Educators, critics plan Obama protests

RIO RANCHO, N.M. (KRQE) - Protesters planning to greet President Obama Thursday view his budget differently with some calling the spending wasteful and others saying local schools aren't spending stimulus money to save jobs.

One group already has taken to the streets of Albuquerque joining in the national Tea Party movement on April 15. They attacked burgeoning government deficits, bailouts and what they consider wasteful government spending.

New to the protest game, though, is a group of teachers who are disgruntled that stimulus money may not be used to save jobs at local public schools.

Kathy Chavez, president of the Albuquerque Educational Assistants Association, leads a group trying to restore educational assistant positions cut by the Albuquerque Public Schools. For its part APS has been following state directives urging not to use the funds on news jobs since the money runs out in two years.

"Obama's message was very straight," Chavez said told KRQE News 13. "He said spend it quickly and use it for good purposes.

"The purpose is to keep people on the job and no cuts no layoffs and even for hiring, for putting more people to work."

Rio Rancho police said protesters will be staged in areas off of the grounds of the high school. That has been a common practice during presidential visits for security reasons.

Police also are reminding people to expect heavy traffic around the school Thursday morning.