Stamp Increase ...any early retirement offers to reduce numbers?

Stamp prices going up again - 46-cent rate asked

"...Under the proposed increases, in addition to the 46-cent rate for the first ounce, the cost for each additional ounce would go up a penny to 18 cents. The cost to mail a postcard would go up 2 cents to 30 cents...."    

This Article is From: www.federalnewsradio.com

The ten biggest errors federal employees make, pt. 2

Article Title: The ten biggest errors federal employees make, pt. 2

Snippet of Article: "...What are the 10 biggest mistakes feds make when planning for retirement? Ed Zurndorfer is a registered employee benefit consultant. He's come up with a list...."

Source: www.federalnewsradio.com

Woman retires after nearly 65 years as a federal employee

Article Title: Woman retires after nearly 65 years as a federal employee

Snippet of Article: "...Edena Wood had thought about it for years but finally decided it was time to leave after nearly 65 years as a federal employee. ..."

Source: www.washingtonpost.com

Federal Employee Credit Card Abuse

Article Title: No Consequences for Government Employees Who Charged Massive Shopping Spree to Taxpayers

Snippet of Article: "...Paige said since the last GAO report on the issue there’s been an “explosion” in the number of government purchase cards, with 300,000 federal employees currently carrying them. By turning a blind eye when they are abused, she says, the government is inviting more of the behavior...."

Source: www.foxnews.com

New Report Reveals U.S. Federal Data Security Vulnerabilities and Opportunities for Improvement

Article Title: New Report Reveals U.S. Federal Data Security Vulnerabilities and Opportunities for Improvement

Snippet of Article: "...According to the Federal File Transfer Report, Federal employees are exposing data to cyber criminals. Though 71 percent of Federal IT and information security professionals are concerned with Federal file transfer security, 54 percent admit they do not currently monitor for FTP..."

Source: www.earthtimes.org

Federal Government Employment and Windfall Elimination

Article Title: Federal Government Employment and Windfall Elimination

Snippet of Article: "...this provision affects Social Security ­benefits when any part of a person’s federal service after 1956 is covered under the Civil Service Retirement System (CSRS). However, federal service where Social Security taxes are withheld (Federal Employees’ Retirement System) will not reduce your Social Security benefit amounts. The Windfall Elimination Provision may apply if:..."

Source: www.ssa.gov

Gates seeks big cuts in military spending

Article Title: Gates seeks big cuts in military spending

Snippet of Article: "...The Defense secretary invokes Dwight Eisenhower as he calls for spending reductions in military healthcare and the command structure. He wants to cut $10 billion to $15 billion from a $547-billion Pentagon base budget...."

Source: www.latimes.com

Federal Employee Case Law Spotlight: Security Clearance

Article Title: ADAMS v. DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE

Snippet of Article: "...was employed as an Information Technology Specialist with the Security Intelligence Operations Directorate of the Missile Defense Agency ("MDA"). His position required him to maintain a Top Secret security clearance with access to Sensitive Compartmented Information. By letter dated April 2, 2009, the Defense Intelligence Agency ("DIA")..."

Source: www.leagle.com This disposition is nonprecedential.

OPM tests letting feds work without a schedule

Article Title: OPM tests letting feds work without a schedule

Snippet of Article: "...In the effort to attract and retain a new generation of federal workers, what can the federal government offer beyond a steady paycheck and good fringe benefits? ..."

Source: www.federalnewsradio.com

How to get a Federal Government Job

Article Title: How to get a job in the Federal Government [PDF Document]

Snippet of Article: "...With more than 1.7 million jobs and over 400 occupational specialties (excluding postal service and military workers), the Federal Government offers more choices than any other single employer in the United States. Whatever your interest and back- ground, you can probably find a Government career to match. People get jobs in the Federal Governmentin the same way..."

Source: www.pueblo.gsa.gov

Federal TSA Worker Defends Himself After Alleged Harassment by Coworkers

Article Title: Suspicious Package: TSA Worker Jailed After Junk Joke

Snippet of Article: "...He told police he had been made fun of by coworkers on a daily basis. "[Negron] stated he could not take the jokes anymore..."

Source: www.nbcmiami.com


More Reading: TSA Office of Civil Rights, Article Snip: "With a zero tolerance for harassment, illegal"

Health law’s heavy impact

Article Title: Health law’s heavy impact

Snippet of Article: "...Requires single people earning $200,000 or more and couples earning $250,000 or more to pay an additional 0.9 percent in Medicare taxes.
Tax on Home Sales. Imposes a 3.8 percent tax on home sales and other real estate transactions. Middle-income people must pay the full tax..."

Source: www.spokesman.com

Joke's on you! Federal Workers' Kids Not Yet Eligible On Parents' Plan

Article Title: Federal Workers' Kids Not Yet Eligible On Parents' Plan

Snippet of Article: "...The federal employee health insurance program has announced that it is unlikely this year to offer young adults the ability to remain on their parents' policies until the age of 26. That means the government, which is the largest employer in the nation, will not follow the lead of some private insurance companies that will begin offering such coverage to young adults by June 1. ..."

