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House Nixes Pay Raise For Elected Officials

Office of the Governor

The House has rejected a proposal for a 10 percent salary increase for the governor and other elected state officials.

The measure failed on 32-29 vote on Thursday. Two Democrats joined with Republicans in opposing the raises.

The governor's salary would have increased to $121,000 next year under the legislation. The attorney general's salary would have risen to $104,500.

The salaries of the governor, lieutenant governor, attorney general, auditor, treasurer, secretary of state, land commissioner and members of the Public Regulation Commission haven't increased since 2002.

Rep. Luciano "Lucky" Varela, a Santa Fe Democrat who sponsored the measure, said it's time to provide pay raises to elected officials because they don't receive the cost-of-living increases provided to other government workers.

The proposed increases would have cost about $137,000 a year.

Copyright 2014 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.