The Week in Comments: SES perks, pay during furloughs and union busting

The best in reader reaction to recent articles.

• February 24, 2011

House GOP working on bill to avert shutdown, deflect blame

Short-term measure will contain about $4 billion in spending decreases and will merge cuts the House passed last week and several Obama has proposed.

• Major Garrett
• February 24, 2011

Bargaining Chips

Federal employees seem in less danger than their state counterparts of having their collective bargaining rights curtailed -- at least in the current political environment.

• Kellie Lunney
• February 24, 2011

Five Ways to Avoid Being Fired in Five Months

• Scott Eblin
• February 23, 2011

Moammar Gadhafi, Contract Administrator

• Tom Shoop
• February 23, 2011

Getting Paid for Not Working

• Tom Shoop
• February 23, 2011

Federal workers rally against Wisconsin governor

Government employee union members gather at Badger state’s Washington office to protest proposal to curtail collective bargaining.

• George A. Warner
• February 23, 2011

From Nextgov.com: If government shuts down, bye-bye BlackBerry

The law could force agencies to sever access to Web mail and portable Internet devices.

• Aliya Sternstein
• February 23, 2011

Contractors would share the pain of a government shutdown

Veterans of past closings advise firms to talk with acquisition officials to prepare for the possibility of halting operations.

• Robert Brodsky
• February 23, 2011

White House says a shutdown is still avoidable

As March 4 looms, a note of optimism emerges.

• Rebecca Kaplan
• February 23, 2011

Agencies close-lipped on personnel policy planning for shutdown

Some employees would continue to work during a hiatus, but officials aren’t yet revealing details.

• Emily Long
• February 23, 2011

Spending bill hits salaries, benefits for employees overseas

Amendment cancels locality pay increase for diplomats working abroad.

• Emily Long
• February 23, 2011

Senate Democrats say they are open to more cuts

Both sides portray other as unyielding, though leaders say compromise on spending is possible.

• Dan Friedman
• February 23, 2011

Moving Beyond Strategy

Execution of existing plans is the key to successful leadership.

• Jerry Ice and Bob Whitman
• February 23, 2011

White House: Plans in Place for Shutdown

• Tom Shoop
• February 22, 2011

One of the All-Time Great Memos

• Tom Shoop
• February 22, 2011

House spending bill's deep cuts to EPA set negotiating point with Senate

In addition to slashing $3 billion from the agency's fiscal 2011 budget, GOP measure contains language that would make it hard to implement environmental regulations.

• Amy Harder
• February 22, 2011

Senate leader to offer 30-day stopgap spending measure

Proposal is expected to be rejected by House and Senate Republicans, leaving in place the threat of a government shutdown after March 4.

• Dan Friedman
• February 22, 2011

From Nextgov.com: Cybersecurity brings new wrinkle to 'essential' personnel

Threat of government shutdown has IT managers updating contingency plans for the digital age.

• Aliya Sternstein
• February 22, 2011

Obama proposal for CFTC fees draws cheers, brickbats

As Republicans seek major cuts in Commodity Futures Trading Commission, plan to dun users to pay for regulation pleases consumer groups but not industry.

• George A. Warner
• February 22, 2011