As the health care reform debate continues, some close observers have noticed President Obama’s increased use of the word “bureaucrat” when assuring audiences that the government will not intervene in future health care decisions. In Sunday’s New York Times, Obama stated, “If you have health insurance, we will make sure that no insurance company orRead… Read more »
Happy Tuesday! The Obama administration will triple the number of workers processing cash-for-clunkers transactions as some auto dealerships complain the government has been slow to reimburse them for the incentives of up to $4,500 a vehicle. The AP reports that “the Transportation Department hoped to have 1,100 public and private sector workers processing the vouchersRead… Read more »
The Obama administration is calling once again on federal employees to submit ideas on improving government services. This time, it is targeting the amount of time and effort it takes to process veterans’ disability benefits. The number of unresolved disability claims has soared this year, prompting protests from veterans groups and members of Congress. TheRead… Read more »
Chicago shut down most city offices on Monday in an effort to save more than $8 million by year’s end amid the economic slowdown. Mayor Richard M. Daley has made several cuts to the city budget and has forced himself and some city workers to take a 15-day pay cut. In doing so, he recentlyRead… Read more »
Federal agencies will soon have the option of hiring certain military spouses without having them compete for jobs, under new guidelines issued by the Obama administration Wednesday. The guidelines apply to the spouses of military service members relocating for new assignments, some physically disabled spouses, and those whose husband or wife was killed in theRead… Read more »
The Obama administration has decided to keep the “time-in-grade rule,” meaning ambitious federal employees will have to slow their plans to climb the career ladder. The policy requires federal employees in General Schedule grades 5 and above to work 52 weeks in their current grade before consideration for promotion. In Tuesday’s editions of the FederalRead… Read more »
Happy Tuesday! The Eye is back from an extended weekend at the beach, ready to take you through the rest of August and into mid-September, when he’ll break again for his wedding and honeymoon with Almost Mrs. Eye! A new internal watchdog report clears the Government Printing Office of any wrongdoing associated with the publicationRead… Read more »
The names and Social Security numbers of at least 27,000 Commerce Department employees were exposed to a risk of identity theft following an inappropriate transfer of the personal information in mid-July, according to a letter sent to department employees last week. An employee with the National Finance Center mistakenly sent an Excel spreadsheet containing theRead… Read more »
In the latest example of a government official leaving public service for television, the CDC’s Dr. Richard Besser will join ABC News in September as a senior medical editor and correspondent, according to an internal ABC memo obtained by The Eye. “Dr. Besser’s distinguished background in public health, emergency preparedness, and epidemiology will enhance theRead… Read more »
A bill granting full health-care benefits to domestic partners of gay and lesbian federal employees cleared its first legislative hurdle today, as a House subcommittee approved the measure along a party-line vote. The House subcommittee on federal workforce issues approved the Domestic Partnership Benefits and Obligations Act by a 5 to 3 vote. The measureRead… Read more »