GOVERNOR MARTINEZ MAY GET SOME OF HER PET BILLS PASSED THIS LEGISLATIVE SESSION. THE SESSION STARTS AT NOON TUESDAY IN SANTA FE WITH … FOR THE FIRST TIME IN 60 YEARS … A REPUBLICAN MAJORITY. MARTINEZ DELIVERS THE STATE OF THE STATE ADDRESS AT ABOUT 1:00 PM. THE GOVERNOR WILL AGAIN INTRODUCE LEGISLATION TO END THE GRANTING OF NEW MEXICO DRIVER'S LICENSES TO ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS. SHE'LL ALSO PUSH FOR ENDING SOCIAL PROMOTION IN SCHOOLS AGAIN THIS SESSION … WHICH WOULD HOLD BACK ANY THIRD GRADER WHO CAN'T READ AT A THIRD GRADE LEVEL.
DEMOCRATS COULD ALSO GET SOME OF WHAT THEY WANT THIS SESSION … LIKE A HIGHER MINIMUM WAGE. THEY ARGUE THAT A HIGHER WAGE WILL HELP THE ECONOMY AS MINIMUM WAGE WORKERS SPEND MORE.
A NUMBER OF RIGHT-TO-WORK BILLS ARE READY FOR INTRODUCTION. DEMOCRATIC LAWMAKERS SAY THEY'LL FIGHT ALL THE MEASURES WHILE REPUBLICANS ARE READY TO GET BEHIND THEM. THEY SAY IT'S THE ONLY WAY TO ATTRACT EMPLOYERS TO NEW MEXICO AND CREATE BADLY-NEEDED JOBS. MEANWHILE, STATE SENATOR CISCO MCSORELY IS EXPECTED TO PRESENT A MEASURE TO MAKE IT LEGAL TO GROW INDUSTRIAL HEMP IN NEW MEXICO. HEMP IS SEEN AS A CROP THAT COULD BE ECONOMICALLY BENEFICIAL TO THE STATE.
BUT THERE WILL BE LESS MONEY ON THE TABLE FOR THE STATE BUDGET. THAT'S MAINLY BECAUSE OF THE SLUMP IN OIL AND GAS PRICES. OIL PRICES ARE CURRENTLY UNDER 50 DOLLARS A BARREL.
