Appointment at Workforce Solutions riles some

The story I wrote this morning about a Gov. Bill Richardson chief of staff being appointed to the Department of Workforce Solutions has my voicemail and inbox filling up fast with irate readers.

The story involves Teresa Casados, who now works in the Governor's Office, moving to the DWFS and replacing Teresa Gomez, who is moving to another position in the same department.

Casados will earn $46.32 in her new post, I learned yesterday. I found out today Gomez makes $40.95.

I have an e-mail into the Governor's Office asking why the switch was made and whether this is an exemption to the state's ongoing hiring freeze.

UPDATE

Here's what the Governor's Office had to say.

"Teresa Casados is a strong manager whose leadership skills will be an asset to the Department of Workforce Solutions. Her salary will be similar to the salary she made as Deputy Chief of Staff at the Governor's Office. The position is exempt and fills a critical need, as do all deputy secretary positions."

John Sanchez to make campaign announcement today

Sanchez, the 2002 GOP gubernatorial candidate, plans to make an announcement about a "statewide office" today at 2 p.m.

It's no secret he's been thinking about running again recently. The only question really is whether it's for governor or lieutenant governor. Many insiders say it is the state's number two spot. But we'll wait until 2 o clock to be sure.

UPDATE: Sanchez is running for lieutenant governor. He said in a statement that many had encouraged him to run for governor, but that he wanted to avoid a divisive GOP primary race.

“I believe that my business and political experience will strengthen the Republican ticket in 2010, and that I will bring energy and enthusiasm to the election process, and that once elected, that I will be effective in a vital role, of new leadership for New  Mexico,” he said.

Sanchez joins Albuquerque Sen. Kent Cravens, Santa Fe radiologist J.R. Damron, former state Rep. Brian Moore and Albuquerque nurse Bea Sheridan in the June primary.

Gov's office won't release list of fired exempt employees

I just got back the records request I made on the exempt employees who were let go and will be out of work Jan. 8.

To be clear, my request asked for "any or all correspondence, including but not limited to e-mails and traditional mail, written memos or other communication, to or from anyone in your office related to the 59 people who were notified this week they are being laid off."

All I got back were a bunch of e-mails I and other reporters sent on the topic. Oh, and the press releases sent to us media on the lay offs. Nothing else that gives any clue as to who was laid off. No letters to people who were fired. No letters to the department heads of people who were to be fired. Nothing outlining who would be chosen to get the boot or how.

Does anyone else find it hard to believe that e-mails from reporters on this subject are the only documents out there on this topic?

I have an e-mail into the Governor's Office asking for an explanation and will let you know when I get one.

Update, 5:47 pm. 

Richardson spokesman Gilbert Gallegos said the office turned over all documents and records in this case.

He said it's "not necessary, nor is it appropriate or dignified to identify individuals who are losing their jobs" but gave no legal reason for withholding the information.

Gov: ban cell phone talking and driving without a headset

Gov. Bill Richardson said today he wants to ban talking on hand-held phones while driving in the state.

He plans to support legislation in 2010 that would prohibit driving without a headset, like several cities in the state have already done.

 

“Driver distraction is a major cause of accidents, and the use of cell phones while driving is increasingly a problem,” Richardson said in statement.  

“We’ve all seen drivers swerving around the road while talking on the phone and texting, putting the safety and lives of New Mexicans in danger.”

 

Thom Turbett, president of SafeTeen New Mexico, said in a statement that people who use cell phones and drive are four times more likely to get into accidents. “Technology has created a situation that is causing much greater risk to everyone who drives,” he said. 

 

The proposed legislation would make it a misdemeanor with a fine of up to $200. 

Going into his last session, the move seems like a pretty sure win for Richardson. While not everyone likes it, bans are generally popular across the country.

Just who all was laid off in state government, anyway?

I keep getting that question from readers. Wish I could answer. The Governor's Office has refused to name any of the 59 exempt employees who will be looking for work come Jan. 8.

There's no doubt the information is public, being that the salaries are paid with public money. Channel 4 reports here that they also are working to get the list of employees.

The Governor's Office is in the process of responding to my request as well. I'll keep you posted.

Vigil-Giron to be out of a job

KRQE.com is reporting here that former Secretary of State Rebecca Vigil-Giron is among the 59 exempt employees who will be out of work come Jan. 8 under a plan by Gov. Bill Richardson to trim state spending.

Her name is the second to be known publicly of those who got pink slips, even though the rest are paid with public funds. The governor's office has refused to release the names of others.

Denish opposed to raising food tax

As more and more people talk about the possibility of raising the state's tax on food, Lt. Gov. Diane Denish said today she's against the thought.

“Like many other states, New Mexico is facing tough times and we have to make some tough decisions in order to close our state’s budget shortfall," she said in a statement. 

"A lot of ideas have been put on the table, but one thing I will not support is an across-the-board tax on all food. When families are pinching and scraping to get by, taxing the basics like milk and bread is just not right," she said.

"We need a solution to the state's budget problem, but it should not come at the cost of making tough times even tougher for regular New Mexico families.  We must start the upcoming legislative session by identifying ways to make government smaller and more efficient, such as overhauling the capital outlay process and ending the practice of double-dipping.”

Others have said raising the tax on junk food is a wiser plan; it's unclear if Denish supports that idea.

Gov. Bill Richardson, meanwhile -- who first proposed cutting the state's food tax -- remains mum on what he'll support in the upcoming session.

"The governor has not and will not comment on any of the potential tax  increases, other than what he said previously about his deep reservations about any changes to the personal-income and capital gains tax cuts as well as tax credits that have created thousands of jobs for 

New Mexicans in areas such as film and renewable energy," a spokesman said.