Federal Drive

Friday Morning Federal Newscast – June 24th

The Morning Federal Newscast is a daily compilation of the stories you hear Federal Drive hosts Tom Temin and Amy Morris discuss throughout the show each day. T...

Federal News Network Staff

June 24, 2011 10:08 am

3 min read

The Morning Federal Newscast is a daily compilation of the stories you hear Federal Drive hosts Tom Temin and Amy Morris discuss throughout the show each day. The Newscast is designed to give FederalNewsRadio.com users more information about the stories you hear on the air.

The Office of Personnel Management is changing how Federal Employees Health Benefits carriers determine their group rates. A new interim rule replaces the current system. Right now premiums are compared with the rates charged to carrier’s similarly sized subscriber groups, but that will change. A medical loss ratio threshold will also be used to determine rates. The new methodology will be phased in over the next two years.
One in five government cars and trucks would disappear under a proposal to cut the federal fleet. A bill introduced by Senators Tom Coburn of Oklahoma and Jeanne Shaheen of New Hampshire would reduce federal fleet spending by $500 million. The bill echoes a recommendation from President Obama’s National Commission on Fiscal Responsibility. The U.S. spends about $4.6 billion annually to keep more 662,000 vehicles on the road. The fleet burns through a million gallons of fuel every day.
California Representative Darryl Issa wants to reform the Postal Service. Really reform it. The chairman of the Oversight and Government Reform Committee has introduced a bill to do just that. He says his bill, if enacted, would save at least $6 billion per year. Issa’s proposal would create a solvency authority to restructure USPS and cut costs. The authority would have the power to force renegotiation of collective bargaining agreements. It could unilaterally change them if negotiations failed. USPS lost $2.2 billion in the second quarter of fiscal 2011. It anticipates losses of more than $8 billion for the year.
Transportation Security Administration employees have elected the American Federation of Government Employees as their exclusive union representative. AFGE National President John Gage tells Federal News Radio, the union will soon select members to join the bargaining committee. Gage says transportation security officers are underpaid by at least $5,000 a year compared to the GS system. Other issues Gage says need addressing include the treatment of women, uniform allotments and a fairer merit promotion system.
A former employee of the Forest Service will serve four years in federal prison after embezzling $1.4 million. Justice Department officials say Kathy Stamps of Rancho Cucamonga was an accountant at the Angeles National Forest offices. From 2002 to 2004 Stamp she filed phony paper work that led to fake refund checks being sent to entities under her control. Stamps spent more than a million dollars on cars, jewelry, mortgage payments and plastic surgery. She’s been ordered to pay it all back in restitution.

More news links

Arlington records find prompts investigation

IRS increases gas mileage deduction in midyear

Wanna be in a zombie film? BRAINS!!!!! (StarsAndStripes)

THIS AFTERNOON ON FEDERAL NEWS RADIO

Coming up today on In Depth with Francis Rose:

–The Federal News Countdown, with the three most important Federal news stories of the week, as chosen by Rob Burton and Julie Myers Wood.

–The tightening budget at the Pentagon and the new Secretary of Defense – former assistant SECDEF Lawrence Korb with an action plan for Leon Panetta.

Join Francis from 3 to 7 pm on 1500 AM or on your computer.