Republican House Majority Floor Leader Nate Gentry is calling a Senate amendment that stripped finger printing provisions from House-approved legislation on REAL-ID and New Mexico driver’s licenses “a deal-breaker.” Gentry and House leaders insist the Democrats are going back on their word. Gentry reading to reporters on Wednesday a pre-session letter from Democratic leaders.
AM-Feature-Licenses Runs 2:33 Q: Std
New Mexico teachers at various levels would see minimum salaries increase under an amended proposal approved by the Senate Education Committee. The panel voted Wednesday to advance the measure despite concerns that legislative finance leaders may not be able to find money to pay for the salary hikes due to evaporating revenues. The bill's sponsor, Democratic Sen. Mimi Stewart of Albuquerque, says the initial proposal had called for phasing in base-pay increases over four years at an estimated cost of more than 155 million dollars. Stewart is now proposing the bill cover just one year at a cost of nearly seven- million. She says New Mexico needs to include the salary minimums in state law as part of an effort to boost recruitment and retention. Some lawmakers voiced concerns about it being an unfunded mandate.
Santa Fe County authorities say a teacher accused of inappropriately touching a six-year-old girl has been rearrested after authorities received new information about additional alleged victims. The Sheriff's Office says 47-year--old Aaron Dean Chavez faces four new counts of criminal sexual contact with minors in addition to the one he faced after initially being arrested January 20th. The Sheriff's Office says investigators re-arrested Chavez at his home Tuesday night as a result of new information provided by families. Chavez was an art teacher at Santo Nino Regional Catholic School when he was originally arrested on January 20th. The Sheriff's Office said Chavez was jailed pending a court appearance.
New Mexico's two U.S. senators are urging federal officials to expand the hours of operation at the Santa Teresa Port of Entry. Senators Tom Udall and Martin Heinrich sent a letter Wednesday to the head of U.S. Customs and Border Protection. Their request targets northbound commercial traffic. Southbound hours were recently extended as part of a yearlong pilot project. The senators say the area already has gained a reputation as a fast-growing international trade center and longer hours of operation would clear the way for expanded economic opportunities on both sides of the port. In the New Mexico Legislature, Democrat Representative Bill McCamley also has proposed a measure calling for northbound hours to be extended until midnight for at least a year.
Santa Fe Weather: Mostly sunny, with a high near 30…with wind chill values as low as seven-below-zero. Tonight: Partly cloudy, with a low around 10. Tomorrow: Mostly sunny and a bit warmer with the high, 34 and a 10-percent chance for snow.