Jessica Klement, legislative director for the National Active and Retired Federal Employees association, joins host Mike Causey for a look at how members of Congress voted on legislation that matters to feds. October 15, 2014
Feds won't need to consult tea leaves or gaze into a crystal ball to see what Congress congress has in store for them next year. Senior Correspondent Mike Causey says it will be the same old, same old again.
Next month, 399 representatives and 28 senators seek re-election. That means federal employees can oversee and grade the people who oversee and grade their agencies. The National Active and Retired Federal Employees Association releases its annual scorecard in time for the election. It keeps tabs on the 113th Congress and how it votes on key legislation affecting federal employees. Jessica Klement, legislative director of NARFE, tells In Depth with Francis Rose about some of those key votes.
The practices and procedures for how the federal government procures goods and services did not happen overnight. They were established by multiple pieces of legislation over many decades.
In a letter to leaders in the House and Senate tax commitees, IRS Commissioner John Koskinen reminded Congress of the importance to make a firm decision on whether to extend a mass-transit subsidy before November.
Michael Daniel, the White House cyber coordinator, said the administration believes getting cyber legislation through Congress on small pieces is more likely to be successful than in one comprehensive bill. Legislation to update FISMA, to improve information sharing and to expand the workforce all have garnered bi-partisan support.
The drone fleet at Customs and Border Protection isn't big, but the law states that very strict oversight from the Homeland Security Department and CBP is important. Rebecca Gambler is director of Homeland Security and Justice Issues at the Government Accountability Office. On In Depth with Francis Rose, she said Congress mandated a look at CBP's drone program.
Sen. Mark Warner (D-Va.) is the leading force behind a bill that would reduce redundant or unnecessary reports by federal agencies. The 2014 Government Reports Elimination Act would modify or eliminate more than 50 reports that agencies produce annually for Congress. That bill has made its way through both the House and the Senate. Warner spoke with Tom Temin on the Federal Drive about the bill and the pressing issues Congress faces when it comes back after the November midterm elections.
Vermont and Rhode Island lawmakers were among those in Congress who consistently voted in favor of federal workers and retirees, according to the National Active and Retired Federal Employees Association's latest scorecard.
OMB and Treasury are creating a roadmap on how to move forward with DATA Act implementation over the next 12 to 36 months. Meanwhile, congressional and executive branch auditors are part of the oversight process from the beginning.
Most members of Congress are not as cute as Bambi, but they do have some similarities to the four-footed animals that are overrunning the Capitol region, says Senior Correspondent Mike Causey.
Doing away with DHS would result in a massive government reorganization that would most likely be even messier than the one that created DHS, says former DHS Chief Human Capital Officer Jeff Neal.
The chairman of the Veterans Affairs subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations wrote a letter to Veterans Affairs Department Secretary Bob McDonald wanting more details on the actions it will take in light of the inspector general report involving the deputy chief procurement officer at the Veterans Health Administration and FedBid.
Tomorrow is the anniversary of the government shutdown. This year that won't happen until at least Dec. 12, and most people on Capitol Hill (from both parties and both chambers) believe we won't see another shutdown for a long time. But Congress still has a way to go to get a deal done for the rest of fiscal 2015. On In Depth with Francis Rose, House Democratic Whip Steny Hoyer said he's not sure what to expect when Congress comes back after the election.
President Barack Obama is going it alone for the time being. He's sending military resources to drop bombs and shoot missiles at the Islamic State line in Iraq and Syria. He's working largely without the counsel, much less consent, of Congress. Is there a big vacuum in Washington with Congress gone until after the mid-term elections? Or is there a streamlined operation without too much distraction? Justin Sink, White House correspondent for The Hill Newspaper, joined Tom Temin on the Federal Drive with details.