Wednesday Morning Federal Newscast

Written by Ruben Gomez & Jane Norris
Edited by Suzanne Kubota

This morning’s federal news as heard on WFED:

Congressional negotiators agree on an omnibus spending bill that would fund agencies into the new year. They’ve sealed a 1.1 trillion dollar spending bill that would combine six of 12 appropriations measures for fiscal 2010. The package would provide increases for a number of agencies and programs. But money for the Defense Department will come in a separate measure. The omnibus still faces a vote in the House and Senate, and lawmakers hope to finish before December 18th, when a continuing resolution expires.

Federal employees would get a locality pay raise from that omnibus spending bill. The measure includes a 2.0 percent federal employee pay adjustment, including a 1.5 percent nationwide increase in base pay and a 0.5 percent average increase in locality pay. That’s in direct opposition to President Obama, who last week called for a freeze to locality pay raises.

Government agencies face tight deadlines, under the administration’s newly announced Open Government directive. The White House has provided just a few months to implement major changes that would make information easier to get. Among them, within 45 days agencies must post at least three high-valued data sets on Data-dot-gov. The Office of Management and Budget will track progress under the directive using an online dashboard.

Vendors get a chance to help service members with healthcare for life. The Department of Veterans Affairs is reaching out for three to six firms that can help with its joint “Virtual Lifetime Electronic Record Health Community” project. The vendors will coordinate pilot programs with local hospitals and health plans. The e-records program is being crafted to streamline healthcare during and after military service. VA has posted its request on FedBizOpps.gov, and responses are due by December 15th.

Three Senators sent a letter of concern to President Obama about the U.S. office overseeing billions of dollars for Afghanistan’s reconstruction. They say the office of the special inspector general for Afghanistan, headed by retired Marine Corps Gen. Arnold Fields, has failed to hire enough staff, has issued too few audit and investigative reports, and may be losing sight of its mission. Senators McCaskill, Collins, and Coburn want the White House to conduct a thorough review of the office to determine if improvements can be made to the organization.

The State Department is cutting ties with security contractor, the Armor Group for the U.S. Embassy in Afghanistan. This follows allegations that guards engaged in lewd behavior and sexual misconduct at their living quarters. The contract expires next summer and will not be renewed. The agency says that work will begin immediately on finding another company to guard the embassy in Kabul, a key diplomatic outpost. The ArmorGroup’s history of failing to meet the terms of the $189 million contract was also a factor in the decision.

More news links

White House to release new gov’t data collections

Gate-crashers to take the Fifth if subpoenaed

Ex-FBI director to examine Fort Hood

Sensitive air security doc posted in error on Net

US Air Force confirms ‘Beast of Kandahar’ drone (AFP)

THIS AFTERNOON ON FEDERALNEWSRADIO

Coming up today on The Daily Debrief:

We continue our look at the stories of the decade. We’ll talk with Jim Flyzek, former Senior Advisor to the White House office of Homeland Security. He there for the creation DHS. We’ll get his perspective.

And voting is underway for the SAVE awards which honor ideas for saving tax dollars. We’ll talk with some of the finalists.

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

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