AT LEAST ONE STATE SENATOR IS SPEAKING UP IN OPPOSITION TO AN EFFORT IN THE STATE LEGISLATURE TO RAISE THE STATE'S MINIMUM WAGE. REPUBLICAN SUE WILSON BEFFORT SAYS IT WOULD BE BAD FOR THE STATE'S SMALL BUSINESSES TO RAISE THE RATE FROM 7-50 TO 8-50 AN HOUR. SHE SAYS MOM AND POP BUSINESSES CAN BARELY KEEP THEIR DOORS OPEN IN THE CURRENT ECONOMY.

WILSON-BEFFORT IS ALSO AGAINST A HOUSE CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT THAT WOULD TIE THE STATE'S MINIMUM WAGE TO THE CONSUMER PRICE INDEX. BOTH MEASURES ARE SIMILAR TO ALBUQUERQUE'S NEWLY ENACTED MINIMUM WAGE LAW.