Federal Drive

Thursday Morning Federal Newscast – March 17th

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. T...

Federal News Network Staff

March 17, 2011 9:48 am

4 min read

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.

The Senate votes today on a three-week spending package to fund the government through April 8. The measure has already been approved by the House. The continuing resolution in effect now, expires tomorrow. Senator Minority Leader Mitch McConnell vows that when Congress returns from recess March 28, he’ll work to get the Pentagon funded for the remaining six months of fiscal 2011. Disagreements over spending cuts and social issues have kept Democrats and Republicans from reaching a deal for a 2011 budget.
If there is a shutdown, you need a plan. Labor leaders say that administration officials need to do a better job of telling federal employees exactly what is expected of them if a shutdown were to happen. Gov Exec reports that union heads are concerned because personnel decisions would have collective bargaining implications. Managers may be trying to ensure critical operations continue, but employees simply don’t know how they’ll be designated, or whether they should try to find other jobs. While union leaders say the information gap is detrimental to the workforce, Office of Management and Budget Deputy Director Jeffery Zients says agency plans aren’t final and that the process involves legal issues that aren’t subject to union input. FederalTimes reports “Zients maintained that the administration still expects a shutdown will be averted, and said the administration will talk to unions if one becomes inevitable.”
The head of the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission says all the water is gone from one of the spent fuel pools at Japan’s most troubled nuclear plant, raising the possibility of nuclear fallout. But Japanese officials are denying the pool is dry. U.S. Military helicopters are now dumping loads of seawater onto the stricken nuclear complex, turning to combat-style tactics while trying to cool the overheated fuel rods. Thirty-three experts from the Energy Department and nine experts from the Nuclear Regulatory Commission, are on site to help the Japanese prevent a meltdown.
The Government Accountability Office recently upheld a protest against a big Homeland Security Department contract award. Now, we know why. GAO found that DHS changed the requirements, but didn’t tell bidders or let them resubmit their offers. And that’s a procurement no-no. At issue is a project to overhaul DHS financial systems. DHS gave the award to CACI. It was promptly protested by two other bidders. During bid evaluation, DHS officials decided to cut back the scope of how many agencies the department would initially transfer to the system. GAO urges the department to re-issue the solicitation and get fresh bids, and also noted the Office of Management and Budget green-lighted the award.
Two big White House appointees are closer to confirmation after passing a key committee vote. Heather Higginbottom is President Obama’s pick for deputy director of the Office of Management and Budget. Higginbottom was approved by a tight margin with 6 of the 10 senators on the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee, voting for her. On the other hand, Carolyn Lerner’s nomination to lead the Office of Special Counsel received unanimous approval from the committee. Both Higginbottom and Lerner’s nominations move to the full Senate for a vote.
The Homeland Security Department demoted a senior career employee who blew the whistle on political appointees. And a powerful member of Congress wants to know why. The employee, Catherine Papoi, was deputy chief of Homeland Security’s FOIA section. She complained to the DHS inspector general that political appointees were interfering with FOIA requests from journalists and watchdogs. Now she’s on leave, although still receiving her salary. Republican representative Darryl Issa, chairman of the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee, warns in a letter that the demotion looks like an act of retaliation. He tells DHS Secretary Janet Napolitano, interference with FOIA is against the law.
The National Zoo wants your help to name the baby anteater. The little guy with the long snout was born in December. The Washington zoo is putting five name possibilities online, for votes on its Web site. But the mama anteater will have the final choice. Zoo keepers plan to put the three top names in the anteater’s yard. The one the mama anteater goes to first will become her pup’s name.

More news links

Major US Bases in Japan OK Family Evacuations (Stars and Stripes)

Announcement pertaining to the Tsunami in Japan. OPM has a dedicated phone line to receive calls and assist individuals affected by the tragic events in the Pacific rim (OPM)

Feds deploy more radiation monitors in western US

US authorizes American evacuations out of Japan

THIS AFTERNOON ON FEDERAL NEWS RADIO

Coming up today on The DorobekInsider:

** The new Government Performance and Results Act, GPRA 2.0, is the law of the land. But can it help agencies perform? GAO has its assessment. We’ll talk to them about how it can address the government’s management challenges.

** And cadets at West Point are on the cyber-front lines. We’ll tell you about the training that they’re going through…

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