Congress
-
Current and former officials at the General Services Administration will face a gauntlet of congressional hearings this week, following reports of excessive spending on a 2010 regional training conference and other programs. In an interview on In Depth with Francis Rose, former Virginia Congressman and Chair of the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee Tom Davis shared his insights and what to look for during the hearings.
April 15, 2012 -
Congressman Darrell Issa (R-Calif.) has broadened the scope of Congress' probe into the GSA conference scandal, requesting a list of all overnight conferences attended by more than 50 employees at 23 federal agencies and departments.
April 13, 2012 -
Shortly after the Titanic sank 100 years ago, the Senate conducted an investigation into in the disaster. Transcripts of these hearings are available in libraries across the U.S.
April 13, 2012 -
Information sharing is critical but insufficient, White House cyber chief says. Howard Schmidt said the federal government's responsibility is broader than its own systems and that is why any cyber bill needs stronger oversight of critical networks.
April 11, 2012 -
As lawmakers gear up for the first of several congressional hearings about the spending scandal at the General Services Administration, District of Columbia delegate Eleanor Holmes Norton told In Depth with Francis Rose that the inspector general and the president have "already cured the problem."
April 09, 2012 -
Several advocacy groups have raised major civil-liberties concerns about pending cybersecurity legislation, claiming the language may unfairly expose personal information and punish those who hide it.
April 05, 2012 -
Lawmakers should get their rest and relaxation now, because they've got lots to do when they get back from their recess. There will be hearings on federal conferences in the wake of the scandal at the General Services Administration, plus competing Postal Service, budget and cybersecurity bills. Federal News Radio asked Pete Kasperowicz at The Hill newspaper for his predictions.
April 04, 2012 -
President Barack Obama signed legislation Wednesday prohibiting members of Congress, the President and thousands of federal workers from engaging in insider trading. Under the law, lawmakers and government employees will be required to report certain financial transactions within 45 days of the initial trade. Those reports — which now are typically only available upon request — will be made available on agency websites and, eventually, on searchable databases.
April 04, 2012 -
While Congress debates several new cybersecurity bills, a Congressional Research Service reports shows the government is already involved in regulating cybersecurity.
April 04, 2012 -
Jim Harper, senior policy analyst at the conservative Cato Institute, says that some of the cybersecurity bills Congress is considering are overreaching and may be unnecessary in the long run.
April 04, 2012 -
The chairman of the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee said he will hold a hearing when Congress returns from recess on the scathing IG report and other shortcoming at GSA's Public Building Service. Scott Amey of POGO said the management failures at GSA show a systemic problem.
April 04, 2012 -
The legislative committee of the Council of the Inspectors General has weighed in on two Senate cybersecurity bills. The Cybersecurity Act of 2012 was introduced by Sens. Joe Lieberman (I-Conn.), Susan Collins (R-Maine) and Jay Rockefeller (D-W.Va.). Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.), introduced the SECURE IT act.
April 02, 2012 -
Bipartisan legislation in the Senate aims to streamline the elimination of excess federal properties by setting up a council within agencies and the Office of Management and Budget and creating government-wide property disposal goals.
March 12, 2012 -
A group of lawmakers has proposed an update to the law governing federal employees' political activity that would exempt some state and local employees and allow for a range of penalties other than automatic suspension for minor violations.
March 07, 2012 -
After 18 months of inactivity and extended vacation, Congress exhibited a blinding burst of speed last week before it left on yet another vacation. The bad news is that the action it took was aimed at future federal workers and you, well into your career, may be next, Senior Correspondent Mike Causey says.
February 21, 2012