Tuesday Morning Federal Newscast – May 10th

The Morning Federal Newscast is a daily compilation of the stories you hear Federal Drive hosts Tom Temin and Amy Morris discuss throughout the show each day. The Newscast is designed to give FederalNewsRadio.com users more information about the stories you hear on the air.

• Soon, all cell phones will be fitted with a new emergency alert technology. The Federal Communications Commission and Federal Emergency Management Agency say the system will warn people about terrorist attacks, natural disasters or other emergencies. Starting next year all new cell phones will be required to have a chip that receives the alerts. Some smart phones already have the technology. People can opt out of certain alerts, like the amber alerts for missing children. The alert system can send emergency messages even if other cell services aren’t working. The system is being launched first in New York and here in Washington.
• The Internal Revenue Service waits a year to enact a rule requiring agencies to withhold contractor payments for taxes. The rule implements provision of a 2005 tax law. It would force federal, state and local agencies to keep three percent of contractors’ payments, then apply the money toward the contractors’ bills at the end of the year. The final rule, published yesterday in the Federal Register, was delayed to give agencies time to figure out how to implement it. That schedules it to take effect January 1, 2013.
• House Speaker John Boehner calls for trillions of dollars in spending cuts as the price for raising the federal debt ceiling. The Ohio Republican says any rise in the debt limit should be more than offset by spending cuts. Boehner’s statement raises the ante for two debates breaking out on Capitol Hill. One is whether to raise the nation’s debt ceiling, now at $14.3 trillion. The Treasury will run out of borrowing power in August. The other debate concerns spending levels for fiscal 2012, which starts October 1. Boehner spoke to the Economic Club of New York.
• Republican representative John Mica of Florida says he is going to rewrite his bill. The legislation would transfer the Federal Trade Commission to the National Gallery of Art. He says the move will save about $300 million, but the Congressional Budget Office projects the move will cost $270 million. The Washington Business Journal reports that Mica is going to rewrite the bill to clarify his plan. He says the bill only called for relocating 450 employees into existing government-owned space, not building new offices for 2,000 employees. No word on when Mica will submit a revised bill.
• A brand new Smithsonian laboratory aims to become one of the most energy efficient in the country. The Smithsonian Environmental Research Center says it’s renovating its Mathias Laboratory with the help of a $45 million federal appropriation. Government Computer News reports the building will have a heating and air conditioning system supplied by a large geothermal well. Solar panels will create 10 percent of the building’s electricity. The lab will also use local lumber and use only certified sustainable wood. SERC officials say they expect the building to use 37 percent less energy, and emit 37 percent less carbon dioxide, than a basic LEED certified building.
• Sheila Bair is stepping down as chairman of the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation. The FDIC says Bair will end her five year term as one of the government’s top bank regulators on July 8th. Bair was among the first officials to raise concerns about the explosion in high-risk lending to borrowers with bad credit. Under her tenure, the agency closed 365 banks since the crisis began.
• One of the most visited and highly secured areas of the District is up for a redesign. The Washington Business Journal reports that five teams have made the final cut to help redesign the Ellipse. The National Capital Planning Commission wants to see designs for the area south of the White House called President’s Park South. That includes the Ellipse, Sherman Park, the First Division Monument and E Street, which has been closed to traffic for years. The Commission will announce a winner July 7th.
• The National Park Service is gearing up for what it expects to be its biggest numbers ever. Time Magazine reports that rising airfares mean more domestic vacations, and the National Park Service is preparing for millions of visitors at its parks across the nation. More than 281 million people visited the parks last year, which is a good thing for the Park Service. But it also means longer lines to get in, fewer parking spaces, and longer waits at concession stands. It also means more crime. This year, officials expect to see another 10-percent increase in visitors. They’re already adding shuttle services, requiring reservations for more popular attractions, and hiring more guides just to help find parking.

More news links

Gender pay gap in federal government isn’t as wide as in private sector (Washington Post)

Suspect wipes used at VA hospitals across U.S. (MSNBC)

Library of Congress unveils National Jukebox to stream free music, historic recordings online (AP via WashingtonPost)

Former Navy Dolphin Theresa Dead at 56 (Knight Ridder/Tribune via Military.com)

THIS AFTERNOON ON FEDERAL NEWS RADIO

Coming up today on In Depth with Francis Rose:

–Day two of “BRAC Impact: A Federal News Radio and WTOP In-Depth Series.” A big batch of people and operations are moving to the Aberdeen Proving Grounds. You’ll hear how their preparations are coming.

–Hiring more procurement people isn’t enough – they need to be good! You’ll hear how to get both.

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

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