Thursday, February 25, 2010

Why did federal salaries go up but Social Security did not?

Article Title: Why did federal salaries go up but Social Security did not?


Snippet of Article: "...How can the cost of living go up for all federal employees but not for people on Social Security? All federal employees got a cost-of-living increase as of Jan. 1..."


Source: www.mcall.com

“Great Federal Employees” Exhibit Debuts in Russell Rotunda

Article Title: “Great Federal Employees” Exhibit Debuts in Russell Rotunda


Snippet of Article: "...A week-long exhibit honoring “Great Federal Employees” debuted Monday in the Russell Senate Office Building rotunda – a special visual tribute to the hard work and often unsung dedication of the nation’s public servants...."


Source: kaufman.senate.gov

At Homeland Security, contractors outnumber federal workers

Article Title: At Homeland Security, contractors outnumber federal workers


Snippet of Article: "...more guidance to federal agencies next month on government functions that contractors can no longer conduct, an OMB spokesman said Wednesday.

Despite the planned contracting cuts, Napolitano..."


Source: www.washingtonpost.com

Article Title: Judge: Disclosure Obligation in Terror Trial Applies to Top DOJ Officials


Snippet of Article: "...Prosecutors must produce memos by high-ranking U.S. Department of Justice officials on the transfers of an accused terrorist because they might explain why he was kept out of the criminal justice system for almost five years, a federal judge has ruled...."


Source: www.law.com

US DoJ probes collusion in auto industry

Article Title: US DoJ probes collusion in auto industry


Snippet of Article: "...Christine Varney, the head of the DoJ’s antitrust division, said in a speech last year that the antitrust division would continue to aggressively pursue and prosecute international cartel cases...."


Source: www.ft.com

DOJ: Department Of Jihad? ( IBD Editorials)

Article Title: DOJ: Department Of Jihad?


Snippet of Article: "..."It's like they're bringing al-Qaida lawyers inside the Department of Justice," said Debra Burlingame, whose brother was the pilot of the plane driven by terrorists into the Pentagon, following KSM's plan...."


Source: www.investors.com

Saturday, February 20, 2010

Missile Defense Career Development Program

Article Title: Missile Defense Career Development Program


Entry-level opportunities at MDA are offered through the Missile Defense Career Development Program (MDCDP).


Snippet of Article: "...Along with the salary, training and all the benefits of federal employment, you will be eligible for promotion opportunities throughout the program and may be able to take advantage of continuing education opportunities, recruitment and/or relocation bonuses and repayment of student loans. At the end of the two-year program, you will have the possibility of conversion to a permanent Government position...."


Source: www.mda.mil
Federal Employee Careers,

Friday, February 19, 2010

Fire Shortens Work Week For Federal Employees

Article Title: Fire Shortens Work Week For Federal Employees


Snippet of Article: "...As many as 25 hundred people fled the main federal office building in downtown Kansas City this afternoon. Fire in a basement electrical system produced acrid smoke. ..."


Source: www.publicbroadcasting.net

Tuesday, February 16, 2010

Defense contractor arrested on Houston flight after 'international disturbance'

Article Title: Racial slurs, drunken arrest on Amsterdam flight to Houston


Snippet of Article: "...an Alabama man is locked up in Houston facing at least 2 federal charges. Houston Police officers say they were called to the gate to meet the arriving Continental flight from Amsterdam, and they found two Federal Air Marshals with a Texas man under arrest...."


Source: www.examiner.com
see the FBI 'Department of Justice' Press Release on this Incident here: Alabama Man Charged with Interfering with a Flight Crew and Assaulting Federal Air Marshal

Impersonating a Federal Agent

Article Title: Man arrested on charges of impersonating federal agent and 'deporting' distant cousin's wife [Updated]


Snippet of Article: "...man has been arrested on suspicion of posing as a federal marshal to kidnap a distant cousin’s wife and put her on a plane to the Philippines, police said Wednesday...."


Source: latimes.com
impersonating a Federal Agent

Friday, February 12, 2010

Government Jobs -vs- Private Sector

Article Title: For both government and private-sector workers, grass is greener on other side


Snippet of Article: "...during the dark days of the Great Recession, the sexiest fringe benefit to any job became security. Stodgy is hot. Civil servants = genius! Visits to federal jobs site USAJobs.gov were up 18 percent..."


