A Republican-sponsored bill aimed at putting New Mexico in compliance with the federal REAL ID Act has passed in the House. The proposal was approved 39-30 along largely party lines on Wednesday, setting up a showdown with the Democratic-controlled Senate. Under the proposal, New Mexico would begin issuing REAL ID-compliant licenses and end the practice of granting state driver's licenses to immigrants in the country illegally. Instead, the bill would allow such immigrants to obtain "driver's permit cards." The bill has drawn angry responses from immigrant advocates and Democrats who say such cards would open up some immigrants to discrimination and possible deportation. Democratic State Representative Miguel Garcia said during the debate the proposal would discriminate against immigrants living in the country illegally and transform the New Mexico Motor Vehicle Department into a deportation "pipeline." House Bill 99 now moves to the State Senate, which has yet to hold a committee meeting on its own REAL ID fix proposal creating a "two-tier" system.
New Mexico is revising downward estimates for revenue growth to $30 million from previous expectations of $232 million as the Legislature crafts a new budget. The New Mexico Department of Finance and Administration announced Wednesday that a perfect storm of low energy prices had eroded revenue expectations for the budget year starting in July. Economists from three executive agencies and the Legislature agreed on the new estimate. The revised figures threaten to upend priorities for spending during the Legislature's abbreviated 30-day budgetary session. Prior to the revisions, Republican Gov. Susana Martinez recommended a $230 million increase in spending. That plan included increased funding for Medicaid health care, law enforcement, early education programs and teacher pay. Low oil prices in particular have eroded state income from severance taxes and royalties.
A House bill that calls for third graders who don't show proficiency in reading to be held back is moving forward in the Legislature. The New Mexican reports the House Education Committee recommended approval of the measure which would have students not reading at grade level repeat the third grade and be given intensive remediation. Introduced by Representative Monica Youngblood, an Albuquerque Republican, the bill includes exceptions so that it ultimately only applies to about two-thousand of the state's roughly 25-thousand third-graders. Opponents of the bill say retaining students damages them psychologically and intervention can be done without retention.
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