THE DAILY FED
News Briefs
The following news summaries are from OPM AM, the daily newsletter of the Office of Personnel Management. OPM AM is available on OPM Mainstreet, the agency's electronic bulletin board, at 202-606-4800.
THE FEDERAL DIARY--"Unions say the draft White House budget calls for $10 billion in savings in federal retirement costs by forcing workers to pay for benefits and forcing retirees to wait longer for inflations adjustments. The Republican plan, however, would leave the pension program alone" (The Washington Post).
APPOINTEES DEPART--"Presidential appointees depart with a big sigh of relief. Burnout is the primary cause of the high turnover in jobs by presidential appointment," according to one expert (The Washington Post)..."Embattled Agriculture official to announce her resignation" (The Washington Post)...Several departments will have new Cabinet secretaries during President Clinton's second term. But will the changes affect employees and their work? (Federal Times, January 20).
FREE RIDE--The states of Virginia and Maryland, along with the District, have teamed up to offer a new program called "Guaranteed Ride Home" to help commuters who leave their car behind overcome a fear of being stranded if their alternative means of transit does not work out (The Washington Post).
THE FEDERAL TIMES--Congress reconvenes Jan. 7 amid calls for Republicans and Democrats to work together on legislation, including a balanced budget plan that would affect federal employees and retirees in several ways....Most special raters get 2.3 percent raise....Promised staff cuts went deep...A quarter of those questioned in a recent MSPB survey believe they have only minimal protections from favoritism and discrimination (Federal Times, January 20).
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