Federal News Countdown: Wartime contracting bill, transportation bill and budget wrangling

Mark Forman, the co-founder of Government Transaction Services and former administrator for E-Government and IT, and Rob Burton, a partner with the Venable law ...

Today’s guests on the Federal News Countdown:
Mark Forman, co-founder of Government Transaction Services and former administrator for E-Government and IT
Rob Burton, partner with Venable law firm and former deputy administrator for the Office of Federal Procurement Policy

Mark Forman’s stories
#3 House passes jobs legislation
From The Washington Post

The House approved a measure Thursday designed to make it easier for small businesses to launch initial public offerings, solicit new investors and eventually hire workers.

#2 Senate leaders say deal on transportation overhaul reached
From Federal News Radio:

The Senate killed Republican-backed attempts to overturn several of President Barack Obama’s environmental and energy policies Thursday as lawmakers worked against a March 31 deadline to keep aid flowing to more than 100,000 transportation construction projects around the country.

#1 House GOP may abandon budget pact with Obama
From Federal News Radio:

Less than a year after reaching a budget agreement with President Barack Obama, House GOP leaders now seem likely to walk away from it under pressure from tea party-backed conservatives eager to show voters they’re serious about shrinking the government.


Rob Burton’s stories
#3 House Small Biz Committee introduces more contracting reform legislation
From Federal News Radio:

Lawmakers on the House Small Business Committee introduced three bipartisan bills Wednesday aimed at contracting reform. The bills are part of a larger effort by the committee to increase small business contracting opportunities, boost transparency and give more power to small business advocates in the acquisition process, according to the committee website

#2 Automatic suspension in contracting bill draws ire of industry
From Federal News Radio:

New legislation introduced Thursday aims to reform overseas contracting during wartime – an area an independent commission which studied the matter for four years found led to as much as $60 billion lost to waste. But disagreement persists over whether the bill’s provisions will enhance oversight of overseas contracting during conflicts or create another bureaucratic layer that penalizes contractors.

#1 FBI director warns of potential for cyber attacks by terrorists
From Federal News Radio:

FBI Director Robert Mueller said Wednesday that terrorists may seek to train their own recruits or hire outsiders with an eye toward pursuing cyber attacks on the United States.”Terrorists have not used the Internet to launch a full-scale cyber attack, but we cannot underestimate their intent,” Mueller said in prepared testimony to a House appropriations subcommittee. He said terrorists have shown interest in developing hacking skills, and that the evolving nature of the problem makes the FBI’s counterterrorism mission more difficult.

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