The Democratic-led New Mexico Senate will convene in January with a backlog of pending confirmation decisions on dozens of appointees of Republican Gov. Susana Martinez.
The Albuquerque Journal reports that Martinez's office says the 85 first-term appointees awaiting confirmation votes includes numerous members of state boards and commissions as well as three Cabinet secretaries.
Spokesmen for Martinez have accused Senate Democrats of playing politics by slowing the pace of confirmations.
Senate Rules Committee Chairwoman Linda Lopez denies that. The Albuquerque Democrat says the process being used is the same as was used under Martinez's predecessor, Democrat Bill Richardson.
Cabinet secretaries can remain in their jobs even without being confirmed but they must leave office immediately if rejected by the Senate on up-or-down votes. That happens only rarely.
Information from: Albuquerque journal.
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