Federal News Countdown: SES reform, congressional deadlines

John Sawislak, senior fellow Telework Exchange, and Julia Ziegler, Federal News Radio's web manager, count down the top federal news story of the week.

Today’s guests on the Federal News Countdown:
Josh Sawislak, senior fellow, Telework Exchange
Julia Ziegler, web manager, Federal News Radio

Josh Sawislak’s stories
#3 CNN and Fox get it wrong on health-care ruling
From The Washington post:

Yes, the network that is used to being first among cable news networks to big stories originally reported something far different – that the court had invalidated the individual mandate of the Affordable Care Act. Someone needs to tell CNN: There is no such thing as fashioning a scoop over something that’s released to the public.

#2 Rep. James Moran to propose SES reform
From The Washington Post:

Rep. James P. Moran (D-Va.) will introduce a senior executive service reform bill Wednesday that will change elements of the compensation model, career management and the hiring process for the government’s most senior civilian employees.

#1 Why Women Still Can’t Have It All
From The Atlantic:

It’s time to stop fooling ourselves, says a woman who left a position of power: the women who have managed to be both mothers and top professionals are superhuman, rich, or self-employed. If we truly believe in equal opportunity for all women, here’s what has to change, according to Anne-Marie Slaughter, the former director of policy planning for the State Department.


Julia Ziegler’s stories
#3 Bill aims to reform Senior Executive Service
From Federal News Radio:

Introduced by Reps. Jim Moran (D-Va.), Gerry Connolly (D-Va.) and Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.), the SES Reform Act of 2012 would increase the pay of SES personnel who receive a performance rating of at least “fully successful.” The bill also includes SES performance awards and bonuses in the high-three annuity calculation and establishes an SES Resource Office within the Office of Personnel Management, with the goal of improving the effectiveness and productivity of the SES.

#2 Fed benefits spared in highway, student loan deal
From Federal News Radio:

Federal employees’ retirement benefits are safe in a deal Congress passed Friday to fund federal highway projects for two more years and extend the student loan interest rate for another year. The deal also allows retirement-eligible federal employees to opt for a partial retirement. These feds could work part-time and receive prorated pension payments. At least 20 percent of the partial retirees’ time must consist of mentoring. The provision does not apply to postal employees.

#1 Congress running out of time to pass priority bills
From Federal News Radio:

By the end of the week, the Senate is expected to have passed the Surface Transportation bill to go along with the Food and Drug Administration reauthorization legislation passed yesterday. But even with the passage of these two major bills, which President Obama will sign into law, several others are languishing on Capitol Hill. With only 23 real work days left, Congress is running out of time to pass an assortment of critical bills from Postal Service reform to cybersecurity to fiscal 2013 spending bills.

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