Tuesday Morning Federal Newscast

Written by Jane Norris & Ruben Gomez
Edited by Suzanne Kubota

This morning’s federal news as heard on WFED:

The gap is getting wider for federal workers and workers in private sector jobs. The spread increased by 1.25 percent over the past year, according to the Federal Salary Council. GovExec reports the pay gap increased from 25.2 percent in 2008 to 26.4 percent in 2009. The biggest hikes in pay gaps occurred in Cincinnati, Sacramento, Calif., Washington DC, Hartford, Conn. and New York City.

Working long hours and collecting that paycheck may be a problem this morning: Metro customers are again experiencing problems using their SmarTrip, credit and debit cards. “Unfortunately our customers are unable to make any credit/debit transactions at this time,” writes Metro spokeswoman Lisa Farbstein, in an e-mail to WTOP. “Our automatic fare collection office is working to resolve the problem.” It’s not known how long it will take to resolve the problem. A similar problem occurred Oct. 1.

First lady Michelle Obama continues her tour of federal agencies. She will be visiting the Department of Veterans Affairs in the late morning today. VA Secretary Eric K. Shinseki will also attend.

The Census bureau expects fewer people to respond to the 2010 Census next year. According to an agency poll reported in USAToday, mounting mistrust of government, rising rates of identity theft and a record number of foreclosures could discourage people from mailing back their census forms. Getting people to fill out and mail the forms is crucial to keeping costs down. Sending Census workers door-to-door, sometimes more than once, costs the census bureau $80 million to $90 million for every additional 1% of households.

Federal employees submitted more than 38,000 ideas to help the government save money. An Office of Management and Budget official says as of Oct. 14 employees suggested 38,400 ways to make the government more effective and efficient. OMB stopped accepting official entries as of last week, but ideas can still be submitted. Federal News Radio reports the winning recommendation will be announced in November.

From the same White House that asked you for ideas on saving money comes a contest for ideas to green government. Your peers can vote on your idea, and vice-versa. You have until October 31st to submit your entry thru Whitehouse.gov. In November, a steering council will look at the most popular ideas, which could influence federal sustainability plans.

Americans will continue to pay 44 cents for first-class stamps in 2010 and the price to mail catalogs and magazines will also stay the same, according to an internal Postal Service memo. According the Postmaster General John Potter there will not be a price increase for market dominant products including First-Class Mail, Standard Mail, periodicals and single-piece Parcel Post. Potter sent the news in a memo to Postal staffers and some customer groups .

Cybersecurity legislation moving closer to reality and your networks: A Senate aide quoted in NextGov says the bill has a shot at passing his chamber by year’s-end. The measure is designed to help government and the private sector respond to cyberattacks. It’s sponsored by Senate Commerce Chairman Jay Rockefeller and member Olympia Snowe.

Veterans Affairs launches a new mobile service to help family members find departed loved-ones who have served in the military. It’s a grave-locator service for handheld devices with Internet access. Families can use the service for directions to cemeteries and to locate gravesites. Eventually, the VA will add information on more than 6 million Veterans.

More news links

Alexander nominated to lead Cyber Command (FCW)

Secret Service plans IT reboot (FCW)

HUD’s novel approach to performance management (FederalTimes)

CAPITAL CULTURE: Obamas big on White House gigs

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