SANTA FE, N.M. (AP) — Lawmakers have adjourned a 30-day legislative session after agreeing on a plan to try to head off cutbacks in a lottery-funded college scholarship program.
In the final hours before the Legislature adjourned on Thursday, the House and Senate agreed to a proposal that shore up the scholarship program temporarily with liquor tax money.
Cutbacks in scholarships have been looming because the program is running short of cash. Lottery proceeds aren't keeping pace with college tuition increases.
The session was dominated by election-year political clashes between Democrats and Republican Gov. Susana Martinez.
Democrats unsuccessfully pushed several constitutional amendments as a way to bypass the governor and go straight to voters. One of those would have raised the state minimum wage to $8.30 an hour from $7.50.