Oversight
Senate, House to scramble before Iraq report hits in September
After returning from recess, the Senate will first debate President Bush's nomination of Jim Nussle to be Office of Management and Budget director.
Oversight
Agencies fall short of small business contracting goals
Two of the government’s top contracting shops – the Defense Department and the General Services Administration – fail to meet targets.
Oversight
GSA starts second phase of contract streamlining program
Initiative will be expanded to include more contracts and accept electronic submissions.
Oversight
Democrats seek to shield top health official from political pressure
Measures introduced in House and Senate would narrow the pool of candidates from which the president could select the surgeon general.
Oversight
Lawmakers pursue more money to guard intellectual property
Reports accompanying spending bills signal appropriators are troubled by growing backlog of patent applications and the time it takes to process them.
Defense
IG urges better post-disaster data sharing
Privacy requirements hurt law enforcement agencies’ ability to locate missing children and others in aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, auditors found.
Oversight
Lawmakers ask agencies to draw in more minority-owned ad firms
New report shows Defense and Treasury lag in doing business with small, disadvantaged and minority-owned advertising companies.
Oversight
Rove resignation unlikely to hinder Hatch Act investigations
Probes into possible violations during agency briefings will continue despite departure of chief White House political architect.
Oversight
The Bloomberg Scenario
An independent like Michael Bloomberg would probably need 37 or 38 percent of the popular vote to win a majority in the Electoral College.
Oversight
Small firms fare well in GSA office supply contract
Eleven of 13 slots in contract to provide efficient, affordable choices for procuring supplies go to small companies.
Oversight
EEOC to move call center operations back in-house
Commissioners vote to close central service center, grant three-month contract extension to make time for transition.
Defense
EPA, VA clear officials who appeared in religious video
Officials did not appear in uniform and weren’t identified by title.
Defense
IT, metal industries fighting over proposed Defense rule
Change would let the Pentagon buy commercial ready-made weapons parts without determining if they contain metals produced overseas.
Oversight
Research firm lowers expectations for GSA tech services contract
Report says spending through Alliant vehicle may be only $7.5 billion, well short of its $50 billion ceiling.
Oversight
Report says Defense weighed audit findings on questioned payments
GAO work appears to counter claims that a settlement on disputed contract charges ignored the auditors.
Oversight
Senate aims to avoid catch-all spending bill
Republicans would relish omnibus measure as evidence the Democrats have gone back on their pledge of open government.
Oversight
USDA agency launches inquiry into lobbying e-mail
Officials say they are looking into complaints that employees violated prohibitions against political activity by encouraging co-workers to oppose legislation.
Oversight
Lawmakers back ousted hurricane center chief
Two Democrats seek to reinstate Bill Proenza to the position he held before being forced out as the nation's chief hurricane forecaster.
Oversight
Report finds gaps in compliance with financial management law
About 70 percent of agencies are failing to meet at least one requirement, auditors say.
Oversight