Federal Eye: March 1, 2009 - March 7, 2009
Obama's Cabinet Heads: Players or Props?
Secretaries Solis, Holder, Vilsack, LaHood and Salazar played loyal surrogates this week, backing up President Obama's sales pitch for the economic recovery package. As President Obama spent much of his week touting the benefits of the economic stimulus package,...
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Ed O'Keefe
| March 6, 2009; 4:57 PM ET |
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Agencies and Departments, Gold Star
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Report Details Fraud and Abuse at TVA
A two-year review by the inspector general's office at the Tennessee Valley Authority finds that staffers made millions of dollars of questionable purchases on credit cards provided by the government-backed corporation. Staffers spent more than $360,000 over two years on...
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Ed O'Keefe
| March 6, 2009; 6:10 AM ET |
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Eye Opener: March 6, 2009
Embedded video from CNN Video Happy Friday! In the clip above, watch Dr. Sanjay Gupta explain to Larry King why he withdrew his name from consideration to serve as the next surgeon general. Gupta said: "It really came down to...
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Ed O'Keefe
| March 6, 2009; 5:30 AM ET |
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Eye Opener
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Consensus for 5-Year Census Director Term
Congressional hearings on the fate of the 2010 Census started with the House this morning and ended on the Senate side this afternoon. Representatives from the Government Accountability Office reiterated their concerns that the Bureau has not properly prepared for...
By
Ed O'Keefe
| March 5, 2009; 6:00 PM ET |
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Agencies and Departments, Congress, Oversight
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USDA Contractor Disputes Charge of Political Favoritism
The man singled out by Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack during Wednesday’s White House press briefing as the face of wasteful government spending and political favoritism today defended his credentials and disputed the secretary's suggestion that he was awarded a USDA...
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Ed O'Keefe
| March 5, 2009; 5:10 PM ET |
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Census Reaches New Heights in Cost, Staffing
The total operation and analysis of the 2010 Census will cost more than $14 billion by the time of its completion in 2012, making it the most expensive head count in American history, according to a new report by the...
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Ed O'Keefe
| March 5, 2009; 12:01 PM ET |
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Agencies and Departments, Congress, Oversight
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Eye Opener: March 5, 2009
Happy Thursday! The Eye will spend his day on Capitol Hill attending House and Senate hearings about the future and past of the U.S. Census Bureau. Look for updates here on the blog and follow The Eye on Twitter...
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Ed O'Keefe
| March 5, 2009; 7:43 AM ET |
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Vilsack, Napolitano Find Ways to Trim the Fat
Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano and Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack announce budget savings at their respective departments on Wednesday at the White House. (Photo by Post) On the same day President Obama announced an overhaul of government procurement practices,...
By
Ed O'Keefe
| March 4, 2009; 5:20 PM ET |
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Eye Opener: March 4, 2009
Happy Wednesday! Posting will be light today as The Eye and colleague Akira Hakuta travel to Front Royal, Va. to record our second "Eye On..." video profile of federal government employees with cool/unique jobs. You may have noticed the...
By
Ed O'Keefe
| March 4, 2009; 6:39 AM ET |
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Former Boss, Unions Applaud Berry Nomination
As he did when his name first surfaced, John Berry has earned the praise of his former boss, Rep. Steny Hoyer (D-Md.) and the top federal workers unions he will work with should be win confirmation as director of the...
By
Ed O'Keefe
| March 3, 2009; 4:02 PM ET |
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Administration, Workplace Issues
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Obama Marks Interior's 160th Anniversary
During a brief appearance to mark the 160th anniversary of the Department of Interior, President Obama formally announced plans to restore elements of the Endangered Species Act and called out provisions of his economic recovery plan that will help...
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Ed O'Keefe
| March 3, 2009; 3:20 PM ET |
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John Berry Named OPM Director
John Berry has been nominated to serve as director of the Office of Personnel Management. (Photo by Post) As reported by The Eye in 44: President Obama intends to nominate John Berry to serve as the next director of...
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Ed O'Keefe
| March 3, 2009; 3:08 PM ET |
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Federal Union Boss Calls Limbaugh's Comments 'Unacceptable'
Colleen M. Kelley, president of the National Treasury Employees Union that represents more than 150,000 federal employees, joined the fight against Rush Limbaugh this morning, criticizing the radio talk show host for his recent comments on President Obama. “Rush Limbaugh...
By
Ed O'Keefe
| March 3, 2009; 11:10 AM ET |
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Eye Opener: March 3, 2009
L'ENFANT PLAZA -- Happy Tuesday! The Eye is at the NTEU legislative conference at the L'Enfant Plaza Hotel for the morning session and heads later today to President Obama's address at the Department of Interior to mark its 160th...
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Ed O'Keefe
| March 3, 2009; 8:30 AM ET |
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Bill Would Separate Census From Commerce Dept.
House Democrats will unveil a measure Tuesday that splits the U.S. Census Bureau from the Commerce Department and makes it an independent government agency similar in design to the National Institutes of Health or NASA. The proposal comes in the...
By
Ed O'Keefe
| March 2, 2009; 4:45 PM ET |
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Administration, Congress
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FY-Eye: Federal Budget-Saving Tips
The Eye occasionally highlights research papers, speeches, or other media reports worth your time, or "For Your Eye." As Congress prepares to consider President Obama's budget proposals, the Project on Government Oversight has issued a series of interesting recommendations that...
By
Ed O'Keefe
| March 2, 2009; 4:30 PM ET |
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Obama Takes His B-Ball Game to Interior Dept.
In this file photo, President Obama shoots hoops in Union Mills, Ind. on May 1, 2008. (AP Photo/Ron Edmonds) After attending a Washington Wizards-Chicago Bulls basketball game on Friday night, President Obama played some ball on Saturday at the...
By
Ed O'Keefe
| March 2, 2009; 11:45 AM ET |
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Challenges Await Sebelius at HHS
President Obama will nominate Kansas Gov. Kathleen Sebelius (D) today as secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services, a job originally offered to former Senate majority leader Tom Daschle, who withdrew last month due to issues with back...
By
Ed O'Keefe
| March 2, 2009; 6:15 AM ET |
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Agencies and Departments
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'Liberal Leave' for D.C.-Area Federal Offices
Washington, D.C. may look something like this by day's end. Washington, D.C.-area federal offices will operate today under "liberal leave" or "unscheduled leave" and delayed arrival status, meaning employees who cannot make it to work can request off, or...
By
Ed O'Keefe
| March 2, 2009; 4:22 AM ET |
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