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Richardson: protect Lab employee benefits

Bodman confirmation hearing Monday

Governor Bill Richardson on Thursday urged Samuel Bodman, Department of Energy secretary-designate, to protect benefits of Laboratory employees in the operating contract competition.

In a letter to Bodman, Richardson, a former DOE secretary, said he was disappointed that the draft request for proposals contained "language undermining our expectation that existing pension and post-retirement benefits would be retained in any future contract."

Bodman's Senate confirmation hearing is scheduled for 11 a.m. (MST), Monday in Washington, D.C. If confirmed, he would replace Spencer Abraham. The Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee approved Bodman's nomination on Wednesday.

Richardson asked Bodman to reaffirm his commitment, ratified during his confirmation hearing, to ensure that language protecting [Laboratory employee] benefits is incorporated into DOE's final contract for the management of the Laboratory.

Richardson also congratulated Bodman on his nomination to become DOE secretary. "It is a position I was privileged to hold, and one which gave me great satisfaction. I am confident you will enjoy your tenure there," Richardson said. "Your previous experiences will serve you well in your new responsibilities as leader of this most important agency." Bodman is currently a deputy secretary in the U.S. Treasury Department.

New Mexico Senators Jeff Bingaman and Pete Domenici have expressed similar sentiments about the benefits issue to Bodman.

To read a news release from the Governor's Office, click here (Adobe Acrobat Reader required).

--Steve Sandoval

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