Jeff Bingaman United States Senator from New Mexico

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Jeff Bingaman today voted in favor of bill to create and save jobs in two key areas – education and public safety.  Unfortunately only Democrats voted for the measure, so it lacked the 60 votes needed to end a Republican-led filibuster.  The legislation was fully paid for with a 5.6 percent surtax on millionaires.‬

The bill set aside $30 billion in grant funding to prevent further layoffs and allow school districts to hire additional teachers and staff, including some of the thousands who have lost their jobs during the past three years.  New Mexico would receive enough funding through this program to save and/or create 3,100 educator jobs.
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The bill also includes $5 billion for a grant program to protect first responder jobs.  In New Mexico, it is estimated that the program could keep 470 police officers and firefighters on the job.‬

“Congress must make job creation a priority.  Too many Americans continue to struggle to find employment and many others face the possibility of losing their jobs,” Bingaman said.  “This bill is a step in the right direction and would invest in creating jobs in two important fields.  Unfortunately, partisan politics continue to take priority over fixing our economy.”‬

‪The bill is part of the American Jobs Act – a measure put forward by President Obama to create more than 2 million new jobs through a combination of infrastructure investments and tax incentives. ‬