Chris Van Hollen

New push to improve legal protection for federal whistleblowers

Defending feds who ’speak the truth’

Congressman Chris Van Hollen hosts federal health plan forum.

The Whistleblower Protection Enhancement Act has passed the Senate, but the debate lives on. We get opinions from the National Whistleblowers Center, a member of Congress, and good-government group the Partnership for Public Service.

The Republican Study Committee introduced the Spending Reduction Act that would eliminate USAID and three other small agencies. It also would take spending back to 2006 levels in fiscal 2012. The legislation also would cut or reduce spending in 100 programs such as agency travel budgets and require the collection of unpaid taxes from federal employees.

Rep. Chris Van Hollen, D-Md., who voted ”yes” Friday to extend funding this week while the final compromise was written, said he was nonetheless undecided on whether he’d vote for the final deal. He tells Federal News Radio he wants to see the final numbers before deciding.

Rep. Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) told The Federal Drive with Tom Temin that he and lawmakers who represent federal employees want to maintain this system for federal employees.

Issues related to federal employees and their pay and benefits have played a starring role in the competing budget proposals introduced by the White House and lawmakers alike. Find highlights from how the proposed budgets would affect federal employees as well as how they’ve fared so far in Congress

This week on AFGE’s “Inside Government” U.S. Rep. Chris Van Hollen, D-Md., addresses voter protection concerns ahead of the 2012 election season, and Alliance for American Manufacturing Executive Director Scott Paul discusses job creation and the state of U.S. manufacturing. Also, Families USA Executive Director Ron Pollack discusses health care reform.

Recent data from the Office of Personnel Management suggests that the long-predicted retirement tsunami of federal employees may have started. As more and more baby boomers opt to retire, a vacuum of knowledge and experience is being left behind at many agencies. Some federal managers are now scrambling to figure out ways to ride out the wave.