Oversight
Bill would require agencies to recognize security clearances governmentwide
Bipartisan legislation is similar to 2008 executive order aimed at streamlining background checks on federal employees and contractors.
Defense
Speaker dislikes surtax to pay for war
Pelosi also says House members will seek more details on Obama's Afghanistan plan so they can "make some judgment about the nature of the threat."
Defense
Lawmaker hopes Northrop won't drop tanker bid
Decision to pull out would be a "blow to the program," Rep. John Murtha says.
Oversight
Administration officials defend science in wake of ‘climategate’
Pirated e-mails raise concerns about scientific integrity of data underlying energy policies.
Oversight
Contracts might not be getting enough credit for stimulus job creation
Private sector analysts find Recovery Act contracts helped generate 407,000 jobs to date; project 1 million more next year.
Oversight
From Nextgov.com: VA nixes troubled tech projects
The department ends or slashes funding for 15 IT projects as part of new accountability program.
Defense
Lawmakers eye Afghanistan withdrawal date, funding
Senate panel holds the first in a series of congressional hearings on Obama's decision to deploy 30,000 more troops.
Defense
Obama says Afghan surge will cost $30 billion in fiscal 2010
Debate begins over how the administration will come up with the money.
Defense
Northrop threatens to quit contest for tanker contract
Company's president says the Pentagon must significantly change the parameters of the competition for it to be worth participating.
Oversight
Panel presses FAA on pilot fatigue rules
Agency official calls process of updating regulations "a difficult and complicated effort."
Oversight
NASA scientist fined in procurement case
Mark Schoeberl, a former senior manager at the Goddard Space Flight Center, admitted directing contracts to a company owned by his wife.
Defense
GOP appropriator offers plan for funding Afghanistan troop increase
Rep. Jerry Lewis says Congress could free up $35 billion by limiting increases in five nondefense spending bills to 2 percent over fiscal 2009.
Oversight
Experts foresee need for fiscal 2010 Defense supplemental in spring
Influx of troops in Afghanistan could require tens of billions of dollars more than what has already been requested for this fiscal year.
Oversight
A Voting Victory
The long-overdue MOVE Act could serve as a model for future election reforms.
Defense
From Nextgov.com: Could mobile technology have stopped the state dinner security breach?
Some IT specialists say better communications among security forces could foil attempts to sneak into White House events, but others say nothing will fix human error.
Oversight
Agencies can honor existing ACORN contracts
Justice memo argues Congress was unclear on whether spending ban applies to pre-existing agreements.
Oversight
CBO: Nongroup premiums will rise under health care bill
Congressional budget office predicts the measure would increase average nongroup premiums 10 percent to 13 percent by 2016 above what they would be if current law remained in place.
Defense
Obama contacts Hill about Afghan decision
At least 31 members from both parties and chambers have been invited to a meeting with the president before his address to the nation on Tuesday night.
Defense