Minimum wage debate’s focus: How much more?

The New Mexico business community has long resisted minimum wage increases, saying such policy changes would harm the state’s already depressed economic environment. But this year, 19 states are raising wages for their lowest-paid workers, including Massachusetts and Washington, where the minimum is $11. That momentum has energized the now Democratically controlled Roundhouse, where lawmakers have filed two minimum wage increase proposals in advance of the regular session that begins Jan. 17.

And Republican Gov. Susana Martinez and some business groups now appear open to the idea of a small increase of some type.

Full story: https://www.abqjournal.com/923398/excerpt-2-proposals-filed-in-legislature-one-would-hike-pay-to-15-an-hour-the-other-to-845.html