Monday, December 31, 2012

Federal workers brace for furloughs

Article Title: Federal workers brace for furloughs

Snippet of Article: "...Federal workers are bracing for furloughs that could start to take place in the next few months if Congress doesn't replace massive budget cuts scheduled to begin Wednesday...."

Source: money.cnn.com

Saturday, December 29, 2012

Boehner pushes for chained CPI

Article Title: Boehner pushes COLA cuts in fiscal cliff talks

Snippet of Article: "...Multiple news organizations are reporting that House Speaker John Boehner included the so-called chained Consumer Price Index in his latest proposal to President Obama seeking to avert the fiscal cliff...."

Source: federaltimes.com chained CPI

Friday, December 28, 2012

2013 Federal Employee pay raise

Article Title: New AFGE president suggests retroactive pay raise for feds

Snippet of Article: "...Obama announced earlier this week that he would use his authority to grant federal employees the across-the-board 0.5 percent pay raise he had proposed for 2013, but only after Congress passes a budget. ..."

Source: www.govexec.com 2013 Federal Employee pay raise

Thursday, December 27, 2012

Federal employee furloughs not expected for civilian defense workforce

Article Title: Officials say WPAFB temporary layoffs might be 'unavoidable' in budgets

Snippet of Article: "...job furloughs for the civilian defense workforce won’t be used right away if a deal is not struck this week to avert the fiscal cliff, but the Pentagon’s top leader said temporary layoffs later might be unavoidable...."

Source: www.journal-news.com

Monday, December 24, 2012

Contractors first to feel fiscal cliff dive

Article Title: Sequestration already hitting contractors

Snippet of Article: "...the threat of draconian budget cuts has caused federal agencies to realize new priorities, alter their procurement strategies, add scrutiny to their spending and — through collaboration with industry — seek ways to reduce waste and increase efficiency. Months of this kind of planning won’t end if sequestration dies...."

Source: www.washingtonpost.com

Sunday, December 23, 2012

President Obama gives Federal Employees Christmas Eve Off

Article Title: President gives federal workers day off work for Christmas Eve

Snippet of Article: "...President Obama on Friday signed an executive order giving federal employees a day off work for Christmas Eve, which falls on Monday this year. ..."

Source: www.washingtonpost.com

Thursday, December 20, 2012

Furloughs for federal employees as a last resort

Article Title: Furloughs could result from sequestration as last resort, administration says

Snippet of Article: "...plans to inform federal employees that furloughs could result as a last resort if the White House and Congress do not come to an agreement..."

Source: www.washingtonpost.com Federal Employee furloughs

Wednesday, December 19, 2012

This is how the USPS treats those that serve our country

Article Title: Guardsman ordered reinstated by Postal Service with back pay

Snippet of Article: "...USPS continued to pursue the case even after Erickson won two decisions before the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit. When the USPS refused to reinstate Erickson in 2000, the father of three from Ft. Meyers, Fla., re-enlisted in the National Guard and deployed to Afghanistan as part of a Special Forces team. He has received over 35 medals and decorations..."

Source: www.stripes.com

Tuesday, December 18, 2012

Postmaster General Earns Almost As Much As the President

Article Title: Postal chief's $384,000 pay sparks call for cut

Snippet of Article: "...The chief of the struggling U.S. Postal Service received $384,229 in compensation last year -- and at least one lawmaker thinks he should take a paycut...."

Source: money.cnn.com

Monday, December 17, 2012

virtual workplace flexibility toolkit launched by DOL

Article Title: DOL launches virtual workplace flexibility toolkit

Snippet of Article: "...Department of Labor launched its online Workplace Flexibility Toolkit to provide employees, jobseekers, employers, policymakers, and researchers with information, resources, and a unique approach to workplace flexibility, including leave issues. ..."

Source: blr.com Workplace Flexibility Toolkit

Friday, December 14, 2012

Things TSA found in baggage this week

Article Title: TSA Week in Review: A Roundup of the Prohibited Items Discovered This Week

Snippet of Article: "...It’s important to check your bags prior to traveling. If a prohibited item is discovered in your bag, you could be cited and possibly arrested by local law enforcement. Here are a few examples from this week where prohibited items were found in strange places. ..."

Source: tsa.gov

Congress gotta get home for Christmas before screwing over Social Security and Medicare

Article Title: Congress: Merry Christmas, suckers

Snippet of Article: "...Speaker John Boehner told members to go home for Christmas but be back the next day. (Congress = The Bart Simpson who stole Christmas?)..."

Source: firstread.nbcnews.com

Thursday, December 13, 2012

Federal worker fatally shoots self inside Alabama courthouse

Article Title: Federal employee fatally shoots self inside Alabama courthouse

Snippet of Article: "...Police say a federal employee is dead after shooting himself inside the city's main federal court building in Birmingham...."

Source: www.foxnews.com

Tuesday, December 11, 2012

Obama Administration Increases Solid Federal Jobs, Many Taking Care of Military Personnel

Article Title: Drudge Ignores That Many New Federal Employees Take Care Of Veterans

Snippet of Article: "...the increase in federal jobs are a result of defense spending, including an increase in hiring associated with caring for military personnel returning from the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. Examining claims about increased federal employment, PolitiFact found that "all told, national defense, assisting veterans, and protecting the national borders account for close to 90% of all federal civilian employee growth." ..."

Source: mediamatters.org

Sunday, December 9, 2012

Federal government’s heaviest smoker

Article Title: Booze, smokes focus of quirky federal agency

Snippet of Article: "...These are the scientists, rule-makers and trade ambassadors of the Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau, one of the federal government’s least-known and most peculiar corners...."

Source: www.delawareonline.com

Thursday, December 6, 2012

Federal Agencies to Protect Indian Sacred Sites

Article Title: Departments of Agriculture, Defense, Energy, and Interior Sign Memorandum to Collaborate to Protect Indian Sacred Sites

Snippet of Article: "..."Protecting America's air and water and our nation's heritage is an important part of the Energy Department's commitment to Tribal Nations across the country, particularly those that are neighbors to the Department's National Laboratories, sites and facilities," said Energy Secretary Steven Chu. "I look forward to continuing this important work and collaborating with other federal agencies and Tribal Nations to protect Indian sacred sites throughout the United States." ..."

Source: www.usda.gov

Wednesday, December 5, 2012

GOP still pushing for federal employee pay freezes and reductions

Article Title: House GOP continues to push federal employee pay and benefits reforms

Snippet of Article: "... House GOP leaders on Monday reiterated their belief that reductions to federal employees’ compensation should be part of a deal to decrease the deficit. Speaker John Boehner, R-Ohio,..."

Source: www.govexec.com

Tuesday, December 4, 2012

Postal Service awards $30m contract to firm it is suing for $390m

Article Title: USPS awards $30m contract to firm it is suing for $390m

Snippet of Article: "...The US Postal Service has awarded a $30m contract to Northrop Grumman Corporation at the same time it is attempting to sue the company over breaches of another contract, seeking a nine-figure sum...."

Source: postandparcel.info Postal Service, why is the Postal Service going broke?,

Sunday, December 2, 2012

Did the $5.9 million federal gun grant do any good?

Article Title: Did the $5.9 million federal gun grant make region safer?

Snippet of Article: "...eight Northern Ohio cities with a $5.9 million grant and the creation of an Ohio Gun Crime Center. The Justice Department gave the grant to the group, which included Cleveland, Akron, Toledo, Youngstown, Lorain, Elyria, Canton, Mansfield and state and federal agencies...."

Source: www.cleveland.com