Friday Morning Federal Newsstand

Happy SPRING! Written by Ruben Gomez Edited by Suzanne Kubota This morning’s federal news as heard on WFED: Fraud will happen under the $787-billion dolla...

Happy SPRING!

Written by Ruben Gomez
Edited by Suzanne Kubota

This morning’s federal news as heard on WFED:

Fraud will happen under the $787-billion dollar stimulus package. That word coming from Earl Devaney, chairman of a board created to oversee spending. Devaney says that some fraud and waste are inevitable, because agencies are having a hard time hiring enough skilled workers to manage the money. Devaney testified at a House oversight hearing yesterday.

Identity thieves are stealing tax refunds and stimulus checks. Have you gotten yours? CNN reports that thousands of taxpayers have lost money. Criminals are apparently stealing social security numbers and filing false tax returns. That means the money comes to them. The IRS says it will aggressively prosecute anyone involved.

The White House is pushing federal agencies to release more information under the Freedom of Information Act. Attorney General Eric Holder issuing a memo telling agencies to release information whenever another law doesn’t prohibit disclosure. The memo expands on a presidential order given in January. The administration says the goal is more government transparency.

No question about it: The man picked to lead the commerce department says the Census director will report directly to him, reports GovExec. Former Washington Democrat Governor Gary Locke answering tough questions from Senate Lawmakers in his confirmation hearing. Republican Senator Judd Gregg, who was the president’s second pick for Commerce Secretary, dropped out after the administration announced the census director would report to the White House.

It will be chilly 49 degrees on this first day of Spring, but NASA hopes to warm things up when it comes to what you know about the sun. The Space Agency planning to unveil never-before seen images of our bright, burning star. It’s happening in a 1 p.m Webcast produced in part by the Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Maryland.

Other Stories We’re Watching:

Identity theft nets some tax refunds, stimulus checks (CNN)

Agencies plotting response to Mexican violence (GovExec)

Sex Scandal is the Latest to Hit CIA (WashingtonPost)

POGO Releases 2nd Report on Inspectors General, March 20, 2009. (press release)

Famed Mont. fossil hunter to admit dinosaur crimes

White House to break ground on ‘kitchen garden’

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