital
services. Together, we held all but two House introduced budgets with zero outlay budget. House Democrats
Democrats on the House Floor, and the raises for state and university employees, agreed to accept that clearly bipartisan
Republican privatization scheme was even though there was $83 million of compromise. House Republicans,
killed in the Senate by Democrats. new money available. This is, of course, though, at the bidding of Governor
the same governor who has proposed Martinez' staff, eliminated huge
PROTECTING PENSIONS pay freezes or pay cuts for each of the portions of capital outlay to help senior
Albuquerque Mayor R.J. Berry and his five legislative sessions she has been in citizens, kids, the sick, corrections
Republican consultants (who also work power, even though we've had strong officers, and dozens of buildings where
for Governor Martinez) pulled out all surpluses most of those years. The last public employees work (all to reward
the stops to get special treatment for two years, we've had a Democratic oil-patch donors with a new road). As a
high-end, well-connected management House to push through a total of 4% result of Governor Martinez and House
and cronies to raid PERA to raises over her objections. With the Republicans blowing up a strong
supplement their salaries. We worked Republican takeover of the House in the bipartisan agreement, thousands of
closely with PERA and with the 2014 elections, though, New Mexico New Mexicans won't have jobs, and
Albuquerque Police Officers budgets will likely continue to reflect New Mexico's infrastructure will
Association to expose fiscal their values of tax cuts for the rich and deteriorate for another year.
irresponsibility and other problems with corporations instead of investing in
raiding the pension fund, and stopped New Mexicans.
cont. pg 4
their attacks on PERA.
2015 LEGISLATIVE SUMMARY cont. from pg 3
GOOD GOVERNMENT bipartisan bill requiring all public
employers to allow sick leave donations.
Legislation to expose "dark money" in
independent expenditures died. JUST THE BEGINNING
AFSCME is involved in some If working families don't vote in big
independent expenditures but we're numbers, we’ll continue to face attacks.
honest about them, unlike billionaires and We know that so-called right to work
out-of-state corporate behemoths who do and other anti-worker legislation will
their best to hide their identities. return in the 2016 session, if not sooner.
Hopefully future bills will be simpler, We'll keep fighting, but we'll primarily
clearer, and will receive more support. be playing defense until workers, union
A slew of bad voter ID bills designed to and non-union, come out to vote. In
suppress votes of the elderly, the poor, and 2014, not enough did. It will fall to
especially Native Americans and AFSCME and other unions to lead the
Hispanics in traditional communities were charge to return our government to pro-
killed in the Senate. worker, pro-family elected leaders in
2016 and 2018.
BIPARTISAN SUCCESSES
We'll be reaching out to every local, every
A few bills were clearly good for all New
worksite, and every member and retiree to AFSCME 18 - Web ACTIVE!
Mexicans and gained bipartisan support. Visit the AFSCME18.org webpage to read
ask you to be part of taking back our
One bill supported by both AFSCME and
the Children, Youth, and Families state over the next few months and years. about recent news and upcoming events.
We've escaped the worst of the attacks EMAIL: [email protected] to make
Department allows for CYFD repayment
that have already hit workers around the certain you are on the email lists to receive
of student loans for people who are already
country, but we can't hold on forever important action items.
working to protect kids or who decide to
make this noble profession their career. unless we take back our state by Join the conversation on social media
AFSCME also supported a successful organizing and being engaged in our FACEBOOK.com/AFSCME18
elections. TWITTER: @AFSCME18
505-266-2505
505-266-2404 fax