Thursday Morning Federal Newscast

This morning's federal news as heard on WFED:

A House panel approves a bill that would provide health care and other benefits to domestic partners of gay and lesbian federal employees. The vote was in the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee. The bill would require the Government Accountability Office to measure its affect on recruiting and retention. It would also force employees to sign affidavits certifying they are in domestic partnerships. The measure now goes to the House floor for debate.

Some federal agencies are intentionally withholding information from the Government Accountability Office, according to a letter from GAO's leader. The document from Acting Comptroller General Gene Dodaro to Iowa Senator Chuck Grassley details a number of instances where executive departments have declined to provide information. Those include the departments of State, Defense and Justice. Some agencies cite statutes that do not specifically grant access to the GAO. But in the letter obtained by The Hill Newspaper, the acting comptroller general says that most government agencies are responsive to the GAO's information requests.

Disabled military veterans could be missing out on valuable federal contracting. The Government Accountability Office says at least $100 million dollars from the Small Business Administration's Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Business program has gone to companies fraudulently. Auditors say the SBA didn't check to see if the firms where eligible for the no-bid contracts. And in many cases, the companies are still getting contracts, because auditors say there are few penalties for breaking the rules.

Veterans Medical facilities won't be waiting for funding next year. The FederalTimes reports the Senate approved $48.2 billion for 2011 in the Veterans Spending bill which now heads to conference committee. The advanced 2011 appropriation is a victory for veterans' service organizations, which have pushed for two-year budget cycles to create a more reliable revenue source for VA hospitals. The advanced appropriation would fund medical facilities, medical services, and medical support and compliance.

The Senate holds the first hearing on the Fort Hood shootings this morning. The Homeland Security Committee wants to know if the shooting was a result of intelligence failures. The Senate Homeland Security Committee will look at the threat posed by homegrown terrorism. Homeland Security Chairman Joe Lieberman is concerned that federal agencies may not be sharing enough intelligence information.

Federal Employees in the Washington Area will get earlier warnings about weather closings from now on. The Office Personnel Management's Director pledges to make the official call by 4AM. Check details in Mike Causey's column at Federal News Radio.com

A Federal Judge Rules that failures from the Army Corps of Engineers led to massive flooding in Hurricane Katrina. The decision could open the federal government to billions of dollars in claims. If upheld, the ruling could force the federal government to pay tens of millions of dollars, if not more, to homeowners whose property was lost or damaged by water from the navigation canal, the Mississippi River-Gulf Outlet.

More news links

Military's 'senior mentors' cashing in (FederalTimes)

Analysts: Industry will survive flatter budgets (GovExec)

Panelists urge continued support for military's anti-smoking efforts (GovExec)

Defense asks industry for help to cut its communications cord (NextGov)

Panel: Treasury nominee made tax errors (GovExec)

Navy finds lax behavior aboard sub in collision

Astronauts get set for 1st spacewalk of mission

Interior increases oversight of mountaintop mining

USFS urged to allow night aerial firefighting

Archives probing Watergate notes for hidden clues