FederalDaily.com > Increasing Mileage Reimbursement Rate

FederalDaily - September 12, 2005

Increasing Mileage Reimbursement Rate

Sen. Charles Schumer, D-N.Y., is developing legislation that would increase the maximum mileage reimbursement rate allowed as a tax deduction by the IRS. This proposal would increase the mileage deduction rate used for business, medical, moving and charity purposes and is a response to rising fuel costs as well as the outpouring of charitable giving due to Hurricane Katrina. The bill would also provide some relief to all those workers—including federal employees—who use their vehicles in the course of their work. Schumer’s proposal would instruct the General Services Administration (GSA) to raise its reimbursement rate to match the new IRS rate—it currently is at the IRS maximum of 40.5 cents a miles—through Dec. 31, 2006. The legislation is still in the development stage—it hasn’t been proposed yet.

Decades-Old Murder Case Solved

Michael Edward LeBrun, 60, pleaded guilty last week to murdering a shipmate while serving aboard a Navy vessel in the Philippines in 1968, according to the Department of Justice (DOJ). “Although this murder occurred nearly 38 years ago, the passage of time does not diminish the severity of he crime,” said Todd P. Graves, U.S. attorney for the Western District of Missouri. The victim’s name was Andrew Lee Muns. DOJ said LeBrun admitted that Muns caught him stealing money from a safe while serving on the ship. LeBrun worked as a supply clerk. Muns was his superior officer and the ship’s payroll officer and he confronted LeBrun while LeBrun was stealing $8,600 from the safe. When Muns told LeBrun he was going to report the theft, Graves said an argument ensued and LeBrun killed Muns by striking, choking and strangling him. “Navy investigators originally blamed [Muns] for the theft and suspected he went AWOL,” Graves said. “Now we know the truth.”

2 Feds Accused of Hatch Act Violations

The Office of Special Counsel (OSC) has filed two complaints for disciplinary action against federal employees for violation of the Hatch Act. One complaint against Department of Agriculture employee Dr. Nayland Collier alleges that as chairman of the Committee to Re-Elect Lewis C. Hoggard III for Commissioner of Bertie County, N.C., he was identified as the sender of a letter that was sent to approximately 144 people seeking political contributions for the candidate. Collier is a supervisory veterinary medical officer. Another complaint alleges that Navy civilian employee Rocky Morrill sent an e-mail message while on duty titled, “Halloween party for Tim Holden,” a representative seeking reelection to more than 300 Naval Inventory Control Point employees and others. The Hatch Act prohibits federal executive branch employees from engaging in political activity while on duty.

BRAC Commission’s Report Goes to President

The Base Realignment and Closure (BRAC) Commission delivered its final report, outlining its recommendations for reshaping the Pentagon's infrastructure and force structure plan, to President Bush late Sept. 8. The president now has several options. If he concurs, he can approve the report and send it to Congress by Sept. 23. He also can reject it or return it to the commission for revisions. If Bush sends the report to Congress, its members will have 45 legislative days to accept or reject the list in its entirety. Congress is not authorized to make changes to the final report. Department of Defense (DoD) Secretary Donald H. Rumsfeld released 190 recommendations for closing and realigning military installations May 13. The commission approved 86 percent of DoD's original recommendations—119 with no change and another 45 with amendments. The commission approved 22 major base closures.