Wednesday Morning Federal Newscast

Written by Jane Norris & Ruben Gomez Edited by Suzanne Kubota This morning’s federal news as heard on WFED: Senior executives in the federal governme...

Written by Jane Norris & Ruben Gomez
Edited by Suzanne Kubota

This morning’s federal news as heard on WFED:

Senior executives in the federal government are earning more money under the new Pay for Performance System. Members of the Senior Executive Service are receiving top performance ratings and their bonuses are growing as well, according to new data released by the Office of Personnel Management. Agencies have been shifting their senior executives into pay-for-performance systems and by the end of 2007, 99 percent of executives were covered by those systems. In 2008, nearly half of senior managers earned a top rating and an increase of 5.4 percent over three years.

The average amount federal employees pay for their health care will rise 8.8 percent in 2010, according to the Office of Personnel Management. Blue Cross and Blue Shield, the most popular health insurance plan for federal employees and retirees, will increase premiums as much as 15 percent in 2010. About 60 percent of the 8 million plus participants in the Federal Employees Health Benefits Program use the Blue Cross standard or basic plans.

Federal Agencies avoid giving information to the public. The Chairman of the Judiciary Committee, Senator Patrick Lehey says that agencies are using special exemptions to avoid disclosing information to the public under the Freedom of Information Act. Exemptions are being slipped into legislation without debate or scrutiny. President Barack Obama earlier this year directed agencies to lean toward transparency.

The Federal Reserve proposed rules Tuesday to better protect Americans from sudden hikes in interest rates on credit cards. USA Today reports the proposal would bar rate increases during the first year after an account is opened. It also would ban increasing the rate on existing credit card balances but there are some exemptions. For instance, if a customer is behind more than 60 days on a payment, the rate on the existing balance can be boosted. The public, industry and other interested parties can weigh in on the Fed’s proposal with comments. The new rules are scheduled to take effect on Feb. 22, 2010.

Troops will begin getting required swine flu shots in the next week to 10 days. Air Force General Gene Renaurt says that active duty forces deploying to war zones and other critical areas will get the vaccine first. Troops will also help out if needed at five regional headquarters around the country and assist federal health and emergency management officials as the flu season heats up. The Pentagon has bought 2.7 million vaccines, and 1.4 million of those will go to active duty military. National Guard troops on active duty are also required to receive the vaccine, as are civilian Defense Department employees in critical jobs.

Government plans for a one-stop shop to help you find contracting information could be delayed again. Key lawmakers asking the General Services Administration for answers on plans to centralize and improve federal contracting databases. One concern is that GSA isn’t doing enough to improve underlying systems. GSA says it will award a contract to begin work by October 30th. Originally, the goal was to make the award by the end of September.

The Justice Department has asked the Supreme Court to end the gridlock between agency management and union disputes. Justice wants the high court to let the National Labor Relations Board resolve conflicts — even though three of its five seats are vacant. The vacancies stem from political rangling in Congress. Federal appeals courts have been unable to agree on whether the board can continue its work — leaving more than 400 decisions in the balance.

Troops deployed to war zones will get to do something they’ve been doing for a while: Use Facebook, Twitter and YouTube to stay in touch with families back at home. NextGov reports that in a draft Pentagon memo, Deputy Defense Secretary William Lynn throws his weight behind social networking. The new policy will let anyone in the Defense Department use social networking sites on unclassified networks. It’s not official yet, though. A Pentagon spokesperson tells FederalNewsRadio the memo comes out in the next few weeks.

More news links

Smithsonian Offers Buyouts to 6,000 Workers (WashingtonPost)

Top post-recession mecca for young people: D.C. (WTOP)

Watchdog attorney is likely choice to run procurement policy shop (GovExec)

Northrop: Boeing has ‘unfair’ edge in tanker deal

Oshkosh Corp. gets $801M military order for trucks

Army issues short-term spending guidelines (ArmyTimes)

Obama administration calls for chemical-law reform

EPA seeks to limit plane deicing chemical runoff

U.S. Northeast May Have Coldest Winter in a Decade (Bloomberg)

Navy: Midshipman pleads guilty to drug charges

Campaign targets military teens’ alcohol, drug use

Eating in America Still Unhealthy: CDC (HealthDay News)

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