Saturday, March 17, 2007

Senate Passes Wage Increase

By Jeff Jones
Journal Politics Writer
    SANTA FE— The Senate on Friday approved a state minimum-wage boost— the "crown jewel" on Gov. Bill Richardson's wish list— as the Legislature plowed toward adjournment of its 60-day session at noon today.
    State lawmakers also gave final approval to a measure that would include judges in the state's Governmental Conduct Act, giving ethics reform advocates a rare reason to celebrate.
    With a 22-20 vote, senators gave final approval to the bill that will ratchet up the state's $5.15-an-hour minimum wage to $6.50 in January 2008 and to $7.50 the following January.
    "The people of New Mexico are going to be very happy with the state Legislature today for passing a minimum wage," said Senate Majority Whip Mary Jane Garcia, D-Doña Ana. "It was long overdue."
    Richardson, who is sure to sign the measure, called the increase "the crown jewel of our legislative agenda" and "a major victory for working New Mexicans."
    The minimum-wage bill has exemptions for agricultural workers, including ranch and dairy workers and chile packers.
Albuquerque and Santa Fe already have higher minimum wages, and the measure will not impact their laws. The bill will prevent other cities or counties from passing wage rates higher than the state's until 2010.
    An earlier version of the minimum-wage bill would have given the state that preemption until 2013, but the date was shortened by the House. Some senators who voted against the wage boost Friday wanted that longer preemption period.
    "There are many of us on (the Republican side of) the aisle who supported a minimum wage, but one thing incredibly important to us was the preemption," said Sen. Diane Snyder, R-Albuquerque. "I believe I was sold down the river by the other side of the aisle ... You literally sold us down the river, and have made us look like we do not support a minimum wage increase."
    Sen. John Arthur Smith, D-Deming, who also voted against the bill, said there should be a "uniform" minimum wage rate and added that varying rates are not "conducive to good economic development."
    He said the federal government should boost its minimum-wage rate, which currently also is $5.15.
    Senate Majority Leader Michael Sanchez, D-Belen, said he believes the Senate compromise was "hard for everybody" but called the Senate courageous after the vote.
    The updating of the Governmental Conduct Act came in a bill that was the lone measure among numerous ethics-reform bills to clear the Legislature as of late Friday.
    "There was a big hole in the Governmental Conduct Act," said Matt Brix, executive director of New Mexico Common Cause, which has been lobbying for ethics reform. "It was important to clarify the law to ensure all branches of government are treated the same."
    The push to include judges in the Governmental Conduct Act came in response to a recent state Supreme Court decision overturning the convictions of a former Española judge who had sex with a defendant. The high court tossed the convictions because the conduct law, under which the judge was prosecuted, excluded judges.
    With the addition of judges, "it's a pretty wide net the Governmental Conduct Act is casting right now," said Sen. John Grubesic, D-Santa Fe, one of the measure's sponsors.
    The bill also would prohibit those who work for state agencies and have authority over the investment of public money from accepting "anything of value" from businesses that have contracts to provide investment services to that agency.
    Advocates hoped more ethics and campaign finance reform measures would come to the floor this morning, specifically bills to limit campaign contributions and gifts to public officials.
    Richardson spokesman Gilbert Gallegos called the Conduct Act changes "a major victory for ethics reform," but he added the governor was still pushing lawmakers to pass the bills limiting gifts and contributions.
    Already approved by the Legislature as the 60-day session prepared to wrap up today: a cockfighting ban, the $5.6 billion state budget, a capital projects bill, tax cuts, medical marijuana legalization, a statewide smoking ban, surface owners protection, and a lottery scholarship funding fix.
    Lawmakers also approved new state-tribal gambling compacts— good until 2037— that are expected to be signed by at least 10 New Mexico tribes with casinos.
    The governor, in addition to the ethics legislation, was waiting for a housing authority overhaul, a highway funding package and anti-DWI measures.
    Journal staff writer Trip Jennings and The Associated Press contributed to this report.