Allies of Republican Gov. Susana Martinez have failed in trying to force the Democratic-controlled House to consider a proposal to stop New Mexico from issuing driver's licenses to most illegal immigrants.
A Martinez-backed license proposal has been bottled up in committee. An alliance of Republicans and Democrats succeeded Wednesday in procedural maneuvers to bypass two committees. But lawmakers deadlocked on a vote to skip a final committee, which would have forced a debate on the bill by the 70-member House.
After a similar move in 2011, the House voted to end licenses for illegal immigrants. That measure died in the Senate.
The latest legislation would provide temporary driver's licenses to certain immigrants covered by a federal policy deferring deportation. No licenses would be issued to other illegal immigrants, however.