‘Misguided’ SES Accountability Legislation
Reform legislation (H.R. 4358) promising to bring “accountability” to the Senior Executive Service (SES) has been reintroduced in the House by Rep. Tim Walberg (R-MI).
No FECA Cuts In Budget Employee Groups, House Dems Urge President
Since being included in President George W. Bush’s fiscal year 2003 budget, both Presidents Bush and Obama have included provisions in their budget submissions to reduce the Federal Employees’ Compensation Act’s (FECA) basic compensation benefit for injured employees.
Budget Deal Close, But Hill Needs More Time
Congressional negotiators looking to finish off the last two major legislative tasks facing the chamber – funding the government and extending a slate of popular individual and business tax breaks – are close to the finish line.
Lawmakers Call For Review Of Political Appointee Conversions To Civilian Jobs
Four committee chairmen, two from the House and two from the Senate, have written to the Government Accountability Office (GAO) to request a review of political appointee conversions to career federal civil service positions.
Post Paris, Refugee Issue Threatens Government Funding
Last month, South Carolina Senator Lindsey Graham (R), chairman of the Senate appropriations subcommittee with jurisdiction over the State Department and refugee issues introduced legislation (S. 2145) to provide an additional $1 billion in FY2016 funding to bolster refugee resettlement efforts.
Lawmakers Target IRS Employee Bonuses, Hiring Practices
Congress recently introduced two new pieces of legislation specifically targeting the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) workforce.
White House, Congress Strike Two Year Budget Deal
The National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) has passed both chambers of Congress, setting up a confrontation with the White House, which appears ready to follow through on its veto threat after acquiescing in prior years.
Fiscal Conservatives, Defense Hawks, White House Battle Over Pentagon Funding Policy
The National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) has passed both chambers of Congress, setting up a confrontation with the White House, which appears ready to follow through on its veto threat after acquiescing in prior years.
Lawmakers, Employee Groups Rally To Prevent Medicare Premium Hikes For Federal Retirees
Absent congressional action, in 2016 federal and postal retirees may see their Medicare Part B premiums increase dramatically – the premium increase could be as much as 52 percent, raising payments from $104.90 to $159.30 per month.
Obama To Congress: No More Continuing Resolutions
After preventing a government shutdown by signing another stop-gap funding bill last week, President Obama has told Congress he has had enough.
Shutdown Likely To Be Averted – Until New December Deadline
Congress this year has been unable to fulfil its duty to budget and appropriate money to agencies, and the recent controversy over federal funding for women’s health organization Planned Parenthood has been driving the conversation towards a shutdown.
Facing Shutdown Threat, Senate Democrats Look To Shield Feds’ Paychecks
The confluence of a lack of progress on annual appropriations and a political battle over federal funding for women’s health organization Planned Parenthood is threatening to shut the government down after September 30 for the second time in two years.
Employee Groups To Congress: Hands Off TSP
As Congress works to determine if and how to fund the government past the conclusion of the fiscal year on September 30, employee groups sent a letter to Capitol Hill leaders warning them to stop discussing changes to the Thrift Savings Plan (TSP).
EPA To Face Congressional Gauntlet Over Toxic Mine Spill
Despite Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator Gina McCarthy’s acceptance of “full responsibility” for the early-August spill of millions of gallons of toxic wastewater into Colorado’s Animas River, members on Capitol Hill are eager to instill accountability on the agency.
Senators Question Payroll Service Centers On Reporting Tax Information Of Federal Employees
Seeking to shield the government and its employees from identity theft and tax fraud, the leaders of the Senate Finance Committee, wrote a letter last week to the government’s four payroll providers seeking clarification on reporting practices for employees’ wage and tax statements (Form W-2) to the Social Security Administration and state tax agencies
Management Groups Seek Congressional Investigation Into Union “Hit List”
Two associations representing federal managers and executives have sent a letter to Capitol Hill requesting an investigation “into a troubling development at the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) that threatens to further destabilize labor-management relations at a department that has faced serious challenges in recent years.”
House Committee Monthly Terror Threat Snapshots Track Growing Violent Extremism
“Terror threats to the U.S. homeland have reached unprecedented levels. There have been 116 homegrown jihadist plots in America since 9/11— more than half of those have occurred in just the past three years,” House Homeland Security Committee Chairman Michael McCaul (R-TX) said in June.
Bipartisan Senate Bill Promotes Agency Cyberhygiene
New legislation introduced in the Senate seeks to promote cybersecurity within the federal government by requiring agency Inspector General reports on the security practices and software used by agencies.