Source: www.washingtonpost.com

Thursday, February 11, 2010

Officials plan to expand federal hiring despite spending freeze



Article Title: Officials plan to expand federal hiring despite spending freeze




Snippet of Article: "...federal employment probably will continue to grow.

The reason: The departments exempted from the freeze -- Defense, State, Homeland Security, Veterans Affairs -- are growth areas ..."


Source: www.washingtonpost.com




Wednesday, February 10, 2010

OPM director considers overhaul of civil service system

Article Title: OPM director considers overhaul of civil service system


Snippet of Article: "...The document dealt with a broad range of federal employee issues and spent a considerable amount of ink justifying why they get paid as well as they do. Federal workers are, on average, an older and better educated lot ..."


Source: www.washingtonpost.com

Tuesday, February 9, 2010

Can military time count toward csrs retirement?

Article Title: Can military time count toward csrs retirement?


Yes, under Public Law 97-253, you can have your military service time after 1956 count toward your Civil Service Retirement. However, individuals that first became subject to Civil Service Retirement System deductions after Oct. 1, 1982, must make a deposit to receive credit for their military service in their CSRS or FERS annuity. CSRS covered employees prior to Oct. 1, 1982, may choose not to make the deposit and still receive credit toward the annuity, but would, if they are eligible for Social Security benefits, would at that time lose credit for military service in their CSRS annuities and their annuities will be reduced. If you pay the deposit, you will receive credit for their military service under CSRS and Social Security.


Source: federal-newsgroup.blogspot.com

Go to OPM for more info

Sunday, February 7, 2010

Washington DC hit by several feet of snow, bringing federal government to a standstill

Article Title: Snowstorm brings US capital to a halt


Snippet of Article: "...The gigantic weather system, predicted to be one of the largest storms on record in the region, effectively brought the US federal government to a halt. Workers were sent home early on Friday and it was unclear whether federal offices would reopen tomorrow...."


Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Windfall Elimination Provision News and Reports

Article Title: Windfall Elimination Provision News and Reports

Snippet of Article: "...The windfall elimination provision (WEP) reduces Social Security retirement benefits for most retirees who collect pensions from jobs that were not covered by the program...."

Source: www.retirementsecurity.org

'Pay parity' would return

Article Title: 'Pay parity' would return

Snippet of Article: "...As most federal workers know, the administration is proposing a 1.4 percent cost-of-living increase for military and civilian employees. This "pay parity" continues a tradition that is rarely broken..."

Source: fredericksburg.com

Monday, February 1, 2010

Ex-FEMA worker, cousin plead guilty to $721K Hurricane Katrina fraud



Article Title: Ex-FEMA worker, cousin plead guilty to $721K Hurricane Katrina fraud




Snippet of Article: "...A former Federal Emergency Management Agency worker and her cousin have pleaded guilty to orchestrating one of the biggest Hurricane Katrina scams to become public since the 2005 storm...."


Source: www.latimes.com




You don't need a security clearance to get a federal job



Article Title: You don't need a security clearance to get a federal job




Snippet of Article: "...Derrick Dortch: Let me clear up a myth: There are no federal jobs with federal government agencies that require you to have a security clearance to apply and get that job. I get this question often, and many people will stop looking for federal employment because they believe this. ..."


Source: www.washingtonpost.com




Sunday, January 31, 2010

A 1.4% Proposed 2011 Pay Raise?



Article Title: A 1.4% Proposed 2011 Pay Raise?




Snippet of Article: "...In December, Obama assured Congress that pay parity between military members and federal civilians would be included in the fiscal 2011 budget proposal, so it's likely that the proposed civilian raise will also be 1.4 percent...."


Source: www.govexec.com




Saturday, January 30, 2010

Federal Government Ordered to Reduce Greenhouse Gas Emissions by 2020


Article Title: Obama orders federal government to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 2020


Snippet of Article: "...It is therefore the policy of the United States that Federal agencies shall increase energy efficiency; measure, report, and reduce..."


