Sen. Smith and the Gang of 12 made cuts like this last January ($500 million deficit), and the cuts didn't solve the problem. It made the problem worse. Now, they're back with a $433 million deficit.

Lawmakers shouldn't cut public spending during a recession, period. But, Smith and the Gang of 12 are back with the more of the same LFC staff-driven ideas to cut spending which would normally end-up producing tax revenues.

This second round of proposed cuts, if approved by the LFC on Sept. 28, and approved by a majority of lawmakers during October's special session, will continue the death-spiral of declining tax revenues in New Mexico.

If constituents don't stop lawmakers from making these cuts (a massive public demonstration is scheduled for Oct. 9 at the State Capitol), Smith and the Gang of 12 will be back in January 2010 to cut again. Now, what's the definition of insanity? Doing the same thing over and over when it didn't work the first time?

“We believe we have little choice,” says Rep. Varela. This is the greatest myth perpetrated on New Mexicans since 'One-hour Martinizing'. There are much better choices than cutting the value of school kids again (lawmakers cut the value by $30 last session).

Those better choices are rolling back tax cuts for wealthiest New Mexicans (will produce $450 million in tax revenues)and closing tax loopholes for big out-of-state corporations which do not report profits earned in New Mexico, nor pay state income taxes on those profits (will produce $100 million tax revenues).

These additional revenues could be used to restore the $30 lawmakers cut from the student value in January and prevent future student value cuts.

Lawmakers are between a rock and a hard place now. Most of the state's labor unions, (and a new coalition “Better Choices New Mexico”) are circulating petitions which support the better choices mentioned above. Thousands of New Mexicans have signed those petitions. AFT New Mexico (9,000 dues-paying members) also conducted a telephone poll recently and found that 96 percent strongly support the better choices mentioned above, too.

If New Mexico's lawmakers value their hobby (being an elected state senator or representative) then they best stop protecting the wealthiest New Mexicans and out-of-state orporations, and take action to produce the tax revenues necessary for sufficiently funding public schools, instead of cutting education spending. Otherwise, they will be gone come November 2010.