I am writing today to announce the closure of the New Mexico Independent. After three and a half years of operation in New Mexico, the board of the American Independent News Network, has decided to shift publication of its news…
While environmental activists played their part yesterday during demonstrations at the capitol building, going so far as to dress up as solar panels and to sing the tune of “You Are My Sunshine,” their counterparts, the anti-cap-and-trade contingency who has…
Roughly one quarter of University of New Mexico students are unimpressed with the state’s flagship public school, according to a survey that questioned college students about their higher education experiences.
The three members of New Mexico’s U.S. House delegation sent a letter to House and Senate leaders from both parties urging the restoration of education money to the economic stimulus package. The Senate’s newly passed version took out much of the money for education.
The letter — from Democrats Harry Teague, Martin Heinrich and Ben Ray Lujan — said, “The Senate version of the package cuts critical education funding and jeopardizes a critical component to our economic recovery.”
According to a press release from all three members of the delegation, the Senate compromise removed $16 billion for school construction, $40 billion for the state fiscal stabilization fund and all the funding for higher education modernization, renovation and repair.
“Our local schools and governments should not have to make the choice between service cuts or higher taxes,” said Teague. “ A comprehensive recovery package that includes immediate investments in education will not only help New Mexico save and create critical jobs but strategic investments in education will help New Mexico become stronger, more productive and competitive.”
Heinrich agreed, saying, “The education funding I voted for in the House-passed version of the recovery package will save existing jobs and create new jobs by hiring new teachers, and investing in school construction and renovation.”
“School construction puts people back to work and funding to states to prevent education cuts keeps teachers in the classroom where they are able to prepare young people for the jobs of the future,” Lujan said.
The full text of the letter to Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi, House Minority Leader John Boehner, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid and Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell:
Dear Speaker Pelosi, Leader Reid, Minority Leader Boehner, and Minority Leader McConnell:
As you enter into conference on the economic recovery and reinvestment plan, we urge you to include the House-passed education figures in the final conference report. As Members of Congress from the great state of New Mexico, when we voted on H.R. 1, we supported an economic recovery and reinvestment plan that addressed many of our state’s critical needs, particularly education. We are concerned that the Senate version of the package cuts critical education funding and jeopardizes a critical component to our economic recovery.
Education is not only how our country will be prepared for the economic realities of tomorrow, education is what can help get our economy back on track today. School construction and modernization creates jobs now, putting more people back to work. When more young people and adults are able to attend college because of an increase in the Pell grant, schools benefit and teachers’ jobs are protected. Investment in education helps our economy now.
Moreover, education investment helps strengthen our economy well into the future. Students trained today for the jobs of tomorrow means less unemployment moving forward. It means our young people can be ready with the relevant skills needed to find and keep a job in a competitive market. Education helps break the cycle of poverty over the long term. It is through supporting our schools, our teachers, and our students that any short-term economic investment will remain impactful for years to come.
We all want our children to be able to learn in an environment that is safe, accessible, and relevant to the ever-changing times. However, we emphasize that while promoting education in and of itself is a laudable goal — it is also a key part of our economic recovery. We strongly urge you to maintain support for education in the economic recovery and reinvestment plan for the sake of New Mexico and our nation. We thank you for your time and consideration.
Sincerely,
Ben Ray Luján Martin Heinrich Harry Teague
Member of Congress Member of Congress Member of Congress
