A BILL TO HIKE NEW MEXICO'S MINIMUM WAGE FROM 7-50 AN HOUR TO 10-10 AN HOUR IS REJECTED BY A REPUBLICAN-CONTROLLED HOUSE COMMITTEE MONDAY. THE VOTE WAS 4-TO-3 TO TABLE THE MEASURE SPONSORED BY SANTA FE DEMOCRAT LUCIANO "LUCKY" VARELA.
RAISING THE MINIMUM WAGE HAS BEEN A PRIORITY FOR VARELA AND OTHER DEMOCRATS. VARELA'S BILL WOULD HAVE INCREASED THE WAGE BY JULY 1ST. ANOTHER MEASURE FROM STATE REP MIGUEL GARCIA FROM ALBUQUERQUE'S SOUTH VALLEY WOULD HAVE INCREASED THE WAGE IN INCREMENTS TO 10-10 AN HOUR BY 2018.
