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1. Federal health insurance premiums to rise by 7.9 percent
By David McGlinchey
The average health insurance premium for the Federal Employees Health Benefits Program will go up by 7.9 percent in 2005, the Office of Personnel Management announced last week.
OPM officials noted that the increase broke a four-year trend of premium increases of more than 10 percent. The FEHBP provides health insurance to federal workers, retirees and dependents, and has 2.2 million active employees, 1.8 million retirees and 4 million dependents enrolled.
OPM Director Kay Coles James called the new figures "a significant downward shift in this unwelcome trend."
Full story: http://www.govexec.com/dailyfed/0904/091304d1.htm
2. Private sector steps in to help agencies with hiring
By Shawn Zeller
Three federal agencies are undergoing extreme hiring makeovers, thanks to the Partnership for Public Service, a Washington nonprofit that has convinced private and public sector hiring experts to donate their services to help agencies attract top applicants and bring them on board quickly.
The three agencies, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, the National Nuclear Security Administration and the Education Department, will rely on the firms to diagnose problems in recruiting and hiring processes and implement solutions. Agency representatives expect to start seeing results by the end of the year, and hope that the hiring makeovers will yield significant benefits by the end of 2005. The partnership, funded by New Jersey businessman Samuel Heyman, encourages Americans to consider careers in public service and helps agencies extend their outreach efforts.
Partnership Executive Vice President Kevin Simpson said that historically, government has "done a poor job of selling itself." Managers, he added, are "too removed from the process� [and] need to take ownership and partner with [agency] human resources staff," rather than rely on the HR office completely.
Full story: http://www.govexec.com/dailyfed/0904/091404sz1.htm
3. 9/11 investigation spawns whistleblower movement
By Chris Strohm
A growing group of government whistleblowers has emerged in the wake of the 9/11 commission's investigation, making allegations that include everything from corruption and mismanagement within federal agencies to espionage within the FBI's Washington field office.
The whistleblowers acknowledge their claims and reputations depend on presenting facts and evidence, and say they plan to submit information to Congress and the media in the coming weeks.
More than two dozen former and current government employees have joined forces since the 9/11 commission issued its final report and recommendations in July. Most of the whistleblowers met or learned of each other through the 9/11 investigation, and several gave testimony to the commission or Congress. Ironically, they are now highly critical of the commission's final report, saying it does not reflect testimony they gave, offers misguided recommendations and fails to hold any individuals accountable.
Full story: http://www.govexec.com/dailyfed/0904/091304c1.htm
4. House votes to bar IRS from outsourcing tax collection
By Amelia Gruber
The House passed a legislative last week provision that would prevent the Internal Revenue Service from hiring contractors to collect tax debt.
The measure, introduced by Rep. Shelley Moore Capito, R-W.Va., as an amendment to the fiscal 2005 Transportation-Treasury appropriations bill (H.R. 5025), prohibits the IRS from using private collection agencies to help out federal collectors. House members passed Capito's language on a voice vote.
Capito's amendment drew bipartisan support. "We shouldn't turn [IRS tax collectors] into bounty hunters for their own personal profit," said Rep. Chris Van Hollen, D-Md., during a floor debate over the amendment.
Full story: http://www.govexec.com/dailyfed/0904/091504a1.htm
5. House lawmaker to renew challenge of job competition rules
By Amelia Gruber
A House lawmaker who last fall persuaded colleagues to pass legislative language rejecting the Bush administration's May 2003 rewrite of competitive sourcing rules is trying for a repeat performance.
During House debates over the fiscal 2005 Transportation-Treasury bill, Rep. Christopher Van Hollen, D-Md., will offer an amendment that would prevent agencies from running public-private job competitions using the Office of Management and Budget's latest version of Circular A-76. The measure allows the White House a "second chance to rewrite the privatization process in a way that truly promotes the interests of taxpayers and customers, and more equitably balances the interests of federal employees and contractors," Van Hollen wrote in a Sept. 14 letter seeking support.
Under the amendment, agency officials could still let contractors bid on federal jobs considered commercial in nature, as encouraged by President Bush's competitive sourcing initiative. But they would need to revert to rules in use prior to May 2003, when OMB revised Circular A-76 in an attempt to make competitions more evenhanded.
Full story: http://www.govexec.com/dailyfed/0904/091404a1.htm
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6. Officials weigh mandatory retirement age for public safety officials
By David McGlinchey
A senior lawmaker called for a review last week of the nation's mandatory retirement age for pilots, air traffic controllers and other public safety officials.
Sen. Larry Craig, R-Idaho, chairman of the Senate Special Committee on Aging, said many crucial personnel might be able to perform their jobs well past the current cutoff age.
"Those of us who study this issue know there has been a dynamic increase in longevity and a trend toward healthy aging over the past half-century. Americans are living longer and are healthier than ever before," Craig said during a committee hearing last week. "It is reported that nearly half of the nation's air traffic controllers will reach the mandatory retirement age of 56 in the next decade. In order to prepare for the future, it is important that lawmakers understand the impact of changing demographics on our workforce."
Full story: http://www.govexec.com/dailyfed/0904/091404d1.htm
7. Policy leaders offer advice for tackling security clearance backlog
By Chris Strohm
Public policy experts offered Congress last week recommendations for tackling the government's security clearance backlog, which has left hundreds of thousands of federal and contract employees in limbo for months, and in some cases years.
Officials told the Senate Governmental Affairs Subcommittee on Oversight of Government Management that a single database of clearance information is needed, and a security clearance granted by one agency should be accepted at all other agencies.
Congress is considering overhauling security clearance procedures in response to proposals made by the 9/11 commission. The commission said a single federal agency should be responsible for providing and maintaining security clearances and for ensuring uniform clearance standards, including maintaining a single database of clearance information.
Full story: http://www.govexec.com/dailyfed/0904/091404c1.htm
8. Standard per diem rate will increase in fiscal 2005
By Daniel Pulliam
Federal employees traveling on official government business outside frequently visited locations designated by the General Service Administration will be able to spend up to $60 per night on lodging�up from $55 per night�after Oct. 1.
The standard per diem rate is based on data from the "lodging away from home" cost in the Consumer Price Index, which was unanimously recommended by the Governmentwide Per Diem Advisory Board. GSA contracts with hotels in the 420 places designated by the agency as high-travel locations, using a standard hotel industry gauge called the average daily rate. It is based on location, price, occupancy levels for seasonal locations and fire safety standards set by the Federal Emergency Management Agency.
In late August, GSA announced rate changes in the Federal Register that included per-diem decreases for lodging in several major cities, including a $7 decrease to $194 for Washington, a $6 decrease to $151 for Los Angeles, a drop from $206 to $200 for Chicago, and a $22 decrease in Atlanta, which has a new rate of $133. Some cities, such as Boston and Las Vegas, have per diem rates that are adjusted for seasons; New York City's boroughs now have separate per diem rates.
Full story: http://www.govexec.com/dailyfed/0904/091304dp2.htm
9. This week's column: Pay and Benefits Watch
Pushing HSAs
Bush administration officials and the Office of Personnel Management are bullish on Health Savings Accounts.
Full column: http://www.govexec.com/dailyfed/0904/091604pb.htm
10. Quote of the Week:
"As commander in chief, I will have two words for companies that cheat the U.S. military: 'You're fired.'"
�Democratic presidential contender John Kerry in a new campaign ad.
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