A coalition led by the New York State United Teachers and the Alliance for Quality Education is launching a direct mail campaign today slamming Democratic senators who voted “yes” on a budget resolution that included Gov. David Paterson’s proposed education spending cuts. (Second item).

The mailers seek full restoration of the cuts – $1.4 billion worth – and call on lawmakers to “stand up for kids.”

They will soon land in the districts of Sens. Jeff Klein, Darrel Aubertine, Craig Johnson, Dave Valesky and Shirley Huntley, as well as Majority Leader Pedro Espada Jr. and President Malcolm Smith.

At least three of those seantors – Valesky, Aubertine and Johnson – are being targeted by the GOP this fall. Several are also the subject of the AFL-CIO’s leaflett and canvass campaign accusing lawmakers of breaking promises to union members on a host of issues – support of charter schools among them.

(Round II of that campaign started today).

NYSUT Executive Vice President Andrew Pallotta called it “simply unacceptable” for the senators to support education cuts, adding the ongoing budget stalemate “thankfully” has provided time to “undo this wrong.”

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