SANTA FE, N.M. —A New Mexico Senate panel has voted along party lines to stop the advance of a bill that prohibits requiring workers to join a union and pay dues as a condition of employment.

The Public Affairs Committee voted 5-3 Tuesday to table the measure that has drawn scores of people to the Capitol for hours of hearings.

The vote effectively blocking the bill comes after hours of testimony and debate over weeks on a hot-button issue that has taken center stage during this legislative session. The proposal also included a 50-cent-per-hour minimum wage increase to $8 and would have applied to the public and private sectors.

The GOP-controlled House passed the legislation 37-30 last month. The Democratic leadership in the Senate said it was united in stopping the bill.

The measure was referred last week to three panels over the objection of Republicans, who were unsuccessful in forcing a hearing before the full Senate. The Public Affairs Committee took testimony on the proposed legislation Sunday, when dozens of people packed its meeting.

Read more here: http://www.koat.com/news/new-mexico-senate-panel-tables-righttowork-bill/31725374