Congress
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Dr. Sonja Batten, deputy chief for specialty mental health, Veterans Affairs Department, discusses the VA's plans to hire 2,000 mental health professionals and support staff. Rep. James Lankford (R-Okla.) talks about two bills aimed at reducing the number of duplicative government programs.
May 08, 2012 -
Congressmen introduce the Harry Lew Military Hazing Accountability and Prevention Act of 2012, a bill aimed at preventing hazing in the military services.
May 08, 2012 -
A plan to avoid automatic cuts to discretionary federal spending, including the Defense Department's, advanced in the House, passing the budget committee and heading to the House floor for a vote later this week. Among the $300 billion in alternative cuts approved by the committee, in a 21-9 party-line vote, is a provision requiring federal employees to pay more for their retirement benefits.
May 07, 2012 -
As part of the annual Defense authorization bill, House lawmakers will take up a provision designed to let federal employees gain experience and share expertise while working temporarily in other agencies.
May 07, 2012 -
Gen. Keith Alexander said a recent cyber exercise is the first time the military showed it can do offensive and defensive capabilities at the same time, by the same team. This was part of Alexander's answers to questions from Sen. John McCain.
May 04, 2012 -
A group of 26 Democratic senators wrote last week to Defense Secretary Leon Panetta urging the Pentagon to lift an "arbitrary" cap on DoD's civilian workforce, saying contractors hadn't been similarly affected by budget constraints. But the Professional Services Council, an industry group which represents many defense contractors, rebuts the charge that contractors haven't also felt the effects of the current fiscal climate.
May 03, 2012 -
On this week's Capital Impact show, energy analysts Rob Barnett and Richard Heidorn discuss the future of nuclear power. Plus, the latest on the congressional energy debate with Loren Duggan and Derek Wallbank.
May 03, 2012 -
The company says the Cyber Intelligence Sharing and Protection Act — or CISPA — has a "broad and alarming reach."
May 03, 2012 -
The four sponsors of postal reform legislation in the Senate are asking the Postal Service to delay closing post offices and mail processing facilities until the new law is in place.
May 02, 2012 -
Agencies could see a budget cut of 12.1 percent starting Jan. 2, 2013, if Congress does not come up with an alternative to sequestration. The estimated reduction comes from a new report by the Congressional Research Service.
May 02, 2012 -
Would changing federal retirement rules trigger a mad rush to retirement? Or would it turn the government into an institution run by tired, over- the-hill zombies, Senior Correspondent Mike Causey wonders ... kind of like Congress.
May 02, 2012 -
After years of false alarms about benefit cuts and a brain drain, things are starting to happen, Senior Correspondent Mike Causey says. The federal retirement program may be the next casualty.
May 01, 2012 -
The federal workers' compensation program has long targeted by agency inspectors general, who have cited the program's lack of oversight and susceptibility to improper payments Some members of Congress also argue the program's benefit structure, which hasn't been meaningfully updated since the mid-1970s, has led to widespread inefficiencies.
April 30, 2012 -
Despite a veto threat from the President, the House passed the Cyber Intelligence Sharing and Protection Act (CISPA) Thursday , along with three other cybersecurity bills.
April 27, 2012 -
House military personnel subcommittee asserts retirees have already paid for their health care via their military service, omits DoD proposal to hike TRICARE fees.
April 27, 2012