NewMexicoMatters.com

Lobbyist reform coming to Santa Fe?

Trip Jennings starts us off with an update on ethics reform in the legislature.

SANTA FE — Former state lawmakers would need to wait a year after their terms end to return to the Roundhouse as lobbyists under legislation that hurdled a Senate committee late last week.

The Senate Rules Committee on a 4-to-1 vote passed Senate Bill 163 on Friday. The legislation, sponsored by Sen. Eric Griego, D-Albuquerque, would impose a one-year “cooling off period” for lawmakers who want to become lobbyists.

[From New Mexico Independent » Lobbyist reform coming to Santa Fe?]

ABQJOURNAL NEWS/STATE: Call Center Gives Bonuses - and It's Hiring Hundreds

April Gallegos, a senior representative at the West Side Verizon call center, is going to spend her bonus on credit card debt, shopping and maybe a trip to the casino.
    Her what? Bonus? In this economy?
    At a time when a lot of companies around Albuquerque and nationwide are canceling raises, suspending bonuses and freezing pensions, Phoenix-based Verizon is shaking the hand that bakes its bread.
    "Sometimes, companies use the economy to justify not taking care of their employees," said Robyn Lumb, human resources manager for the call center at Coors and Central SW. "That's not the company I work for. There was no conversation about not giving the STIs (short term incentive raises).
    "The company is performing very well, and that's because of our employees. They are the foundation of our company. They are the ones out there taking the calls every day. It's a tough job."
    On Friday, the call center's 1,270 employees got performance-based bonuses of up to 8 percent of their salaries, Lumb said. Bonuses are based on company and employee performance for 2008.
    Starting salaries at Verizon are $27,000; $28,500 for bilingual call-takers. Nationwide, Verizon employs 86,000 people and has 26 call centers. They all got bonuses Friday.

[From ABQJOURNAL NEWS/STATE: Call Center Gives Bonuses - and It's Hiring Hundreds]

Thornburg moving into new 102,000 square foot office

ABQJOURNAL NORTH: 3 Offices Moving To New Complex

       Thornburg Investment Management Inc., is the first part of the Thornburg organization to move into the new campus, located off N.M. 599 at the intersection of Ridgeway Road and Avenida Rincon, with Thornburg Mortgage, Inc., scheduled to follow next weekend.
       The move into the new 102,000-square-foot office complex will mark the first time about 400 Thornburg employees from various branches of the financial services group will work under the same roof — staff has been split into three downtown offices on Lincoln, Washington and Marcy streets.

Econonmy, Thornburg

New Name Added to List of Potential 2010 Gov Candidates

ABQJOURNAL NEWS/STATE: Greg Zanetti May Run for Governor

By Jeff Jones
Journal Staff Writer
       Longtime Albuquerque financial adviser and New Mexico National Guard Brig. Gen. Greg Zanetti is eyeing a Republican run for governor — bringing the current number of prospective or confirmed Republican and Democratic candidates for the 2010 race to four.

   Zanetti said Friday that he plans to file paperwork next week to establish a "Zanetti for Governor" exploratory committee that would allow him to begin raising money for a potential gubernatorial bid.

2010Election, Governor, Candidates, News to me

Governor Speaks Out on Politically Connected Attorney's DWI Hit and Run

ABQJOURNAL NORTH: Gov. Confident in Hit-Run Investigation    

Gov. Bill Richardson expressed confidence Wednesday in the investigations conducted by state and local police into a fatal hit-and-run DWI crash involving a former member of his security detail.

    Describing the November death of San Felipe Pueblo resident William Tenorio as a "tragedy," Richardson said he expects all DWI suspects — regardless of their political connections — to be held to the same standard.
    "Every state employee that works for the government cannot be treated differently than anybody else," Richardson said.