The Senate has voted 38-1 to confirm Corrections Secretary Gregg Marcantel. Rules Committee chairwoman Linda Lopez voted against the governor's nominee to run the prison system. She objected that Marcantel did not reveal on a questionnaire that he had been disciplined as a law enforcement officer in Louisiana more than 30 years ago. Marcantell had testified earlier that he wasn't hiding anything.

Governor Martinez and fellow Republicans go for another try to overturn a state law allowing driver's licenses for illegal immigrants. Last week, a house committee rejected the governor's proposal but she hopes to revive it again as another panel, the House Judiciary Committee, considers legislation today that Democrats are offering as an alternative to the governor's plan. The Democratic-backed measure continues to allow driver's licenses to illegal immigrants but for only two years before needing renewal. Martinez opposes that bill, contending it's a public safety risk to grant licenses to illegal immigrants.

State lawmakers have dropped a proposal to require teachers and other public workers to take unpaid or annual leave from their jobs if they serve in the Legislature. Several educators are in the Legislature and Republicans had proposed a measure that would have stopped them from collecting their taxpayer-financed salaries as well as a $154 daily expense reimbursement that goes to legislators.

Governor Martinez has withdrawn the nominations of 4 state fair commissioners following indications of criticism from Democratic lawmakers about her administration's handling of a 25-year lease for a company to build a larger casino at the state fair grounds. There were fears that the Senate might reject some of her appointments to the commission, which approved the lease late last year with the Downs at Albuquerque. Some Democrat leaders say the lease was rushed through and questioned whether the Downs got preferential treatment.