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Mar. 18 First News: Gov. Vetoes Racehorse Testing Bill That Had Full Legislative Support (Listen)

Governor Susana Martinez has vetoed a racehorse drug testing bill that required New Mexico's horse racing regulating body to follow the guidelines for testing set up by an international umbrella organization. Roswell Republican Representative Candy Spence Ezzell's bill was unanimously approved by both chambers of the Legislature. In her veto message to the House, the governor said she finds the legislation "unnecessary and potentially detrimental." Martinez said that even without it the New Mexico Racing Commission's testing procedures "already meet or exceed the standards" set by the Association of Racing Commissioners International. She said language in the bill—quote— "weakens standards by not allowing for the commission to adopt regulations that exceed" the guidelines. The veto on Tuesday was the first of the legislative session by Martinez.

A bill to keep New Mexico on Daylight Time year-round has passed the State Senate. Roswell Senator Cliff Pirtle, a Republican, is the Senate sponsor of the measure. *****031815-Pirtle-1 :25***** Several senators weighed-in on the issue during floor debate on the bill Tuesday. *****031815-Munoz-1A :03***** That’s Gallup Democratic Senator George Munoz, who went on to call Pirtle’s proposal the most talked about bill in the Senate this session *****031815-Munoz-1 :19***** Supporters discussed benefits including not interrupting children’s sleep patterns as well as to some people with behavioral health issues. Opponents primarily brought up issues with bordering states’ time zones and how the change would affect them. Las Cruces Democrat Bill Soules worries about the impact to kids going to school in the dark. *****031815-Soules-1 :19***** The bill passed on a 28 to 10 vote and now goes to the House with time on the legislative clock running out.

The State Senate’s Conservation Committee has tabled a measure that called for reducing the amount of renewable energy sources utilities would have to tap to provide electricity for their customers by 2020. The Conservation panel voting 6-2 to keep the bill from advancing. The measure sponsored by Hobbs Republican Representative Larry Scott cleared the House by just one vote last week. Utilities are facing higher renewable-energy standards this year as numerous states and the federal government push for a reduction in the use of fossil fuels for generating electricity. New Mexico's standard increased from 10 to 15 percent at the start of the year. It will hit 20 percent in 2020. The legislation would have eliminating the higher requirement. Renewable energy supporters say the standard has been working in New Mexico.

An attempt to get the full New Mexico Senate to vote on a social promotion bill has failed.Republican Senator Bill Sharer of Farmington late Monday asked the bill be removed from Senate committees for a full Senate vote. The motion failed on a party line 24-17 vote. The legislation is backed by Republican Governor Susana Martinez. Her plan to end social promotion has faced opposition from Democrats, who say it does not lead to better students. House Republican leaders say Senate Majority Leader Michael Sanchez has delayed a vote on what its supporters call a bill to end a "failed policy of social promotion" that passed the House more than a month ago. Sanchez says it needs to follow the process.

There’s positive news regarding childhood obesity in New Mexico. The Department of Health announced Tuesday that the rate of obesity among third-graders has fallen four-and-a-half percent in the five years between 2010 and 2014.The department also says the obesity rate among kindergarten students in 2014 was the lowest since the state began collecting data in 2010. Health Secretary Retta Ward says there's more work to be done but that officials are encouraged by the downward trend. Ward points to benefits from a program that promotes physical activity and healthy eating.

New Mexico's unemployment rate is down. The state Department of Workforce Solutions reports that the seasonally adjusted rate in January was five-point-nine percent, down from six-percent in December and six-point-seven percent in January 2014. The department reports that the state's nonfarm employment had 10-thousand, 200 more jobs in January compared with January 2014, an increase of one-point-three percent. According to the department, education and health services led the January increases in employment. Overall, nine industries added jobs while four lost jobs in January.

Santa Fe Weather: Mostly cloudy with showers and thunderstorms today through tomorrow. The high today, 60, it’ll cool to 55 tomorrow. Tonight’s low will dip down to 37.  The chance for precipitation is 30-percent today, and 50-percent tonight and tomorrow.