Author Archive

Michael Posner

Defense

Veterans push for fixes to health care overhaul

Law isn't clear on where TRICARE fits in, groups say.

Oversight

Census chief defends Super Bowl commercial

Groves says the ad will pay for itself if it prompts people to mail back their 2010 questionnaires.

Oversight

Momentum builds for Postal Service relief

Both chambers of Congress have legislation in the pipeline to ease the agency's financial burden in the short-term by about $2 billion.

Defense

GAO: Costs of Coast Guard modernization to soar by $2 billion

Projected costs have jumped from $24.2 billion to $26.3 billion, and could increase further, analyst tells lawmakers.

Oversight

Senate panel clears $32.1B Interior bill

The spending measure is $4.5 billion above the fiscal 2009 enacted level.

Defense

Energy secretary is surprised by nuclear disclosure

Steven Chu learned from media reports about the disclosure of confidential documents showing the whereabouts of stockpiles of nuclear weapons and fuel.

Oversight

Postmaster defends compensation, wants help on deficits

Potter says bonus was based on his performance as the chief executive, high employee satisfaction and a reduced accident rate.

Oversight

Postmaster General to face Congress over compensation

With deferred compensation and performance incentive pay, John Potter's package came to more than $850,000 in fiscal 2008.

Defense

Energy Department revises cost estimate for Yucca Mountain project

Nevada nuclear waste repository will come with a price tag of more than $90 billion.

Defense

Panel votes to crack down on veterans' grave vandals

Metal grave markers are being stolen from the grave sites of veterans either as an act of vandalism or to get the metal to sell to scrap yards.

Oversight

Senator accuses FBI of retaliation against whistleblowers

Iowa Republican cited two cases of veteran FBI agents who were transferred to lesser jobs and became targets of internal probes.

Oversight

Private tax collectors under fire by House appropriators

Legislation aimed at halting IRS debt-collecting program is pending now and has failed in the past.

Defense

Intelligence officers call al Qaeda nuclear threat real

Officials also tell Senate panel that they don't believe any terrorist organization has developed a nuclear device yet.

Oversight

Congress pushes to make more information public

Senators want to change practice of slipping language into bills that preclude the release of information to the public under FOIA.

Defense

Coast Guard is pressed to meet security demands, GAO says

Coast Guard Commandant Thad Allen acknowledges "significant challenges" related to aging assets.

Oversight

Justice nominee may get special two-month appointment

Mark Filip, nominee for deputy attorney general, may get special accommodation because of the importance of the No. 2 position at the department.

Oversight

Panel OKs pay hike for federal judges

Bill will now move to the full House for consideration.

Defense

VA Secretary nominee gets favorable Senate hearing

Retired Lt. Gen. James Peake says he will fight for needed money for health care if confirmed.

Defense

America already is in a cyber war, analyst says

Former CIA official cites 37,000 reported breaches of government and private systems in fiscal 2007.

Oversight

SBA program skewered by Senators on fraud oversight

The alleged fraud involved faking the creditworthiness of would-be recipients of loans.