Spring break for feds

It’s spring break for federal workers and retirees, even those who are on the job, shoveling snow or picking oranges, based on their locale.

That’s because Congress is on leave, again. And while frequent and extended congressional timeouts irk a lot of people, the alternative for many is worse. Like when the House and Senate are actually in session.

In the past, Congress has tried (and mostly failed) to whack or alter civil service pay, pensions and perks in stand-alone bills. This time, the House budget calls for a variety of changes that might become part of veto-proof legislation.

There are proposals to further shrink the Internal Revenue Service. Two GOP presidential candidates (one announced, one about to announce) have said we could get along without the IRS altogether. Details on their revenue-collection alternative to come.

IRS is always a target. Lots of people don’t like taxes or some of the programs they fund. Others want to punish the administration and all the IRS workforce for real or perceived sins, specifically the tax-exempt operation that, according to an Associated Press report, had singled out conservative political groups seeking tax-free status. Lois Lerner, the former official at the center of the firestorm, said mistakes had been made, but not intentionally. House Republicans went after her. But she got off the hook when the Justice Department declined to pursue criminal contempt charges. According to the AP, she was placed on paid leave the day after her congressional hearing. She retired four months later.

In other action against “scandals”, a former top GSA official, Jeff Neely, pleaded guilty to one count of fraud as part of the now infamous 2010 Las Vegas romp. He agreed to pay $8,000 in restitution and will be sentenced in June. He could spend as many as five years in prison and be fined up to $250,000. Earlier, the Merit Systems Protection Board ruled that GSA “wrongfully” fired two officials who were caught up in the party culture in GSA’s western region.

There is likely more bad press — deserved or hyped — coming for the Secret Service and Department of Veterans Affairs. That, to some extent, makes it easier for out-for-blood politicians to demand cuts.

Other items on the House wish list include:

• Pay/Job Security: One item on the takeaway proposal would save millions (as in, cost federal employees and retirees) by gradually reducing the government-paid share of your health premiums. It would also require agencies to slim down via attrition. That would mean more work and fewer promotion options for young and mid-career employees.
• Devalued G-fund: There is also a proposal to change the way interest is computed and set on the TSP’s most popular fund, the super-safe Treasury securities G-fund. Last month, Federal News Radio’s Francis Rose interviewed Kim Weaver about the proposed change. She’s director of external affairs for the board that oversees the TSP. She said the proposed change would make the G-fund almost worthless as an investment option. To hear the full interview, click here.
• Pay/Pensions: The budget plan calls for all feds to contribute significantly more to their federal retirement program. That would cut into take-home pay and erase most, if not all, of the “gains” over the past five years.

To borrow lines from an old song, “Enjoy yourself, enjoy yourself. It’s later than you think!”

Nearly Useless Factoid by Michael O’Connell

An “earworm” is the name for a catchy song that continuously plays in your brain long after you’ve heard it.

(Source: Wikipedia)

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