FederalDaily - April 14, 2005
AFGE Calls for DoD Personnel Changes
American Federation of Government Employees President John Gage testified
on April 12 before the House Subcommittee on the Federal Workforce and Agency
Organization, saying that six issues relating to the new Department of Defense
(DoD) personnel system should be addressed in consultations with unions. Gage
said:
- There should be objective standards for performance appraisals
and arbitration appeals should be before neutral third parties.
- DoD needs safeguards to prevent a lowering of pay.
- The scope of collective bargaining should be restored.
- Labor-management disputes should be settled by a board independent
of DoD management.
- The previous standards for mitigation of unreasonable disciplinary
penalties by the Merit Systems Protection Board should be restored.
- Reductions-in-force decisions should be based on more than
a worker’s last performance review.
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House Democrats Introduce New GI Bill
A new GI Bill of Rights for the 21st Century was recently sponsored and introduced
by House Democrats. The bill would bolster mental health care for returning
soldiers and block increases in prescription drug co-payments and enrollment
fees for veterans. It would modernize and enhance the GI Bill, providing the
full cost for college or job training for those serving four years of active
duty. For military retirees and the families of those who died in the line
of duty, the New GI Bill of Rights will fully repeal the Disabled Veterans
Tax, and end the Military Families Tax. Also, it would provide a $1,000
bonus for those serving in Iraq and Afghanistan.
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FBI Agent Breaks Ethics Rule
Erik B. Blowers, a special agent for the FBI in Charlotte, North Carolina,
has been charged with making a false statement. The indictment alleges that
he accepted benefits worth thousands of dollars from David Simonini, a former
cooperating witness for the FBI under Blowers’ supervision. At the time,
Blowers was conducting an investigation of bank fraud and money laundering
allegations against Simonini. Blowers traveled to Las Vegas, Nevada, with Simonini—at
Simonini’s expense. Under the Ethics in Government Act, Blowers was required
to report that he received this free trip. However, he falsely reported that
he did not receive gifts or travel—which is punishable by imprisonment
for up to five years, a fine of up to $250,000 or both.
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500 Veterans Compete in Wheelchair Games
More than 500 disabled veterans will compete in the National Veterans Wheelchair
Games from June 27 to July 1 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. This year
marks the 25 th year of the event, which has grown to become the largest
annual wheelchair sports event in the world, according to the Department of
Veterans Affairs (VA). The Wheelchair Games, presented by the VA and Paralyzed
Veterans of America (PVA), are open to all U.S. military veterans who use wheelchairs
for sports competition due to spinal cord injuries, certain neurological conditions,
amputations or other mobility impairments. The Minneapolis VA Medical Center
and the PVA Minnesota Chapter are hosting the 2005 games. At the Games, veterans
will compete in track and field, swimming, basketball, weightlifting, softball,
air guns, bowling, table tennis, archery, hand cycling, a motorized rally,
wheelchair slalom and power soccer. For more information, go to www.wheelchairgames.org.
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