Sunday, November 21, 2010

Social Security worker charged over fake ID cards

Article Title: Social Security worker charged over fake ID cards

Snippet of Article: "...A longtime employee of the Social Security Administration faces federal charges for allegedly creating and selling bogus Social Security cards...."

Source: www.sfgate.com Social Security Fraud

Friday, November 19, 2010

Investors make slight shifts to higher-risk TSP funds

Article Title: Investors make slight shifts to higher-risk TSP funds

Snippet of Article: "...Most of the fund movement is out of the "safe" G fund into high-risk funds, Trabucco said. ..."

Source: www.federalnewsradio.com TSP trends, TSP,

Huge increases in some FEHB plans cause for change during Open Season

Article Title: As feds look to cut costs, lower-premium health plans gain enrollees

Snippet of Article: "...Al Dileo, vice president of Mail Handlers' account management, said the company's popularity is due in good part to its value plan, which "offers the lowest premium among FEHBP's nationwide fee-for-service plans." That plan saw enrollment jump 60 percent from 11,000 to 17,600 enrollees over the past year...."

Source: www.federaltimes.com

Thursday, November 18, 2010

AFGE union joins foes of nominee for marshals post

Article Title: AFGE union joins foes of nominee for marshals post

Snippet of Article: "...saying Justice Department veteran Stacia Hylton's recent six-figure consulting deal with a private prison company makes her "ill-suited" for the job...."

Source: www.washingtontimes.com

Sunday, November 14, 2010

Federal Charges of Defrauding Federal Workers' Compensation Program

Article Title: Burbank Brothers Arraigned on Federal Charges of Defrauding Federal Workers' Compensation Program

Snippet of Article: "...allegedly billed a government workers’ compensation program for patient transportation in Los Angeles and Orange Counties that never occurred. The indictment also alleges that the brothers grossly inflated the amount of their claims to the Department of Labor - Office of Workers Compensation ( DOL-OWCP )..."

Source: media-newswire.com Defrauding Federal Workers' Compensation Program

More layoffs possible for NASA contractors

Article Title: More layoffs possible for NASA contractors

Snippet of Article: "...The outgoing congress authorized NASA's new program but didn't fund it, and funding isn't expected to come until..."

Source: www.waff.com

Friday, November 12, 2010

Federal pay raise challenge

Article Title: Federal pay raise challenged, but union head defends it

Snippet of Article: "...misleading and "paints an inaccurate picture of the workforce and makes a flawed argument against the proposed 1.4 percent pay raise for federal employees," according to Colleen Kelley, president of the National Treasury Employees Union. ..."

Source: Federal Computer Week Federal Pay Raise, 2010, 2011,

Thursday, November 11, 2010

More open season news

Article Title: Open season set for three civilian benefit programs

Snippet of Article: "...The Affordable Care Act, Public Law 111-148, extended the age children may remain covered under their parents' FEHB plans, self and family enrollment, to age 26. Those already enrolled in self and family coverage do not need to re-enroll during open season. New enrollees should contact their health benefits provider to add eligible children effective Jan. 1, 2011. Employees not enrolled in FEHB, or enrolled in self-only coverage, can elect self and family coverage to add newly eligible children during open season.
..."

Source: www.af.mil open season

Wednesday, November 10, 2010

Rep. Jason Chaffetz of Utah wants to cut Fed pay by 10%

Article Title: Growing disparity in Feds' have-nots and have-lots

Snippet of Article: "...Chaffetz favors a pay freeze and 10 percent pay cut. On average, federal employees are paid 24 percent less than their private sector..."

Source: www.wtop.com

Monday, November 8, 2010

Paul: I'll Cut Fed Workers, Wages 10%

Article Title: Paul: I'll Cut Fed Workers, Wages 10%

Snippet of Article: "..."I would freeze federal hiring. I would maybe reduce federal employees by 10%. I'd probably reduce their wages by 10%. The average federal employee ..."

Source: www.newser.com Federal Employee Wages, Federal Pay, Federal Job Cuts,

Sunday, November 7, 2010

Inflation on the way compliments of the Fed. Can you feel it now?

Article Title: Fed prints the money, consumers pay the price

Snippet of Article: "...The Fed wants inflation and, lo and behold, it's getting it ..."

Source: www.theglobeandmail.com inflation, government induced inflation, The Federal Reserve,

Saturday, November 6, 2010

Federal Career Intern Program

Article Title: Federal Career Intern Program

Snippet of Article: "...The Federal Career Intern Program is designed to help agencies recruit and attract exceptional individuals into a variety of occupations. It was created under Executive Order 13162, and is intended for positions at grade levels GS-5, 7, and 9. In general, individuals are appointed to a 2-year internship. Upon successful completion of the internships, the interns may be eligible for permanent placement within an agency.

Individuals interested in Career Intern opportunities must contact specific agencies directly. The Office of Personnel Management will not be the central source for career intern opportunities. ..."

Source: www.opm.gov Federal Career Intern Program

Friday, November 5, 2010

NASA Shooting at Glenn Research Center Just a Test

Article Title: NASA’s Glenn Research Center Locked Down 11/05/2010 – Shooting?

Snippet of Article: "...All we know is that the NASA facility is locked down, and it is because of a situation which may include a gun. Fox News speculates that there could be a gunman inside building 77..."

Source: cnmnewsnetwork.com Shooting At NASA, Glenn Research Center, Lockdown,

Saturday, October 30, 2010

Ex-federal employee sentenced in Fort Peck embezzlement case

Article Title: Ex-federal employee sentenced in Fort Peck embezzlement case

Snippet of Article: "...A former federal employee was sentenced Tuesday for his involvement in an embezzlement scheme that stole around $1 million from the Fort Peck Tribal Credit Program...."

