FederalDaily - March 31, 2006

Union Rejects Any Form of WFAA

The National Treasury Employees Union (NTEU) on Wednesday emphasized its opposition to a bill overhauling personnel systems for federal agencies, the Working for America Act (WFAA), even if only the pay-for-performance provisions were enacted. Office of Personnel Management (OPM) Director Linda Springer discussed the idea of splitting pay-for-performance provisions of the act from the more controversial labor relations provisions. She spoke before the House Government Reform Subcommittee on the Federal Workforce and Agency Organization. But NTEU President Colleen Kelley said, “NTEU continues to believe strongly that the government should not move to implement an untested, complex pay-for-performance system…” She pointed to a lack of funding as a “fatal flaw” in the pay-for-performance concept; she said other problems include untrained managers and potential for favoritism and cronyism.

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Bill Would Restrict Funeral Protests

There could be restrictions on protests at military funerals, if proposed legislation issued by members of the House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs is passed into law. The Respect for America’s Fallen Heroes Act, H.R. 5037, introduced by Reps. Mike Rogers, R-Mich., Silvestre Reyes, D-Texas, Steve Buyer, R-Ind., and Jeff Miller, R-Fla., prohibits demonstrations at national cemeteries. The bill also restricts any demonstration during a military funeral or memorial service to within 500 feet, 60 minutes before and after the event. “There has to be a sense of decency,” said Rogers. “America has a responsibility to ensure that the families of our fallen heroes can grieve in peace and with dignity.”

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Comp Time for DOJ Lawyers

On Tuesday the House passed a bill, H.R. 4057, which authorizes comp time for Department of Justice (DOJ) attorneys for time they spend on work-related travel during nonbusiness hours. Rep. Jon Porter, R-Nev., introduced the bill in October. In the same month, in the Senate, Sen. Daniel Akaka, D-Hawaii, introduced a similar bill, S. 1876. The Senate has not passed its version yet. In January, the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) issued new rules allowing specific categories of feds to earn such comp time, but DOJ lawyers were excluded. The OPM rules stated that agencies may allow employees to accumulate comp time in increments of six minutes or 15 minutes. Employees will forfeit accrued comp time not used within 26 pay periods (52 weeks) of it being earned.

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Official Charged with Obstruction in Terrorism Trial

The Department of Justice (DOJ) on Wednesday announced the indictment of Harry Raymond Smith III, a special agent with the Department of State. Smith is accused of obstruction of justice and making false declarations involving a 2003 terrorism trial in Michigan. A regional security officer in Amman, Jordan, between 1999 and 2002, Smith assisted in an investigation and served as a government witness for the U.S. v. Koubriti case. DOJ said both he and Richard Convertino, a former federal prosecutor, are believed to have concealed photographs critical to the case, and lied in testimony about the photographs. If convicted on all charges, Smith faces up to 20 years in prison and a $750,000 fine.

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