With the new administration in place and the stimulus package reaching an unprecedented high, these weekly reports will explore how the new administrations policies and changes to OMB will impact procurement and spending initiatives. The Government Spending Update is a must listen for anyone doing business or hoping to do business with the federal government.
Defense Contract Audit Agency vs. KBR
05-11-09
They haven't been doing such a good job.
That's the
sentiment behind the recent testimony of April Stephenson, head of the Defense Contract Audit Agency.
She says the contractor Kellogg, Brown and Root can't account for numerous deficiencies from its contracts with the federal government from as far back as 2001.
Stevenson said her agency has conducted dozens of audits on the KBR contract and has challenged about $4.7 billion in costs charged by the company.
A KBR spokeswoman has defended her company's record, saying the scope of their work has change significantly since the contracts were first awarded.
CPSC might get more funding
05-11-09
The Consumer Product Safety Commission might get a boost in funding.
President Barack Obama recently asked Congress for $107 million to fund the agency.
Some critics have accused the CPSC of being too cozy with industry in the past, and the President has said he wants to change this.
This request falls short of Obama's campaign pledge to double the agency's funding, but aides say it's three-fourths of the way there.
Headquartered in Bethesda, Md., the CPSC employees about 430 people.
Funding for GWOT Needed
05-04-09
Defense Secretary Robert Gates is urging Congress to approve money for the Global War on Terror quickly.
The Washington Post reports that $83.4 billion dollars will be spent in Iraq and Afghanistan.
Some of that money will also be used as aid for Pakistan.
Senate Appropriations Committee Chairman Daniel Inouye has said he thinks the Senate will likely approve the money soon -- but could give no firm timeline.
House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer has said he thinks it could happen during the second week of May.
Money in the Air
05-04-09
It seems like financial aid is needed in the air, now.
Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood recently said he thinks the Obama Administration should give money to airlines.
The money would pay for equipment on planes that would allow them to move to a satellite-based air traffic control system -- Next Gen.
The Federal Aviation Administration is already planning to spend about $20 billion over the next decade.
The airline industry unsuccessfully asked for about $4 billion from the government when the economic stimulus plan was being discussed.
Pawlenty Prepping to Run in 2012?
04-20-09
The GOP is fighting back.
Governor Tim Pawlenty (R-Minn.) says his party has a better plan when it comes to the federal budget.
He says the Democratic budget would raise taxes and put an unfair burden on future generations.
Pawlenty also says that the President has talked about tax relief -- but the Obama budget suggests he'll be raising taxes.
Many analysts think Governor Pawlenty is setting the stage for a presidential run in 2012.
On the Up and Up
04-20-09
It just keeps going up -- the federal deficit.
The Treasury Department recently said the budget deficit increased by $192.3 billion in March -- putting it near $1 trillion just halfway through the budget year.
Through the first six months of the budget year that began on October 1, tax revenues have totaled about $989 billion.
That's down 13.6 percent from the year-ago period.
Many are saying this downturn is due to the recession.
A Spending Alternative? (Pt. 2)
04-13-09
They've got their own plan.
House Republicans have rolled out their version of the budget, which would cut taxes and overhaul Medicare.
The GOP wants a simplified tax code.
They also want to give workers under the age of 55 the option of enrolling in private health plans, rather than relying on Medicare.
Despite these changes, the plan projects permanent deficits exceeding $500 billion into the future.
A Spending Alternative?
04-13-09
Republicans in the House have proposed their own federal budget, which is much different than the Democrats' plan.
It stops overall spending on domestic programs passed by Congress each year.
It was drafted by Wisconsin Rep. Paul Ryan, the top Republican on the Budget Committee.
Despite the spending cuts, the Republican plan projects permanent deficits exceeding $500 billion.
QinetiQ Cuts Energy Costs
04-06-09The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act has called for federal agencies to adopt more eco-friendly policies, but now it seems that government contractors are getting in on the action.
Washington Technology reports that companies such as QinetiQ North America are now using virtualization software, blade servers and other green technology to cut back on energy bills.
They've even constructed a building that sits on an east-west access to take advantage of sunlight as much as possible.
It's Easy Being Green
04-06-09It's not easy being green . . . or is it?
More government contractors are saying that conducting eco-friendly business is easier now than ever before.
Washington Technology reports that the private company ICF has made a commitment to become carbon neutral.
QinetiQ North America is also jumping on the bandwagon. That company is going to move 400 employees into a new, greener building soon.
QinetiQ's CEO says the building was designed with future, energy efficient technologies in mind.
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