FederalDaily - June 29, 2007
DoD Endorses Employment for those Discharged Under ‘Don’t’ Ask’
Qualified ex-servicemembers who have been discharged under the military’s “Don’t
Ask, Don’t Tell” policy are encouraged to seek employment in the federal civilian workforce,
including jobs at DoD, according to new Pentagon policy statement. The one-page statement, which was
posted by advocacy group Servicemembers Legal Defense Network (SLDN) on its Web site on June 26, says
that “these separated members have the opportunity to continue to serve their nation and national
security by putting their abilities to use by way of civilian employment with other federal agencies,
the Department of Defense, or in the private sector, such as with a government contractor.” The
May 16 statement from the Defense Press Office marks the first time the Pentagon has encouraged discharged
lesbian and gay servicemembers to continue their federal government careers, said Steve Ralls, director
of communications for SLDN. “Pentagon leaders clearly acknowledge that lesbian and gay Americans
make important contributions to our national security,” Ralls said. To see the statement, go
to: www.sldn.org/binary-data/SLDN_ARTICLES/pdf_file/4097.pdf
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NTEU Questions White House Claims on IRS Savings
The head of the union representing IRS employees questioned claims made by the White House that the
IRS tax-collection program using private debt-collectors would yield $22 million in savings in FY 2007
and $63 million in FY 2008. According to Colleen Kelley, president of the National Treasury Employees
Union, the program won’t even start to break even until FY 2008. The savings claims were made
in an official White House Statement of Administration Policy in support of the outsourced tax-collection
work. Kelley noted that actual start-up costs for the program, originally projected at $13 million,
have been close to $71 million through FY 2007. With the program having yielded only some $19.5 million
thus far, it is unlikely to reach the break-even point until sometime next year, at the earliest, Kelley
said. “It is disappointing, but comes as no surprise that this anti-employee administration would
object to fair pay for federal employees,” said Kelley. To see more, go to: www.nteu.org/PressKits/PressRelease/PressRelease.aspx?ID=1119
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GSA Awards New Discount Airline Contracts
The General Services Administration (GSA) awarded a new round of City Pair discount airline ticket
contracts that are expected to save federal air travelers more than $4.5 billion in FY 2008. GSA Administrator
Lurita Doan on June 26 announced that GSA awarded the one-year contracts, totaling more than $2 billion,
to 14 U.S. air carriers—effective Oct. 1. The GSA-negotiated contracts offer federal agencies
the opportunity to book work-related flights to more than 4,000 destinations at an average cost of
69 percent below full commercial airline fares, Doan said in a statement. The number of carriers in
the program increased by three from the 11 that participated this year. The FY 2008 GSA City Pair airline
fares will be posted July 31 “These contracts provide flexibility and choice for federal travelers
while saving taxpayer dollars,” said Doan. To see more, go to: www.gsa.gov.
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