Federal Drive

Friday Morning Federal Newscast – April 8th

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

April 8, 2011 9:10 am

3 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 federal government countdown to shutdown continues toward midnight tonight. Yesterday’s intense negotiations fail to result in any agreement to fund the government for the rest of fiscal 2011. President Obama asks Republican and Democratic leaders, as well as his own staff, to work all night. He cancels a trip to Indiana scheduled for today. House Speaker John Boehner and Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid issue a joint statement, saying only that they’ve narrowed their differences. The House passes another short-term funding bill with 12 billion dollars in cuts plus full year military funding. Senate Democrats reject that bill and the President declares, he’d veto it anyhow. More announcements are expected later this morning.
Congressman Jim Moran says he will introduce a bill Friday, along with Reps. Frank Wolfe (R-Va.), Gerry Connolly (D-Va.) and other local members, to ensure furloughed employees get fully paid.
Contractors are also watching and waiting to see what Congress comes up with. Feds aren’t the only ones who won’t be working. Contractors that work on-site will also have nowhere to go. The Washington Business Journal reports that some firms are trying to figure out where to send their contractors who likely don’t fall under the classification of “excepted” personnel. Contracts that are pending award will also be delayed. Many companies are waiting to see what happens next, and haven’t crafted specific plans if the government shuts down. So employees don’t know if they’re going to be furloughed, taking a paid vacation, or relocated.
Contracting giant Lockheed Martin says a government shutdown, wont close their door. The company’s chief executive officer says his employees will continue to work and Lockheed has no plans to furlough anyone, at least right now. The company will also continue to pay benefits.
The Defense Department is pulling back from a multi-billion dollar contract it awarded to provide TRICARE health insurance services to one of its regions. The $17-billion award was given to TriWest Healthcare Alliance Corp, the incumbent vendor. It’s now reevaluating the award after receiving an agency-level protest filed by United Health Care. Beneficiaries should not expect any interruption in their services.
The IRS has paid its first whistleblower award. And it’s a doozy at $4.5 million dollars — before taxes, that is. An in-house company accountant in Pennsylvania raised a red flag about a tax mistake his employer ignored. He tipped off the IRS, which eventually collected $20 million in taxes and interest. The employee received 22 percent. Senator Charles Grassley sponsored the 2006 bill creating the IRS whistleblower office. He tells the AP, the award ought to encourage more people to blow the whistle.

More news links

Government shutdown: Cuts in federal pay and benefits targeted as part of budget compromise, sources say (WashingtonPost)

Gov’t shutdown could hit federal workers in wallet

Tribes face struggles with federal shutdown

APNewsBreak: IRS awards $4.5M to whistleblower

Social Security stopping mailed earning statements

Furloughed? Food and drink discounts coming Monday (WTOP)

THIS AFTERNOON ON FEDERAL NEWS RADIO

Coming up today on In Depth with Francis Rose:

–We’ll have the very latest on the continuing resolution and the future of your job.

–Members of Congress from both parties will tell you what their leadership is telling them about what’s next in budget negotiations.

–Some GOOD might come out of a shutdown…Eric Payne of Booz Allen Hamilton will share his ideas.

–We have a change in programming this afternoon. Because we are contractually obligated to air the Washington Nationals game, Federal News Radio’s coverage of the potential government shutdown will continue, uninterrupted, on 1050AM. As always, you can listen to In Depth with Francis Rose from your computer and you can read all of our shutdown coverage at Federal News Radio.com.

Join Francis from 3 to 7 pm on 1050 AM or on your computer.