(Updated) NM Rep. Ben Rodefer Informs School Superintendents He's Fighting Against Cuts to Education

Update: Read this post at Roundhouse Roundup that features an "Open Letter to the Citizens of New Mexico" about the state budget from Senate President Pro-Tem Tim Jennings. Predictably, it's full of scary language and excuses for making wrong-headed cuts in education and other things ordinary citizens need. Is he really a Democrat? You decide. He makes a point of singling out the schools:

This drastic decline in revenue means that we all must be prepared for substantial budget cuts to all of state government, including public schools and higher education.

No mention of rescinding the crazy tax cuts for our wealthiest citizens or finally forcing certain big corporations, like Walmart, to pay state taxes like they do in almost every single other state. You might want to let Jennings know how you feel about his views.
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Below is the text of a letter sent recently by State Rep. Ben Rodefer (D, HD 23) to every public school superintendent in New Mexico promising to fight against education cuts being discussed by some NM Senators, and pledging to work to kill any budget bill that includes any public school cuts whatsoever. Bravo!

Rep. Rodefer reports that the superintendents are responding with heartfelt thanks and asking how they can be involved and help. If you agree with Rep. Roderfer's position -- and I certainly do -- you're urged to contact your legislators and tell them they need to look elsewhere for revenue to make up the budget shortfall.

Superintendent:

There is a great deal of conversation now about how we ought to address New Mexico's significant budget shortfalls. There are many in the State Senate who are publicly calling for slashing the education budget in the upcoming Special Session. Senators are speaking of 5% to 10% cuts across the board for schools. As you are aware we indeed already cut education funding earlier this year, and indeed independent studies have concluded that we were already then underfunding our schools by at least 15%. I know many districts are even considering suing since our State Constitution clearly mandates that we fully fund education.

There is nothing more important than our children, their education and their future. Education is the greatest form of long-term economic development. I find it unconscionable that so many in the State Senate want to compromise New Mexico's future by further challenging our already financially strained school districts, and the vital services and jobs they provide.

I already have a substantial number of votes in the House against any budget agreement that includes cuts to public school funding. I want to further promise you personally that I will fight with every political breath I have to kill in the House of Representatives any public school cuts whatsoever, whether they be statewide or specific to your district.

We cannot throw away the intellectual and economic future of our children and our state to cover up an inability in our legislature to do the difficult work of addressing our need for strengthened revenue streams and for finding specific statewide funding cuts that are viable, not directly damaging our citizens or communities, and that just make more common sense than crippling our schools as a short term fix.

With profound respect for all the great work you do,

State Representative Benjamin Rodefer
New Mexico House of Representatives

BW Note: It's clear that Republicans will be targeting Rep. Rodefer to try and win back the seat that Ben won last year from Republican incumbent Eric Youngberg. It's important that Ben build up a strong campaign fund to discourage that and to help him win re-election. I hope you click to donate to Rodefer's campaign.