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Hosts Tom Temin and Emily Kopp bring you the latest news affecting the federal community each weekday morning. Be up-to-date before you step in the office.

Panetta allows general to retire as 3-star

Defense Secretary Leon Panetta has permitted a three-star Army general accused of bullying subordinates to retire without a demotion in rank, the Pentagon said Wednesday.

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'Fiscal cliff' deal restores mass-transit subsidy

The bill to avert the "fiscal cliff" reinstates parity between the parking and mass-transit subsidies. The mass-transit subsidy was reduced in 2011 to $125 even as a similar subsidy for parking benefits was increased to $240 a month.

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Mica to take over new Government Operations subcommittee

The House Oversight and Government Reform Committee is consolidating two subcommittees that oversee major agency functions, such as procurement and technology, into a new panel. No news yet on who will be the ranking members.

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TSP closes out 2012 with strong showing

The Thrift Savings Plan closed out 2012 with strong showings by nearly all the funds both for the month of December and the year. The C, S and the I Funds posted the largest gains last year.

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Analysis: Sequestration postponed? What does that mean?

Brian Friel of Bloomberg Government told The Federal Drive with Tom Temin and Emily Kopp Congress' latest piece of legislation both delays sequestration and reduces its potential effect.

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Federal Drive Interviews -- Jan. 2, 2013

Brian Friel of Bloomberg Government and Sterling Beard of The Hill newspaper talk about the new bill to delay sequestration and extend tax cuts. Alicia Cackley of the the Government Accountability Office discusses a new report on the Consumer Product Safety Commission. Cary Russell of the GAO outlines the logistical challenges of withdrawing from Afghanistan.

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Wednesday morning federal headlines - Jan. 2, 2013

The Morning Federal Newscast is a daily compilation of the stories you hear Federal Drive hosts Tom Temin and Emily Kopp 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. In today's news, the federal pay freeze may be extended through all of fiscal year 2013.

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Sequester delayed for two months; pay freeze extension still possible

Rep. Michael Fitzpatrick introduced a bill to extend the pay freeze for federal workers for all of fiscal 2013. The Senate still must pass the bill.

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Union president calls Senate fiscal cliff bill 'bad deal'

William R. Dougan, national president of the National Federation of Federal Employees, said Tuesday the Senate's fiscal cliff bill will lead to a political standoff that will leave federal employees with an uncertain future.

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Details of Senate bill averting 'fiscal cliff'

Highlights of a bill approved Tuesday by the Senate aimed at averting wide tax increases and budget cuts scheduled to take effect in the new year.

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Intelligence agencies faulted for Libya fallout

A Senate report found that changes made by intelligence agencies were the origin of confusing explanations after the attack on U.S. diplomatic facilities in Benghazi, Libya.

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Congress tightens belt, trims spy budget for 2013

House lawmakers voted Monday 373-29 in favor of a Senate-passed bill to slightly boost the president's $72 billion budget request for intelligence agencies, which is still less than last year's $80 billion budget.

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Pentagon debuts float in Rose parade to honor vets

It's been almost 60 years since James McEachin returned home with a bullet still lodged in his chest, finding an America indifferent toward the troops who fought in Korea. Now he will get the homecoming parade he had expected.

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House won't vote before midnight on 'cliff' deal

The House will miss the midnight Monday deadline lawmakers set for voting to avoid the "fiscal cliff." House Republicans notified lawmakers that the chamber will vote Monday evening on other bills. They say that will be their only votes of the day.

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Timing of Unified Agenda release draws criticism from Issa

While Darrell Issa, chairman of the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee, criticized the Obama administration for turning in the Unified Agenda nine months late, one researcher says its more important to focus on the contents of the document rather than the timing of its release.

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GSA calls for travel advisory committee nominations

The General Services Administration is soliciting nominations for individuals to serve on the 15-member Government-wide Travel Advisory Committee. The new committee will oversee agency travel policies to ensure that they are transparent and efficient.

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Soldier adjusts to life at home after Afghanistan

First Lt. Aaron Dunn deployed to Afghanistan in early March 2012. His 4th Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, was charged with engaging Taliban fighters in Kunar Province and mentoring Afghan government soldiers. Upon returning, here are some of his views.

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Congress extends foreign surveillance law

The Senate gave final congressional approval Friday to a bill renewing the government's authority to monitor overseas phone calls and emails of suspected foreign spies and terrorists _ but not Americans _without obtaining a court order for each intercept.

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Federal Drive interviews - December 28

On the Federal Drive show blog, you can listen to the interviews, find more information about the guests on the show each day and links to additional resources.

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Friday federal headlines - Dec. 28, 2012

The Morning Federal Newscast is a daily compilation of the stories you hear Federal Drive hosts Tom Temin and Emily Kopp 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.

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