kasa.com
by Celina Westervelt
Updated: Monday, 16 Jan 2012, 11:13 AM MST

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SANTA FE (KRQE) - As lawmakers head back to the Roundhouse Tuesday they can expect partisan battles over the budge, education and once again the battle over driver’s licenses for illegal immigrants.

For the first time in years the state, thanks to new money filtering in, the state has a projected budget surplus of $250 million.

With the economy on the mend Governor Susana Martinez is proposing $55 million in tax cuts. Gov. Martinez says the cuts would target businesses and veterans.

These cuts are opposed by several democrats who want to see the money filter back into programs recently gutted due to budget cuts.

The governor is also pushing to stop “social promotion” and wants those third graders unable to read at grade level to be held back. A competing bill would leave that decision up to the parents, the issues has been hotly contested by both sides.

Now back to the driver’s license debacle, Gov. Martinez has promised to continue fighting for the bill that would repeal driver’s licenses for illegal immigrants. Her attempt to undo that law has already failed twice.

Jerome Block Jr. has become the poster boy for the embattled Public Regulatory Commission. Block resigned from the PRC after pleading guilty to nine felonies.

Requirements are now looking into whether they should reevaluate the requirements required to serve on that commission. They are also expected to look at limiting the PRC’s realm solely to looking after utility, insurance and phone companies.

Another bill set to hit the floor will give the governor the power to ban fireworks during severe drought.

Lawmakers will also look at a bill that will require minors to notify their parents before they get an abortion and another bill that will require voters to show a photo identification at the polls.


After this 30-day session wraps up, lawmakers will be hitting the campaign trails as the state’s Senate’s 42 seats and 70 House seats are up for grabs.

Legislative session to begin Tuesday