Democrat-led legislature likely to increase minimum wage in New Mexico

The new Democratic majority in the New Mexico Legislature is likely to take up a statewide minimum wage increase next year and send the proposal to Republican Gov. Susanna Martinez, who vetoed the last pay raise that reached her desk.

The Santa Fe New Mexican reports that two bills have already been filed by Democrats for the 2017 Legislature to raise the wage.

One, by Rep. Patricia Roybal Caballero, of Albuquerque, would increase the statewide minimum wage to $15 an hour on Jan. 1, 2018. The other by Sen. Bill Soules of Las Cruces would boost it to $8.45. The current minimum wage is $7.50 an hour.

Democrats could also try to avoid Martinez by drafting a constitutional amendment that would let voters decide in 2018 whether to raise the minimum wage.