WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Tom Udall, D-N.M., issued the following statement today following the Senate's vote to protect the jobs of nearly 300,000 teachers, firefighters and police officers across America with critical funding to states:
"Today, the Senate finally did its job. We were able to overcome unprecedented Republican obstructionism and finally pass an essential piece of legislation to prevent nearly 300,000 teachers, firefighters and police officers from being laid off this fall. While it seems like a simple proposition, because this bill doesn't add to the deficit by closing corporate tax loopholes, the struggle to pass it has been a lesson in the continued minority obstruction in the United States Senate.
"In New Mexico, we're facing a budget gap of $207 million. We are depending on our portion of the $16 billion in Medicaid funding for states included in this bill to help avoid cutting essential health services for more than 292,000 New Mexicans enrolled. This bill also is needed in New Mexico to provide almost $65 million in education funding to protect more than 1,000 K-12 jobs. You can't put a price on educating our children. By making sure we keep teachers in their classrooms instead of unemployment lines, we are ensuring the foundation of our future economic vitality.
"Getting our economy back on track is my first priority, and protecting the jobs of our teachers, firefighters and police in New Mexico is critical to that success. While the inexplicable delay of this legislation by 38 senators is a sad indication of the obstruction we face, I'm pleased we've managed to get it done. I am hopeful that when the House comes back into session on Tuesday they will pass this bill, send it to the president, and keep our first responders and educators at work, where they serve our country best."
