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House to vote on halting immigrant licenses

krwg – SANTA FE, N.M. (krwg) The Democratic-controlled House is facing a politically charged vote as it considers whether to stop New Mexico from granting driver's licenses to illegal immigrants.

The House is to take up the issue when it convenes on Friday.

Republican Gov. Susana Martinez and her allies succeeded Thursday in a parliamentary maneuver to force the issue to a vote by the 70-member chamber.

A bill by Rep. Andy Nunez, a Hatch independent, has been bottled up in a committee since last month. But the House agreed on two 36-34 votes to debate the measure and bypass committees assigned to consider it.

Democratic leaders said it's the first time in 50 years the House agreed to such a procedure for handling legislation.

Copyright 2011 The Associated Press. krwg