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New Mexico Senate Leader: Time To Vote On Education Secretary

Senator Mary Kay Papen (D)

The Senate's top-ranking leader says it time for lawmakers to vote up or down on Public Education Secretary Hanna Skandera.

New Mexico Senate President Pro-tem Mary Kay Papen says the Democratic-controlled chamber has wasted too much time by preventing Skandera's nomination from coming to the floor over the last four years. The Las Cruces Democrat says Gov. Susana Martinez has a right to appoint her cabinet members and the Senate has the responsibility to vote to approve them or not.

Skandera's nomination has been languishing in the Senate Rule Committee. Some Democrats have questioned her qualifications.

Papen also says she was pleased to hear Martinez, a Republican, calling for bipartisanship in her inaugural address last week.

Papen says the Senate and the GOP-led House could come to agreements on education and mental health reforms.

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