The House Labor and Human Resources Committee voted today to amend a bill that’s already passed the Senate to mirror one proposed by Speaker of the House Ben Lujan, then sent both on to the Business and Industry Committee with do-pass recommendations.
Lujan’s bill was given a do-pass recommendation on a 4-2, party-line vote. After amending Senate President Pro Tem Ben Altamirano’s bill, the committee members voted the same way on it.
The move sets up the same clash between the House and Senate that led to no minimum wage increase being approved in the 2006 legislative session.
“I think we’ll leave this session without a minimum wage bill if the amendments are added on,” Altamirano said in opposing the amendments to his bill, which were proposed by Rep. Sheryl Williams Stapleton, D-Albuquerque and the House majority whip.
During the hearing, a number of people affiliated with religious and labor groups spoke in favor of Lujan’s bill, House Bill 759. Business and industry groups spoke in favor of Senate Bill 324, sponsored by Altamirano.
Several people testified about the need to raise the minimum wage and the positive effects that would have on the state’s economy.
“I don’t think there’s anybody who opposes raising the minimum wage,” Altamirano said. “I think that’s very apparent here today.”
The debate is over the details
The debate was about how a minimum wage increase should be implemented.
Both bills raise the state minimum wage to $7.50 per hour in two phases. Altamirano’s bill would raise the minimum wage to $6.50 per hour in 2008 and $7.50 per hour in 2009. Lujan’s implements each phase a year earlier.
Altamirano’s bill does not include indexing that would increase the minimum wage in the future to keep up with inflation, exempts agricultural workers and keeps cities and counties from passing their own wage increases, with the exception of those that have already done it – Santa Fe, Albuquerque and Bernalillo County.
Lujan’s bill, on the other hand, does include inflation indexing, doesn’t exempt agricultural workers and doesn’t keep cities and counties from increasing the minimum wage beyond the level set by the state.
Altamirano’s bill is backed by Gov. Bill Richardson. Altamirano said his bill came out of discussions between the Richardson Administration and the agriculture community, and pointed out that his bill is endorsed by the governor.
In a news conference earlier today,
Arguments from both sides
During the hearing, Lujan said the state, in raising the minimum wage, should not prevent local governments from raising it even higher.
“The federal government doesn’t preempt states,” Lujan said. “I don’t think it’s proper for us to preempt local government.”
Carol Oppenheimer, co-chair of the Santa Fe Living Wage Network, agreed.
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“We urge you to extend this opportunity to other communities across the state,” Oppenheimer said.
Terry Cole, president and CEO of the Albuquerque Chamber of Commerce, spoke in support of Altamirano’s bill.
“Business wants the appropriate balance struck on this measure,” she said. “We believe Senate Bill 324 achieves that.”
Allison Kuper, lobbyist for the New Mexico Restaurant Association, agreed.
“We appreciate Sen. Altamirano working with the business community,” she said. “… As long as the negotiated measures remain in place – remain in this bill – we can support this legislation.”
Rep. Candy Spence Ezzell, R-Roswell, supported the provisions in Altamirano’s bill and, after the committee’s four Democrats amended the bill, voted against it. She also voted against Lujan’s bill.
“This bill makes everybody feel warm and good inside,” she said of Lujan’s bill. “But, in fact, it can be devastating.”
“Don’t get me wrong, folks, I’m for everybody making a good wage – I really am,” Ezzell said. “But the unintended consequences can have a damaging effect.”