Government Executive - Authors - Moriah Robertson

House panel OKs new dollar coins featuring U.S. presidents

Moriah Robertson — Thu, 29 Apr 2004 00:00:00 -0400

Under the measure approved by voice vote by the Domestic and International Monetary Policy Subcommittee, the presidential coin program would start Jan. 1, 2006, with George Washington. The gold coins would resemble the Sacagawea dollar.

"I believe the program is a great opportunity for educating both children and adults about the history of our country," said bill sponsor Rep. Michael Castle, R-Del. "In addition, although it is not the goal of the program, these new coins are likely to generate as much as $5 million for the government."

Castle, who wrote the 50-state quarter program, said the presidential $1 coin program is modeled after it. According to the U.S. Mint, the quarter program has saved the federal government billions of dollars and become so popular that at least one person in every household is collecting every quarter.

In addition to the presidential coins, a new, pure-gold-bullion coin would be minted with images of the first ladies and would be released in sequence with the presidential dollars. There would be two first lady coins for the two presidents who remarried while in office. The image of the Statue of Liberty would be used for presidents who were single while in office. The gold bullion first lady coins would cost $250 each.

Bill co-sponsor Rep. Carolyn Maloney, D-N.Y., reiterated the educational value of the presidential $1 coin program.

"This bill provides all the best elements of a successful coinage program: education, collecting interest, a financial windfall for the Treasury," Maloney said during the hearing. "Politicians and educators are always searching for a new way to boost interest in American history."

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House committee backs health benefits, pay compression bills

Moriah Robertson — Thu, 01 Apr 2004 00:00:00 -0500

The first measure, (H.R. 3751) requires OPM to submit a study to Congress that describes and evaluates currently available supplemental and additional dental, hearing and vision benefits and the costs of such benefits. Under the bill, OPM must then make recommendations for improvements in federal health benefits.

Hearing benefits and the screening for glaucoma to be included under the vision benefits were added to the bill under an amendment by Rep. Danny Davis, D-Ill., which passed without any objections. The amendment also established a new deadline of no later than six months after the bill is enacted for the study to be presented to Congress, instead of the original June 30, 2004 date.

Improved benefits are "an issue of great importance to federal employees," Rep. Jo Ann Davis, R-Va., said earlier this month when her Civil Service subcommittee marked up the bill. Industry representatives have said that federal dental and vision benefits fall below those offered in the private sector, Davis added.

Under the second measure (H.R. 3737), administrative law judges, members of contract appeals boards and certain senior level employees outside the Senior Executive Service could receive more pay.

The bill addresses situations where higher-paid workers stop getting raises because of a pay cap, resulting in compression of the overall pay scale.

Under the bill, administrative judges, appeals board members and senior level personnel could receive Executive Schedule Level III base pay of $158,100, plus locality pay. The pay cap was raised from the Level IV base pay of $145,600.

Rep. Danny Davis, D-Ill., introduced an amendment, which passed on a voice vote, that restored amendments passed by the Civil Service subcommittee last month. It adds contract appeals board members and certain senior level employees to those covered by the measure. And it requires OPM to examine the basic pay of Executive Schedule positions and submit a report to the House Government Reform Committee and the Senate Governmental Affairs Committee.

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Panel seeks better health care benefits for federal workers

Moriah Robertson — Thu, 01 Apr 2004 00:00:00 -0500

The committee unanimously approved legislation calling for the study (H.R. 3751) by voice vote.

The bill requires OPM to submit a study to Congress that describes and evaluates currently available supplemental and additional dental, hearing and vision benefits and the costs of such benefits. Under the bill, OPM must then make recommendations for improvements.

Hearing benefits and the screening for glaucoma to be included under the vision benefits were added to the bill under an amendment by Rep. Jo Ann Davis, R-Va., which passed without any objections. The amendment also established a new deadline of no later than six months after the bill is enacted for the study to be presented to Congress, instead of the original June 30, 2004 date.

Improved benefits are "an issue of great importance to federal employees," Davis said earlier this month when her Civil Service subcommittee marked up the bill. Industry representatives have said that federal dental and vision benefits fall below those offered in the private sector, Davis added.

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