Panel To Consider Minimum Wage Inflation Indexing

Voters could decide whether to increase New Mexico's minimum wage for inflation under a proposal backed by Democratic lawmakers.

The House Voters and Elections Committee is scheduled to consider the proposal on Tuesday. It's already cleared one House committee on a party-line vote, with Democrats favoring it and Republicans opposed.

The state's $7.50 an hour minimum wage has been in effect since 2009.

A proposed constitutional amendment would allow voters to decide whether to require automatic cost-of-living increases in the wage rate each year. Business groups have opposed the legislation.

The measure goes to the 70-member House if it's endorsed by the Voters and Elections Committee.

The proposal would be placed on the 2014 general election ballot if it's approved by the Democratic-controlled House and Senate.

Copyright 2013 The Associated Press.