I just received my annual TCP-1 letter from LLNS and a summary of the LLNS Pension Plan. Looked in pretty good shape in 2013. About 35% overfunded (funding target attainment percentage = 134.92%). This was a decrease from 2012 where it was 51% overfunded (funding target attainment percentage = 151.59%). They did note that the 2012 change in the law on how liabilities are calculated using interest rates improved the plan's position. Without the change the funding target attainment percentages would have been 118% (2012) and 105% (2013). 2013 assets = $2,057,866,902 2013 liabilities = $1,525,162,784 vs 2012 assets = $1,844,924,947 2012 liabilities = $1,217,043,150 It was also noted that a slightly different calculation method ("fair market value") designed to show a clearer picture of the plan' status as December 31, 2013 had; Assets = $2,403,098,433 Liabilities = $2,068,984,256 Funding ratio = 116.15% Its a closed plan with 3,781 participants. Of that number, 3,151 wer...
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This is bid odd. LANL should hire the best most qualified candidates for the job not just people from New Mexico or companies from New Mexico.
Unfortunately New Mexico has a lot of problems that make difficult to contribute to Los Alamos. I appreciate Terry's efforts but it is simply not a realistic expectation that LANL will hire mostly people from New Mexico or that that resources of New Mexico are necessary for LANL to do well.
New Mexico has a horrible eduction systems typically ranking 49-50th
New Mexico ranks near the bottom in yet another national report on educational achievement.
http://www.santafenewmexican.com/news/education/new-mexico-ranked-th-in-national-education-report/article_f44b5730-26d1-544a-bab9-b375a984f6ae.html
Education Week’s Quality Counts released its annual state report card Thursday, and New Mexico earned a D. The state ranked 49th in the nation, ahead of Nevada and Mississippi. The report includes the District of Columbia.
Not to mention that New Mexico ranks horribly in economics, high skill labor, health, is considered the worse state to raise a family and so on. http://www.santafenewmexican.com/news/education/stuck-at-the-bottom-why-new-mexico-fails-to-thrive/article_78cc5744-5f73-576b-ad7f-60f704d0fbdc.html
What is more stunning is that over the last 30 years New Mexico is gotten worse not better in terms of rankings in most areas.
A better question would be how many WR pits has the NNSA ordered LANL to build over the past 12 months? The fundamental problem is that NNSA COUNTINUES TO UNDERFUND what is required. Furthermore, the management structure is inferior and lacks the discipline and resources and infrastructure to build WR.