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House committee passes plain language, telecommuting bill

CongressDaily March 13, 2008

The House Oversight and Government Reform Committee passed a bill Thursday to require federal agencies to use plain language in commonly used forms, a measure to increase telecommuting opportunities for federal employees and three bills to increase accountability among government contractors.

With modifications to address Republican concerns, all the bills passed unanimously. But Oversight and Government Reform ranking member Tom Davis, R-Va., said he may oppose provisions in the contracting measures on the House floor. Davis raised concerns about a measure sponsored by Rep. Carolyn Maloney, D-N.Y., to create a publically accessible database on federal contractor performance and misconduct. While the information might help acquisition officers, "I fail to see the value of placing it on a public Web site," Davis said.

He and other Republicans also questioned bills that would bar contractors with tax debts from receiving federal contracts and measures requiring companies that receive 80 percent of their revenue from government contracts to disclose the names and salaries of their top officers. The latter bill was introduced by Rep. Chris Murphy, D-Conn., after a hearing in which the chief executive office of Blackwater Worldwide, which relies on federal contracts for protecting U.S. officials overseas, refused to disclose his compensation.

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COMMENTS

  • 2 disparate stories behind one headline. Today is one of those days full of humor. First, Dan Ketter, for a change is spot on. I guess he is not a Bill and Hillary fan. Second, today we are told about thousands of state sponsored hacking incidents, while Congress decides to put all those government computers in private homes running across who knows whose private ISP platforms. Does China's PLA own any ISP's? Schizoid Congress strikes again! Jim Kaley Posted March 14, 2008 1:20 PM
  • Oh my! We certainly wouldn't want the public to have access to information which reveals the political scam of federal government contracting ripping off the taxpayer so a claim of a "reduced size of government" can be made and political coffers can be better funded by private industry. For the obvious reason presented here; I wouldn't support Mr. Davis, not even for dog catcher, in my District, nor McCain for the same reason. Fed employees better wake up and speak up! I am glad there is some common sense to improving government efficiency coming from at least one side of the aisle! There is a valuable usefulness to telecommuting and necessity to improve accountability of government contracting actually saving the taxpayer money. There is a significant historical reason that the civil service was created. I guess we are paying to re-learn that lesson. 25+ year Fed Posted March 14, 2008 12:10 PM
  • Nothing suprises me with this new Congress, they report income in general values $150K to 500, 500 to 1 mil yet they want the private sector toreport exact nymbers. If they want to do this than all Feds should have to report exact income. Its either important for everyone or its irrevelant for everyone dan ketter Posted March 14, 2008 9:01 AM
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