A poll conducted for the Albuquerque Journal, and released over the last two days, showed high support for a number of high-profile issues facing the legislature during the legislative session.
The poll finds widespread support for implementing third-grade retention, right-to-work legislation and repealing the law that allows undocumented immigrants to get driver’s licenses. The poll also shows widespread support for an increase to the minimum wage.
Questions from the poll release on Sunday found 60 percent of New Mexicans believe union fees should not be mandatory in companies with collective bargaining with unions and that 71 percent support raising the minimum wage beyond the current $7.50 per hour.
Results release on Monday found 70 percent don’t like the law that allows undocumented immigrants to obtain driver’s licenses while 67 percent support holding back third-graders who cannot read at third-grade level.
The poll was conducted by Research and Polling, Inc., the Journal’s pollster.
Republicans have been pushing results that back policies they support:
.@abqjournal poll: Overwhelming majority of New Mexicans want to end failed policy of social promotion http://t.co/ffdyKW8O7V #nmpol #nmleg
— New Mexico House GOP (@NMHOUSEGOP) February 23, 2015
Union officials and supporters questioned the wording on the right-to-work question:
.@fbihop @ABQJournal Amazing left out "even if unions are required to provide them w better wages, benefits, rights & representation" #nmleg
— Carter Bundy (@carterbundy) February 22, 2015
Two of the questions may be tied together. Right-to-work legislation may be heard in front of the full House as soon as this afternoon. The legislation was expected to be heard last week, but some Republicans balked at the addition of a $0.50 per hour minimum wage increase—with exceptions for a six-month training wage—to the legislation.
Research and Polling, Inc. conducted the polls by phone from February 17 to 19. A total of 402 New Mexicans responded, with 52 percent of respondents on cell phones. The polls all have a 4.9 percent margin of error.
