By KRWG News
New Mexico – Republican Gov. Susana Martinez has ousted appointive members of the state Spaceport Authority and removed a political ally of former Gov. Bill Richardson from the state Transportation Commission.
Martinez announced Friday that she was dismissing members of the Spaceport Authority. She said developing the state's commercial spaceport requires more private investment and new leadership.
The governor also removed members of the Labor and Industrial Commission, which hears appeals of state decisions on minimum wages for public works projects. Critics of the "prevailing wage" law say it drives up costs by having wages mostly reflect union pay scales.
Martinez ousted Johnny Cope of Hobbs from the Transportation Commission. He had served as chairman of the group, which sets policy for the Transportation Department.
Copyright 2011 The Associated Press.