Source: jurist.law.pitt.edu

[tag][/tag]


Pharmacy benefit managers and the rising drug costs for federal workers

Article Title: Pharmacy benefit managers and the rising drug costs for federal workers
Snippet of Article: "...When Uncle Sam arranges prescription drug coverage for millions of federal employees and their dependents, you'd expect him to have enough muscle to keep those prices low. So how come the Federal Employees Health Benefits Program pays up to 45 percent more..."


Source: www.washingtonpost.com

[tag]Federal,Government,Military,Retiree, [/tag]

Thursday, January 28, 2010

CSRS and annuities

Article Title: CSRS and annuities
Snippet of Article: "...Q: I’m under the Civil Service Retirement System plan. I would like to know if the retirement contributions, taken out of our checks every payday..."


Source: blogs.federaltimes.com

[tag]Federal,Government,Military,Retiree, [/tag]

Article Title: TSA Officers Among Lowest Paid Of Federal Workers
Snippet of Article: "...Then there are the salaries, which start at about $25,000 a year, one of the lowest rates in the federal government. Anthony Hutchinson, a 29-year-old father of two, says not only is it not easy raising a family on what he earns, but it also affects what he sees as the mission of transportation security officers...."


Source: www.npr.org

[tag]Federal,Government,Military,Retiree, [/tag]

Monday, January 25, 2010

Obama to seek 3-year freeze on US domestic spending

Article Title: Obama to seek 3-year freeze on US domestic spending
Snippet of Article: "...Part of the problem, on top of a severe recession that hit government revenue, are entitlement programs like social security and Medicare, the huge public healthcare program for older Americans...."


Source: www.reuters.com

[tag]Federal,Government,Military,Retiree, [/tag]

Windfall Elimination Provision (WEP) and Government Pension Offset (GPO)

Article Title: Restrictive federal laws penalize...
Snippet of Article: "...Legislation to repeal the GPO and WEP has been stalled for nearly three decades. Delays are a fact of life in politics, but it is time to move these bills out of committee. The corrective legislation, House Bill 235 and Senate Bill 484..."


Source: lubbockonline.com

[tag]Federal,Government,Military,Retiree, [/tag]

New Federal Employment Resource Site from OPM

Article Title: New OPM Veteran Site- Feds Hire Vets
Snippet of Article: "...Office of Personnel Management’s Government-wide Veterans Employment Website. This website is a critical component of the Federal Government’s strategy for the recruitment and employment of Veterans.

On November 9, 2009, President Barack Obama signed Executive Order 13518, Employment of Veterans in the Federal Government, ..."


Source: veteransemploymentprogramoffice.blogspot.com

[tag]Federal,Government,Military,Retiree, [/tag]

Monday, January 18, 2010

Obama’s EEOC Nominee: Society Should ‘Not Tolerate Private Beliefs’ That ‘Adversely Affect’ Homosexuals

Article Title: Obama’s EEOC Nominee: Society Should ‘Not Tolerate Private Beliefs’ That ‘Adversely Affect’ Homosexuals
Snippet of Article: "...Feldblum does recognize that elements of the homosexual agenda may infringe on Americans’ religious liberties. However, Feldblum argues that society should “come down on the side” of homosexual equality at the expense of religious liberty...."


Source: www.cnsnews.com

Further Reading: Constitutional Topic: The Constitution and Religion; "Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof."; http://www.usconstitution.net/

[tag]Federal,Government,Military,Retiree, [/tag]

Should You Elect a Survivor Benefit for Your Spouse?

Article Title: Should You Elect a Survivor Benefit for Your Spouse?
Snippet of Article: "...This article will provide general information on survivor benefits. A follow-up article will take a look at the question "Should I elect a survivor benefit or not?"..."


Source: www.fedsmith.com

[tag]Federal,Government,Military,Retiree, [/tag]

Retiring early without penalty

Article Title: Retiring early without penalty
Snippet of Article: "...Q: a federal employee covered under the Federal Employees Retirement System, and at age 49 will have just over 30 years of service with my military time that I bought back. Can I retire without penalty by postponing or deferring my annuity until my minimum retirement age of 56 years and 2 months,..."


Source: federaltimes.com

[tag]Federal,Government,Military,Retiree, [/tag]

Sunday, January 17, 2010

Yes, unions negotiated a better deal for labor. But the goal of controlling costs was preserved.

