Gov. Richardson Threatens Veto of Weakened Minimum Wage Bill

According to an article in Kate Nash's Roundhouse Report, Gov. Bill Richardson said he would veto a measure that emerged from the Senate Public Affairs Committee that weakened his proposal to raise the wage to $7.50 an hour over the next three years.

The bill was amended by Sen. Mary Kay Papen (D-Las Cruces) to raise the wage to only $6.15 an hour over two years. I guess pecan growers have clout. SB449, sponsored by Senate President Ben Altamirano, now goes to the Senate Corporations and Transportation Committee.

On the House side, Speaker Ben Lujan's bill, HB258, is reportedly under negotiation. Rep. Lujan has been meeting with both opponents and proponents of raising the minimum wage to concoct a compromise.  An amended bill is expected to be heard by the House Business and Industry Committee this afternoon.