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Obama

Budget:
Has adopted the Clinton-era mantra of "A government that works better and costs less," saying he would pay for sweeping policy initiatives such as a $150 billion investment in renewable energy during the next decade in part by cutting government programs that aren't effective. "I will ... go through the federal budget line-by-line, eliminating programs that no longer work and making the ones we do need work better and cost less, because we cannot meet 21st century challenges with a 20th century bureaucracy," Obama said in his Aug. 28 speech in Denver accepting the Democratic presidential nomination. But in the policy paper, "The Change We Need in Washington," he pledged to "fundamentally reconfigure" the Bush administration's Program Assessment Rating Tool, opening the "insular performance measurement process to the public, Congress and outside experts." He added that he would view programs in context of other initiatives that serve similar purposes.
Competitive Sourcing
Hasn't decided whether to continue the Bush administration initiative. In response to a questionnaire from the American Federation of Government Employees, he stated, "I will not contract out vital government services without first considering whether the private sector can actually provide a better service and whether the so-called hidden costs of privatization are fully accounted for in the cost estimate." Federal employees would have a chance to bid on any work that is deemed appropriate for contracting, and unions would have input, Obama has said. Contractors would be required to use government hiring preferences and follow federal labor laws.
Contracting:
Has pledged to cut the number of federal contractors, for savings of $40 billion annually, but has not provided details on how he plans to do that. Obama also has promised to end abuse of no-bid contracts by ordering agencies to allow competition for all agreements worth more than $25,000, unless they provide a written justification for an exception. Also has promised to rebuild the acquisition workforce, require the Defense and State departments to develop a framework for when contracting makes sense and clarify the legal status of contractor personnel working abroad so that they can be prosecuted for abuses. Currently contractors in Iraq are immune from prosecution in Iraqi courts for crimes committed while on the job.
Defense:
Supports increasing the Army by 65,000 soldiers and the Marines by 27,000. He also would boost special operations forces, civil affairs and information operations; invest in foreign language training, cultural awareness, and counterinsurgency and stabilization skills; and expand the U.S. capacity to train, equip, and advise foreign security forces. He would review major weapons programs, replace aging ships, invest in more advanced air technologies including unmanned aerial vehicles, address equipment gaps and subject supplemental wartime funds to the same stringent oversight as the regular budget. Obama advocates better integration of military and civilian efforts and the creation of a Civilian Assistance Corps ready to deploy on domestic or international missions when needed and made up of 25,000 volunteers with expertise in law, medicine, engineering, city planning and other fields.
Ethics:
Would grant the Office of Governmental Ethics more authority, including the power to make binding regulations, and would encourage the office to work with inspectors general to enforce rules and curb waste. Also would make political appointees wait at least two years before working on regulations or contracts "directly and substantially" related to their former employers. Once appointees left government, they would be prohibited from lobbying the executive branch until he left office. Executive branch employees would not be allowed to accept any gifts from registered lobbyists or lobbying firms. Lobbying for government contracts and presidential pardons would be subject to the same disclosure requirements as other types of lobbying. Obama also supports transparency in government (see Transparency entry).
Homeland Security:
Supports allocating homeland security grants to states and localities according to risk, and introduced a security bill amendment in March 2007 to increase risk-based funding. That amendment was tabled. Also has advocated increased funding for first responders and interoperable communications systems, a new critical infrastructure protection plan, the establishment of federal regulations on chemical plant security, better tracking of nuclear waste, more federal airport screeners, the development of a comprehensive terrorist watch list that still protects passengers' privacy, screening of all cargo headed to the United States, greater sharing of shipping data, more information sharing between national intelligence agents and local officials, and stronger border protection.
Unions:
Backs collective bargaining rights for all government employees, including Transportation Security Administration screeners who currently lack them. In March 2007 he voted in favor of a homeland security bill amendment that would have given federal airport screeners full bargaining privileges. The amendment passed but the language did not make it into the final version of the bill.
Green Government:
Believes the government should lead by example, and would seek a 15 percent reduction in federal energy consumption by 2015. Other goals include a 40 percent increase in efficiency in all new federal buildings within five years, a 25 percent boost in efficiency of existing federal buildings over the same period and zero-emissions in new federal buildings by 2025. He would convert the White House to plug-in vehicles within one year of taking office unless there were security concerns, and wants 50 percent of government-purchased cars to be plug-in hybrids or all-electric by 2012.
Pay and Benefits:
Would hold managers accountable for program failures and reward them for successes. This would mean firing managers of programs that aren't meeting goals, and experimenting with bonuses for reaching targets.