Source: www.greatfallstribune.com

Friday, October 29, 2010

Extending Health Care Coverage for Young Adults During Open Season

Article Title: Extending Health Care Coverage for Young Adults During Open Season

Remember, under the Affordable Care Act, young adults will be allowed to stay on their parents' plan until they turn 26 years old unless they are offered insurance at work.

Source: The Federal Newsgroup health care and age,

Panel to consider federal pay raises

Article Title: Panel to consider federal pay raises

Snippet of Article: "...where the pay of federal workers stands in relation to private-sector salaries. Given that last year's numbers put federal pay an average of 22 percent behind the private sector..."

Source: washingtonpost.com Federal employee pay,

Wednesday, October 27, 2010

2011 Open Season for Health Benefits, Dental and Vision Insurance

Federal Employee Open Season

Article Title: 2011 Open Season for Health Benefits, Dental and Vision Insurance

Snippet of Article: "..."The Federal Employees Health Benefits (FEHB) Program has important features, including a wide choice of health plans and competitive benefit packages as well as no pre-existing condition limitations or waiting periods. Now, for 2011, we have eliminated enrollee cost sharing for preventive care services, added incentives for tobacco cessation, and, in accordance with the Affordable Care Act, added coverage for dependents up to age 26. Even with these new benefits, premiums will rise less this year than they did last year." John Berry Director, U. S. Office of Personnel Management * The U. S. Office of Personnel Management (OPM) has announced that this year's open season for health benefits, dental and vision insurance, and Flexible Spending Accounts will run from November 8 through December 13, 2010. This open season will give federal employees and retirees the opportunity to change their health-care coverage and employees who are not enrolled, but are eligible to participate, the opportunity to elect coverage. OPM also announced the use of a new claims database that will make it easier to reduce the growth in health care costs. * Each year, OPM enters into annual negotiations with each FEHB carrier, historically enabling the program to hold premium increases below industry averages and secure good benefits value for enrollees and their families. * Premiums for the 2011 FEHB Program will rise by an average 7.2 percent for the enrollee share of premiums. This increase is below last year's premium increase of 8.8 percent and lower than rate hikes predicted for large, employer-sponsored health programs by benefit consultants such as Aon, Milliman, and Price Waterhouse Coopers, which are estimating 2011 premium increases between 8.9 percent and 10.5 percent. * In January 2011, there will be 207 health plan options in the FEHB Program. * OPM will soon launch a new Health Claims Data Warehouse which will become a useful tool for analyzing health services data from the FEHB plans. The warehouse will allow OPM to better understand the health of federal employees, as well as the cost and quality of care they receive. The warehouse will give OPM the ability to manage the program so that employees and tax-payers get the best value. ..."

Source: Federal Employee News Federal Employee Open Season 2011, Federal Employees Health Benefits (FEHB) Program, FEHB

Third shooting at a military facility in two weeks

Article Title: FBI looks into third shooting at a military facility in two weeks

Snippet of Article: "...Last week, a gunman fired several shots at the Pentagon, just two days after shots were fired at the National Museum of the Marine Corps in Virginia. Ballistics tests revealed..."

Source: cnn.com

Tuesday, October 26, 2010

Federal Employees at Social Security Admin get an extra Holiday

Article Title: Employees at SSA get extra day to be thankful

Snippet of Article: "...they will enjoy Nov. 26 as an additional holiday "to give you an extra day of rest and reflection with family and friends," Social Security Commissioner Michael J. Astrue wrote in a memo to workers this month. ..."

Source: www.washingtonpost.com federal holidays,

Postmaster General Announces Retirement

Article Title: Postmaster General to Retire

Snippet of Article: "...Pat Donahoe, Deputy Postmaster General and Chief Operating Officer, will become our new Postmaster General when PMG Potter retires on December 3...."

Source: The Postal Newsgroup Postmaster General retirement

Postal Union Grows Impatient With Pace of Contract Talks

Article Title: Postal Union Grows Impatient With Pace of Contract Talks

Snippet of Article: "...As expected, USPS proposals have included efforts to maximize supervisory control of the workplace and reduce costs by removing previously negotiated contractual protections.

However, to date, management has not presented its proposals on the central contractual issues of wages, benefits, protection against layoffs, seniority, and workforce structure. When these proposals are presented, we expect them to be consistent with the propaganda we have heard so frequently in recent months..."

Source: www.apwu.org Postal Unions

Sunday, October 24, 2010

FEHB Open Season 2011

Article Title: fehb open season 2011

Snippet of Article: "...The U.S. Office of Personnel Management (OPM) has announced that this year’s open season for health benefits, dental and vision insurance, and Flexible Spending Accounts will run from November 8 through December 13, 2010...."

Source: Federal Employee News fehb open season 2011, Federal Employee News

Federal employees at Tobyhanna Army Depot

Article Title: Federal employees at Tobyhanna Army Depot

Snippet of Article: "...For years, blue-collar federal employees received different wages than white-collar federal employees although they work the same hours at the same facilities, Mr. Kanjorski said. ..."

Source: thetimes-tribune.com

Saturday, October 23, 2010

Pentagon to Fight Domestic Cyberattacks

Article Title: Pentagon Will Help Homeland Security Department Fight Domestic Cyberattacks

Snippet of Article: "...Under the new rules, the president would approve the use of the military’s expertise in computer-network warfare, and the Department of Homeland Security would direct the work. ..."

Source: www.nytimes.com Pentagon, computer-network warfare,