State & Local Government Policy, Business and Technology

NM: $6.3B bipartisan budget plan advances in House

Albuquerque Journal: SANTA FE – A bipartisan budget proposal that would boost pay for police, teachers and other state employees began to take shape Saturday at the Roundhouse.

The $6.32 billion spending plan – a 3.9 percent increase over this year’s budget – is made possible by sharp increases in state revenue, especially from oil production.

It’s expected to hit the House of Representatives for final action on Wednesday, then move over to the Senate.

Republican Gov. Susana Martinez has veto and line-item veto authority over the budget.

But the spending plan assembled Saturday picked up bipartisan support. Members of the House Appropriations and Finance Committee voted without opposition on the budget piece by piece during a meeting Saturday morning.

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