FederalDaily - July 5, 2005
House Approves Pay Raise
The House voted last week to approve a 3.1 percent pay raise for government
employees. The raise was included in fiscal 2006 appropriations legislation
covering the Transportation and Treasury departments and other federal agencies.
The bill ensures that raises for civilian employees will be on par with those
in the military. The Senate is expected to approve the raise when it reviews
the proposed spending plan. While Congress is moving forward with the raise,
the White House is objecting to the plan, on the grounds that it could hinder
the ability of the Departments of Defense and Homeland Security in implementing
their proposed personnel systems later this year.
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IRS Workers Fight to Save Service Centers
Plans by the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) to close down 68 walk-in taxpayer
assistance centers across the country has agency employees starting a grassroots
campaign to keep them open. Leading the campaign is the National Treasury Employees
Union (NTEU), which represents over 94,000 IRS employees. “NTEU members
are determined to inform the public of the impact of this ill-conceived agency
plan on them and the impact on the millions of people who rely on the services
of IRS employees at the centers every year,” said NTEU President Colleen
M Kelley. Closing the centers is part of a larger plan by the IRS to reduce
overhead. The agency also has plans to close down telephone call centers in
Boston, Massachusetts, Chicago, Illinois, and Houston, Texas.
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House Looks To Help With VA Budget Problems
The Senate Appropriations Committee reiterated its position Thursday that
the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) needs $1.5 billion to fill a spending
gap. In a unanimous vote, the committee authorized the Senate to quickly take
up a $1.5 billion emergency supplemental if the House approves such a measure.
That action came after the administration indicated that the agency needs $975
million. “Clearly there is a disagreement here on the number, but it’s
also clear that we all want to do the right thing for veterans. We do not want
to leave VA short of funds,” said Sen. Larry Craig who serves on the
Appropriations Committee and is chairman of the Senate Committee on Veterans’ Affairs.
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Waxman Calls for DHS Contracting Investigation
Rep. Henry Waxman, D-Calif., has called for an investigation into reports
of waste associated with contracts awarded by the Department of Homeland Security.
In a letter to Government Reform Committee Chairman Tom Davis, R-Va., Waxman
said that Pentagon auditors found numerous contracts riddled with overspending
and poor management and oversight. Auditors found problems with charges accounting
for 40 percent of a $741 million contract issued by DHS to NCS Pearson Inc.
to help the Transportation Security Administration hire and train baggage screeners. “This
pattern of contracting abuse at DHS calls for serious congressional oversight
by the committee,” wrote Waxman, who is the ranking minority member of
the Government Reform Committee.
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