Pay & Benefits
House passes bill that includes extension of federal pay freeze
GOP plan to finance payroll tax holiday clears first hurdle; omnibus spending bill could be at risk, prompting speculation about the possibility of a shutdown.
Pay & Benefits
USPS delays closing postal facilities
Move comes at the request of lawmakers, agency says.
Pay & Benefits
Lawmakers call for extension of mass transit commuter benefits
The subsidy will return to maximum of $125 a month -- from $230 a month now -- if action is not taken.
Pay & Benefits
Veterans hiring reaches new heights
Twenty-eight and a half percent of new hires in 2011 were veterans -- the highest percentage in 20 years, OPM reports.
Tech
Government safety board recommends ban on use of electronic devices in cars
NTSB calls on states to pass tighter laws to prevent driver distractions.
Oversight
Retirement applications up 24 percent from last year
News report finds 2011 likely will be busiest year for federal retirements since 2001.
Oversight
White House touts progress fighting waste, announces new initiatives
Efforts will include limiting production of presidential coins to the collectors market and cracking down on abuse of prescription drugs.
Pay & Benefits
About 130 employees take SBA buyouts, early outs
The offers were extended to about 300 Small Business Administration employees.
Tech
LightSquared cedes some authority, ditches power plan to save network
The company says it will give agencies veto power over its operation in upper bandwidth in return for a green light from FCC to operate in lower bands.
Pay & Benefits
Reid wants passage of payroll tax package before recess
The Senate leader may also be tying the fate of a separate $900 billion-plus spending plan to the tax break.
Oversight
Appropriators reach spending deal
Announcement suggests lawmakers are close to clearing a major obstacle to leaving town for the holiday recess.
Oversight
Not Sold on Newt
Campaign fundamentals still matter. And, at least so far, Newt Gingrich hasn’t mastered them.
Pay & Benefits
GAO recommends OPM improve group life insurance disclosures
Incomplete information could lead federal employees to pass up FEGLI for the wrong reasons, watchdog finds.
Pay & Benefits
House vote expected Tuesday on bill containing pay freeze
Legislation extending payroll tax holiday also would increase amount feds contribute to their pensions.
Tech
LightSquared plans to quadruple power of its network
Company omitted plans in letter to Defense and Commerce departments complaining about test leak.
Oversight
GAO coaches lawmakers on maximizing cross-agency performance
As 2010 law is implemented, auditors offer case studies of successful congressional oversight.
Pay & Benefits