Article Title: The 'Cadillac' compromise
Snippet of Article: "...the issue of taxing “Cadillac” insurance plans, giving unionized workers far more time to adjust to the new tax than nonunion employees. ..."


Source: www.latimes.com

[tag]Federal,Government,Military,Retiree, [/tag]

Saturday, January 16, 2010

Federal employee donations fell in 2009

Article Title: Federal employee donations fell in 2009
Snippet of Article: "...2009 Combined Federal Campaign — including those in Europe — appear to be down from the previous year, but officials with the government-endorsed charity drive caution..."


Source: www.stripes.com

[tag]Federal,Government,Military,Retiree, [/tag]

Wednesday, January 13, 2010

Labor Leaders Oppose Obama's 'Cadillac' Healthcare Tax

Article Title: Labor Leaders Oppose Obama's 'Cadillac' Healthcare Tax
Snippet of Article: "...footing this new tax burden would be the very middle-class families the president promised would not see a tax increase. “Middle class families are going to pay...."


Source: www.humanevents.com

[tag]Federal,Government,Military,Retiree, [/tag]

Saturday, January 9, 2010

Plans approved for DoD complex, Coast Guard headquarters

Article Title: Plans approved for DoD complex, Coast Guard headquarters
Snippet of Article: "...The National Capital Planning Commission approved final site and building plans for two major building projects: a new Pentagon administrative complex for more than 6,400 civilian, military and contract employees, and a new Coast Guard headquarters for more than 3,800 employees...."


Source: www.federaltimes.com

[tag]Federal,Government,Military,Retiree, [/tag]

Friday, January 8, 2010

Stuck in a Dead End Federal Job ...Take a Look at USAJOBS

Article Title: Take a Look at USAJOBS
Snippet of Article: "...Provide for yourself and help change our country with
a career in the U.S. Government!..."


Source: www.usajobs.gov

[tag]Federal,Government,Military,Retiree, [/tag]

Wednesday, January 6, 2010

Cost-of-living increases

Article Title: Cost-of-living increases
Snippet of Article: "...former U.S. senators and representatives continue to receive generous federal pensions while they are serving time for assorted crimes. That's insulting enough, but the report went on to say that these disgraced public servants will automatically be extended cost-of-living increases next year.
..."


Source: www.chicagotribune.com

[tag]Federal,Government,Military,Retiree, [/tag]

Monday, January 4, 2010

2010 Locality Pay Rate/Increases by Area

Article Title: Locality-Based Comparability Payments and Pay Increases in 2010 for General Schedule Employees (PDF)
Source: www.opm.gov

[tag]Federal,Government,Military,Retiree, [/tag]

Congress is Cleaning Up the Contracting Out Mess; However, Much Still Depends on Executive Branch Compliance

Article Title: Congress is Cleaning Up the Contracting Out Mess; However, Much Still Depends on Executive Branch Compliance
Snippet of Article: "...wholesale privatization effort, lawmakers repeatedly borrowed language and principles from a comprehensive contracting out reform bill introduced earlier this year—the Correction of Longstanding Errors in Agencies’ Unsustainable Procurements (CLEAN UP) Act (S. 924, H.R. 2736) that was introduced by Senator Barbara Mikulski (D-MD) and Representative John Sarbanes (D-MD)...."


Source: www.afge.org

[tag]Federal,Government,Military,Retiree, [/tag]

Man accused of impersonating federal agent is arrested

Article Title: Man accused of impersonating federal agent is arrested
Snippet of Article: "...CORPUS CHRISTI — Nueces County Sheriff’s deputies arrested a Kingsville man Monday on a felony warrant accusing him of impersonating a peace officer in an incident that led to a motorist’s brief arrest...."


Source: www.caller.com

[tag]Federal,Government,Military,Retiree, [/tag]

Saturday, January 2, 2010

TSA Withdraws Subpoenas Against Bloggers

Article Title: TSA Withdraws Subpoenas Against Bloggers
Snippet of Article: "...In the wake of public outcry against the Transportation Security Administration for serving civil subpoenas on two bloggers, the government agency has canceled the legal action and apologized for the strong-arm tactics agents used...."


Source: www.wired.com

[tag]Federal,Government,Military,Retiree, [/tag]