Rep. Lujan's Minimum Wage Bill Clears First Hurdle

I'm excited to report that Speaker Ben Lujan's bill to raise the minimum wage to $7.50 on January 1, 2007 (HB258) passed at its first hearing in the House Labor and Human Resources Committee by a 5-2 margin. Read all about it. All of the Committee's Democrats voted for the measure in a straight party-line vote. This is the bill backed by New Mexicans For a Fair Wage, which the grassroots has been heavily supporting.

Both opponents and supporters of the bill were out in force yesterday at the committee meeting, which was moved to the House chamber to accomodate the crowd.

Next, the bill must pass in the House Business and Industry Committee in order to make it to the House floor. Click to contact members of this committee. Keep the momentum rolling! And be sure to sign up for Minimum Wage Lobby Day, to be held at the Roundhouse next Tuesday, January 31st. Free bus rides and box lunches will be provided for those who sign up.

New Mexico PACE is also hosting events on that day:

PACE is involved in the coalition for Fair Wages and as part of the Progressive Networking Center, with New Mexico Religious Coalition for Reproductive Choice, we will be offering to members and friends refreshments and a citizens lobbying training the morning of the 31st of January in the Sanctuary of the 1st Christian Church, 645 Webber St, Santa Fe, New Mexico. (Go on Paseo de Peralta adjacent to the Roundhouse on the North is Webber, two blocks up adjacent to the school is the church.) 

After some coffee and tea we will walk over to the Roundhouse for the 10:30 rally.  We will have markers and poster-board for folks to make signs to identify their respective communities and voter districts.  Please read below for contacts and other information on the Coalitions lobbying day.

We will be joined at the church by SWOP, Living Wage Santa Fe, Somos Un Pueblo, ENLACE, the South Valley Alliance (Southern Dona Ana County villages and organizations) and others.  So get there early to meet folks.

If you have a chance please RSVP, Santiago – (505)927-2734 or Joan – (505) 890-1010,  for the morning gathering at the church.