Backs stronger quality and efficiency standards for insurers in the Federal Employees Health Benefits Program to drive down costs for beneficiaries. "I would make sure that FEHBP benefit packages are structured to encourage use of high value services and ensure preventative care and chronic disease care is fully covered with minimal co-pays by all FEHBP plans," he said in response to a questionnaire from the American Federation of Government Employees. In February 2006 Obama introduced the FEHBP Efficiency Act (S. 2247), which would give FEHBP carriers four years to implement an electronic system to ease adjudication of medical claims and monitor for fraud and abuse. The bill didn't make it out of committee.

During a Sept. 11 Columbia University forum on public service, he said he supports an increase in military pay and would rethink benefits for civilians headed to dangerous assignments. "I do think that we have a special obligation [to] those who have put their lives at risk, who are risking life and limb on behalf of the security of America," he said. Also has pledged to help veterans by adding more mental health counseling centers, giving them all access to the Veterans Affairs Department's health care system and creating a training program for careers in renewable energy.
Transparency:
Supports transparency in contracting and most other government transactions. Would give the public five days to review and comment on the text of any non-emergency legislation he intended to sign by posting a copy on the White House Web site, require agencies to conduct much of their major business in public and ask Cabinet members to hold regular broadband townhall meetings to discuss issues facing their agencies. Co-sponsored the 2006 Federal Funding Accountability and Transparency Act, which required the Office of Management and Budget to create a Google-like search engine for all federal grants and contracts worth more than $25,000. On June 3 he introduced (along with presidential rival Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., and Sens. Tom Coburn, R-Okla., and Thomas Carper, D-Del.), a follow-up bill (S. 3077) that would enhance the database by adding information on the contract award process and contractors' tax compliance, past performance, and any criminal, civil or administrative proceedings against them. Additionally, through a "contracts and influence" database, he has pledged to make public the amount federal contractors spend on lobbying, the deals they are awarded and how well they perform.
Technology:
Would appoint a chief technology officer to oversee efforts to make government more transparent, ensure agencies are using appropriate technology, keep computer networks safe and develop a national, interoperable wireless network for local, state and federal first responders. Also said during a July summit on security at Purdue University that he would appoint a national cyber adviser who would report directly to him and help tighten information security standards.
Workforce:
Has pledged to "thin the ranks of Washington middle managers, freeing up resources both for deficit reduction and for increasing the number of frontline workers."

Vowed to hire people to work for his administration based on their qualifications and experience rather than political connections. Would order all new hires to sign a form stating that they were not offered a job based solely on political affiliation or financial contributions. Managers hiring for career positions would need to certify that they will not consider political affiliation. All political appointees would need to have relevant professional qualifications and experience.

Intends to encourage public service by restoring faith in government agencies and setting an example for young people. "Part of my job, I think, as president, is to make government cool again, and to say to young people ... even as we're transforming Washington, come on, 'We want you,'" he said during a Sept. 11 Columbia University public service forum. Also supports more than tripling the number of spots in the AmeriCorps program from 75,000 to 250,000 and the establishment of a classroom, health, clean energy, veterans and homeland security corps. Obama would double the size of the Peace Corps to 16,000 by 2011, and has promised to establish a $4,000 American Opportunity Tax Credit in exchange for 100 hours of public service annually.