[NENA] Call Rep. Larry Larranaga about HB 331/346

[John Ingram]

Hello NENA members:
 
My name is John Ingram. I used to be president of NENA. I live on NW corner of Henriette Wyeth and Oakland, 8901 Henriette Wyeth NE.
 
There's an urgent matter regarding our public schools, and State House Dist. 27 Rep. Larry Larranaga coming-up tomorrow, Sunday, Mar 8.
 
Background: 3 years ago, the State Legislature commissioned a study by outside professional group to determine why too many of our schools and students are performing so poorly. 
 
The commission issued a report several months ago with the finding that the State Legislature, which controls education funding, has consistently underfunded our schools by about 15% a year, or $350 million annually. This goes back to 1982.
 
FYI: in 1981, the Legislature voted to remove property taxes as the sole source of school funding. Instead, they voted to be accountable and responsible for funding our schools with state income taxes, gross receipts/sales taxes, and a small percentage of the interest generated by investing the $7.9 billion Permanent School Fund in Wall Street. 
 
Since 1982, K-12 and (now) pre-K public school funding has steadily declined from more than 50% of the overall NM state budget to 43% today. 
 
However, the NM State Constitution legally requires the Legislature to "sufficiently" fund our schools. 
 
The study commission reported that the State Legislature is not meeting its constitutional mandate. School districts are threatening to sue the Legislature in district court regarding this issue unless they pass HB 331/346.
 
House Bill 331/346, sponsored by Rep. Mimi Stewart, will help correct this problem. 
 
House Bill 331/346 increases gross receipts/sales taxes by three-quarters of one percent and produces about $350 million annually to fund our public schools. 
 
Rep. Stewart amended the bills yesterday so HB 33/346 no longer requires an increase in state income taxes for top earners who are paying 4.9 percent rate. 
 
Now, the sole source of the additional $350 million generated by HB 331/346 is the 3/4 of 1% increase in gross receipts/sales taxes.
 
Rep. Stewart is a personal/professional friend of mine. I checked with her yesterday about HB 331/346 and progress toward passing the measures. 
 
Rep. Stewart informed me that the House Appropriations & Finance Committee with hold a hearing on HB 331/346 tomorrow, Sunday, Mar 8, at 1:30 pm at State Capitol in House Finance Committee Room. 
 
The House Finance Committee must pass HB 331/346 out of committee so the bills can go to the House for a floor vote. 
 
NENA's representative in the House is Rep. Larry Larranaga. 
 
Rep. Larranaga also sits on the House Appropriations and Finance Committee. He is a powerful, and well respected legislator who listens to his constituents and wants to do the best he can for our public schools. I've talked to him many times.
 
However, Rep. Larranaga is planning to vote NO on HB 331/346 tomorrow. 
 
If you believe that HB 331/346 is in order, and we must increase funding for our schools, please call Larry, and have others who live at your home, who are registered voters, call him, too. 
 
By the way, Research and Polling, INC. did a survey of registered voters on this issue. Friday's ABQ Journal, page 3 reported that a majority supports HB 331/346.
 
Here are links so you can check this out if you need to: 
 
Rep. Larranaga , HB 331 , HB 346
 
If you want, or need, to talk to me about this issue, my mobile phone is 505-217-8020.
 
Thanks for your consideration,
John
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