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Host Mike Causey is joined by Steve Bauer, executive director of the Federal Employees Education and Assistance Fund, and Federal Times editor Steve Losey. September 28, 2011
Postal workers and federal employees groups are urging the \"supercommittee\" to reject President Barack Obama\'s proposed increase in employee retirement contributions and support his cap on contractors\' salaries. The Federal-Postal Coalition also wants lawmakers to preserve Saturday mail delivery, despite USPS\' wishes.
Can you stand a little good news? Do you remember how to react to it? The good news is that health insurance premiums in the FEHBP are only going up an average of 3.8 percent next year. That\'s almost half the increase in 2011. Check out what you will be paying next year, Senior Correspondent Mike Causey says.
The Postal Service would get seven more weeks to pay a $5.5 billion debt to the Treasury under the continuing resolution passed Monday by the Senate. A House version includes the same provision. The bill is due on Friday.
Federal employees will see an average of 3.8 percent increase in healthcare premiums in 2012, the lowest rate hike since 2008 and about half of last year\'s increase. On average, enrollees with self-only coverage will pay $2.32 more per bi-weekly pay period, and enrollees with family coverage will pay $6.18 more, the Office of Personnel Management said.
Todd Harrison, senior fellow at the Center for Strategic and Budgetary Assessments, joined the Federal Drive with Tom Temin and Amy Morris to discuss how deficit-reduction proposals would affect military recruiting.
The Partnership for Public Service\'s new report warns the United States \"must not repeat the mistakes of the past\" with automatic across-the-board cuts.
If Congress forces another government shutdown an estimated 20,000 will need to apply for $16.5 million in emergency loans, Senior Correspondent Mike Causey says.
The announcement is expected Tuesday morning. Average premiums increased 7.2 percent in fiscal 2011.
What do modern federal workers have in common with St. Joan of Arc who was, by the way, burned at the stake? The answer, Senior Correspondent Mike Causey says, is that both managed to maintain a good attitude during some very trying times.
Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) has introduced legislation in the Senate to overhaul the struggling Postal Service. It mirrors the GOP plan approved by a House subcommittee Wednesday. It would let an independent watchdog to seize control of the agency\'s finances if it were more than 30 days late in paying its bills.
The Office of Personnel Management has created a task force to lead efforts to stop payments to retirees who have died. An inspector general report released Thursday revealed that OPM had paid $601 million in benefits to dead people since 2006.
Thanks to congressional inability to approve budgets, federal agencies must make decisions quickly on whether to offer buyouts and early retirements within the next few weeks, Senior Correspondent Mike Causey says.
The Office of Personnel Management has paid more than $600 million to deceased annuitants in the last five years.