The Democratic-led New Mexico Senate will convene in January with a backlog of pending confirmation decisions on dozens of Republican Gov. Susana Martinez appointees
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.
The governor has accused Senate Democrats of playing politics by slowing the pace of confirmations.
However, Senate Rules Committee Chairwoman Linda Lopez, a Democrat, says the process 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.
Previous governors, when faced with Senate opposition, have sometimes given those nominees another title and kept them on the job.
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Information from: Albuquerque Journal.
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