Congress

• Death of omnibus ‘unusual’

  POLITICO reporter Shira Toeplitz explains why the last-minute pull-out of the omnibus bill is so odd.

  Budget

  December 17, 2010
• Cyber reform axed from defense spending bill

  Gov Info Security reports that measures to create an Office of Cyber were eliminated from the defense spending bill.

  Congress

  December 17, 2010
• Congress, Pay Freeze, Budget Cuts and More

  Federal workforce issues have become a hot topic on Capitol Hill. Host Bill Bransford talks the good, the bad, and the ugly with Dan Adcock of NARFE and Jessica Klement of FMA. December 17, 2010

  FEDtalk

  December 17, 2010
• Transit subsidy, Social Security tax break becomes law

  The President is expected to sign into law Friday the sweeping bipartisan tax package that includes a tax break for social security and a continuation of the public transit benefit.

  Budget

  December 17, 2010
• NARA to suspend development of ERA starting in 2012

  The agency is deciding whether or not to move forward with the contract option for operations and maintenance with Lockheed Martin. GAO and OMB say the project has multiple problems, including more than a $200 million increase in the total cost for ERA and a lack of usage by agencies. After going through a TechStat sessions, NARA and OMB decided to stop enhancing the system and focus on use.

  Congress

  December 17, 2010
• The Wisdom of Congress (this won’t take long)

  Our founding fathers set age limits for serving in Congress and the White House. Imagine how things would have turned out if they had required an IQ test for politicians. Senior Correspondent Mike Causey says the current Congress is an example of how not to do things.

  Congress

  December 17, 2010
• Senate bill mandates agency performance goals

  A bill passed by the Senate aims to increase government accountability by creating a performance officer at each agency.

  Congress

  December 16, 2010
• GAO probes efficiency of 2010 Census

  This year\'s Census Bureau survey was the most expensive ever at $13 billion. The Government Accountability Office reviews the performance by the Bureau and where it can be more efficient.

  Congress

  December 16, 2010
• House expected to vote on short-term CR

  The House is expected to vote on a temporary continuing resolution today, a House leadership aide tells Federal News Radio. The move will give lawmakers more time to consider a permanent funding bill for the…

  Budget

  December 16, 2010
• DoD to streamline IT acquisition

  A Congressionally-mandated report issued by the Defense Department finds the acquisition and budget processes being used for IT were designed for major weapons systems - not 21st century computer systems. The recommendations would let DoD keep pace with rapid developments in the IT marketplace.

  Budget

  December 16, 2010
• Pay freeze, funding questions answered as end of year approaches

  Questions about agency funding, pay freezes, and benefits are answered for feds as the end of the year approaches.

  Budget

  December 16, 2010
• Senate passes Acquisitions Improvement Act

  The bill aims to improve acquisition workforce training, increase accountability and expand the use of the Acquisition Workforce Training Fund.

  Budget

  December 16, 2010
• Senate gets a last pass at ‘don’t ask, don’t tell’

  For the second time this year the House voted to dismantle the military\'s \"don\'t ask, don\'t tell\" policy, giving the Senate a final shot in the waning days of this Congress at changing a law requiring thousands of uniformed gays to hide their sexual identity.

  Federal Drive

  December 16, 2010
• Defense Authorization Act failiure could hurt veterans

  Tim Embree, an Iraq veteran and a legislative associate of the Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America, explained the ramifications for vets if the defense spending act does not pass Congress.

  Budget

  December 15, 2010