Source: www.npr.org

Air marshal charged in gunpoint rape of Seattle woman

Article Title: Air marshal charged in gunpoint rape of Seattle woman

Snippet of Article: "..."The defendant used his position as a federal air marshal and his government-issued firearm to commit this crime," Senior Deputy Prosecutor Charles K. Sergis told the court. "He raped the victim and by threatening her with his gun and claiming she had to do what he said because he is an air marshal."..."

Source: www.seattlepi.com

How Much Should a Government Employee Make?

Article Title: How Much Should a Government Employee Make?

Snippet of Article: "...Which is why PolitiFact was surprised by Scott Brown's claims, which after fact-checking, proved false. Brown used Cato Institute numbers that put the average federal employee's salary at $79,197, compared to $50,028 in the private sector. It's easy to tell right away that those salaries aren't double, contrary to Brown's claim on This Week on Jan. 31, but PolitiFact did even more digging. ..."

Source: www.prospect.org

Lisha Adams becomes first woman named overall Civilian of the Year by AUSA chapter

Article Title: Lisha Adams becomes first woman named overall Civilian of the Year by AUSA chapter

Snippet of Article: "...Among her responsibilities, Adams - who has more than 27 years of government experience - manages a military, civilian and contractor work force of more than 800 with an annual operating budget of more than $700 million...."

Source: al.com
Lisha Adams

Federal Worker Telework Increases...

Article Title: Better job applicants, hired faster, is OPM goal

Snippet of Article: "...When it comes to telework, Berry wants to increase by 50 percent the number of eligible federal workers who telework over the 2009 baseline level of 102,900.

He called telework an essential part of OPM's effort to improve work-life flexibilities..."

Source: fredericksburg.com

USPS VP: It’s Time to Implement Five-Day Mail Delivery

Article Title: USPS VP: It’s Time to Implement Five-Day Mail Delivery

Snippet of Article: "...Assuming the PRC and Congress approve the plan, Pulcrano said it would take about six months to implement five-day mail delivery. PRC Chairman Ruth Goldway said last week it might take six to nine months for her panel to issue an advisory opinion...."

Source: multichannelmerchant.com

Busted: Fraudulently collecting federal employee retirement benefits

Article Title: West Frankfort sentenced for fraudulently collecting retirement benefits

Snippet of Article: "...18 months in prison Monday, the judge also ordered her to repay more than $240,000 to the federal Civil Service Retirement System.
..."

Source: www.fox2now.com

Federal Employee Retirement Source

A fantastic resource for the federal employee Getting Ready for Retirement is FederlSoup.com's Federal Employee Retirement forum. Learn from other government employee's who have previously retired and those asking question about retiring from the federal government. Get information on both Your Fers Retirement: How to Prepare for It, How to Enjoy It and Your CSRS Retirement: How to Prepare for It, How to Enjoy It.

OPM's Berry blasts Washington Times editorial on federal pay

Article Title: OPM's Berry blasts Washington Times editorial on federal pay

Snippet of Article: "...Berry said. "Do they think that the researchers at NIH who are developing cures for cancer today are bureaucrats sitting at their desks? Do they think the TSA employees who are screening people who are sitting next to you on the airplane today -- are they just sitting at their desks? Are the Customs and Border Patrol..."

Source: voices.washingtonpost.com

2010 Federal Census Questions

Article Title: 2010 Federal Census Questions

The Questions on the Form

• How many people were living or staying in this house, apartment, or mobile home on April 1, 2010?


• Were there any additional people staying here April 1, 2010 that you did not include in Question 1?


• Is this house, apartment, or mobile home: owned with mortgage, owned without mortgage, rented, occupied without rent?


• What is your telephone number?


• Please provide information for each person living here. Start with a person here who owns or rents this house, apartment, or mobile home. If the owner or renter lives somewhere else, start with any adult living here. This will be Person 1. What is Person 1's name?


• What is Person 1's sex?


• What is Person 1's age and Date of Birth?


• Is Person 1 of Hispanic, Latino or Spanish origin?


• What is Person 1's race?


• Does Person 1 sometimes live or stay somewhere else?

Source: This information was garnered from Census.gov
2010 Federal Census Questions

House Passes Bill to Protect Federal Retirees from the 2010 Medicare Premium Increase

Article Title: House Passes Bill to Protect Federal Retirees from the 2010 Medicare Premium Increase

Snippet of Article: "...Federal Retiree COLA ... Budget Office (CBO) has predicted the possibility of no COLA for 2011 and 2012...."

Source: www.myfederalretirement.com


Stay tuned to the Federal News Group for updates on the 2011 COLA, 2012 COLA, 2013 COLA, as well as the windfall elimination fight.

2010 Cost-of-Living Allowance (COLA)

Article Title: 2010 Cost-of-Living Allowance (COLA)

Snippet of Article: "...2010 COLA Update: Due to the current recession and subsequent reduction in the cost-of-living for many areas, the 2010 CONUS COLA rates have dropped for most Military Housing Areas (MHA), with the exception of..."

Source: www.military.com