Pay & Benefits
As Open Season ends, feds’ full attention turns to health care reform
Bills contain caps on flexible spending accounts and possible changes to federal employees’ health insurance costs.
News
From Nextgov.com: Open government could present a challenge to intelligence agencies
Transparency advocates say recently released directive changes the circumstances driving the decisions to keep some information from being posted online.
Oversight
House passes massive financial regulatory overhaul
The legislation creates a new consumer protection agency to guard against abusive and unfair home mortgages, credit cards and auto loans.
Oversight
House leaders insist on statutory pay/go
Dems want to add to the fiscal 2010 spending package legislation that requires offsets for any tax and mandatory spending bills that increase the deficit.
News
Veterans Affairs employee wins cost-cutting contest
Nancy Fichtner will meet with President Obama to present her idea of letting veterans take home unused medications when they leave the hospital.
Oversight
Veterans to receive priority in VA contract awards
Final rule creates set-aside program for veteran-owned and service-disabled veteran-owned small businesses.
Oversight
Fund proposed for female farmers in USDA bias cases
Bill creating a $4.6 billion compensation fund may mark beginning of multibillion-dollar congressional effort to settle discrimination suits.
Oversight
Senate leader files cloture on spending bill with 2 percent pay raise
Vote on the nearly $450 billion fiscal 2010 spending omnibus package is scheduled for Sunday.
Pay & Benefits
Open Season Wrap-Up
A last look at key health insurance questions, especially for those nearing retirement.
News
From Nextgov.com: Tech firm stands accused of contract manipulation
Three Texas companies file a motion against GTSI for circumventing competitive bidding requirements.
Defense
Budget crunch could force fee hikes at immigration agency
Immigration reforms sought by administration could expand agency’s workload in 2010.
News
OPM issues regulation mandating stronger training programs
Agencies must coach supervisors within one year of their hire on mentoring, rating performance and handling subpar employees.
Oversight
Spending bills will top Senate agenda, likely through weekend
Senate will spend the weekend working through an omnibus appropriations bill and will return to the health debate next week.
Oversight
House approves federal pay raise; sends omnibus to Senate
The package includes six fiscal 2010 appropriations bills and a 2 percent pay raise for civilian employees.
Oversight
GAO finds confusion among recipients of stimulus transportation funds
Watchdog says state agencies used different methodologies to report jobs data.
Oversight
Senate majority leader offers a way to avoid weekend work on appropriations
Harry Reid, D-Nev., wants to move off healthcare reform early next week and take up the nearly $450 billion fiscal 2010 spending package.
Defense