Harry Teague Votes For New Mexico Teachers and Against Sending Jobs Overseas

Press Release

Today, Congressman Harry Teague voted to save the jobs of thousands of teachers across the country without adding a penny to the national debt. The Education Jobs and Medicaid Assistance Act, approved by both the House and Senate, provides funding to save an estimated 1100 education jobs throughout New Mexico, in part by closing tax loopholes that actually encourage corporations to send American jobs overseas.

"As our children head back to school, we cannot jeopardize their future by taking teachers out of the classroom. Our communities have suffered enough as a result of the weak economy and the steps we are talking now are critical to our economic future," said Harry Teague. "I'm proud to be able to vote for a bill that will not only save over 450 education jobs in southern New Mexico, but does so in a way that does not add to the national debt and protects American jobs from being shipped overseas. Paying to ship jobs overseas or saving teacher jobs in New Mexico -- the choice is obvious."

The legislation, passed by the Senate last week, provides $10 billion in funding to save more than 160,000 teacher jobs. It also provides $16.1 billion in health assistance to the states that, by reducing shortfalls and stimulating the economy, will save and create 158,000 jobs, including preventing the layoffs of police officers and firefighters, as well as creating private-sector jobs throughout our economy.

The funding in the bill is supported by a majority of the nation's Governors, including many Republican Governors, and by numerous organizations, including the bipartisan National Conference of State Legislatures, National Association of Counties and the Leadership Council of Aging Organizations.

The legislation will now go to the President to be signed in to law.

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