Federal Eye: June 14, 2009 - June 20, 2009
Threats of Census Boycotts Nothing New
The Eye has received several calls and messages regarding Rep. Michele Bachmann's comments that she will refuse to fill out anything more than the number of people in her household on her 2010 Census form. The Minnesota Republican says she's...
By
Ed O'Keefe
| June 19, 2009; 5:43 PM ET |
Permalink |
Comments (2)
Categories:
Census
Save & Share:
In Letter, Barofsky Explains Concerns
By Ed O'Keefe and Amit R. Paley Neil M. Barofsky, who is overseeing the $700 billion bailout of the financial industry, tells Republican lawmakers in a letter today that a potential Justice Department ruling on his office's relationship with the...
By
Ed O'Keefe
| June 19, 2009; 3:31 PM ET |
Permalink |
Comments (1)
Categories:
Congress, Oversight
Save & Share:
Eye Opener: Firing IGs an Act of 'Political Courage'?
Norm Eisen, the ethics counsel for the White House, reportedly called the firing of Gerald Walpin an act of "political courage." (Photo by Ricky Carioti/Post) Happy Friday! Was firing Gerald Walpin an act of "political courage"? The Washington Examiner's...
By
Ed O'Keefe
| June 19, 2009; 6:25 AM ET |
Permalink |
Comments (15)
Categories:
Eye Opener
Save & Share:
Glenn Beck Gives Gerald Walpin a Senility Test
Has Gerald Walpin jumped the shark? The White House alleged earlier this week that the former inspector general for the Corporation for National and Community Service was "confused, disoriented" and "unable to answer questions" at a late May board...
By
Ed O'Keefe
| June 18, 2009; 4:13 PM ET |
Permalink |
Comments (10)
Categories:
Oversight, Video Report
Save & Share:
Report: Guns Flow South Thanks to U.S.
A Mexican federal police officer carries weapons seized during an anti-drug operation in Mexico City on Wednesday. (AP Photo by Alexandre Meneghini) The federal government has failed to develop a coordinated strategy to stop the illegal trafficking of firearms...
By
Ed O'Keefe
| June 18, 2009; 11:42 AM ET |
Permalink |
Comments (16)
Categories:
Agencies and Departments, Oversight
Save & Share:
Eye Opener: Obama's Same-Sex Benefits Gamble
Happy Thursday! President Obama's decision to extend some benefits to the same-sex partners of federal employees is steeped in all sorts of controversy: Some say he went too far, others suggest not far enough. "The gay political agenda has...
By
Ed O'Keefe
| June 18, 2009; 6:00 AM ET |
Permalink |
Comments (9)
Categories:
Eye Opener, Workplace Issues
Save & Share:
AmeriCorps IG Tit-for-Tat Continues
Updated 6:08 p.m. ET Lawmakers want more details regarding Gerald Walpin's dismissal at the Corporation for National and Public Service, despite a lengthy explanation provided last night by the White House. Sen. Claire McCaskill (D-Mo.), one of President Obama's strongest...
By
Ed O'Keefe
| June 17, 2009; 4:41 PM ET |
Permalink |
Comments (19)
Categories:
Congress, Oversight
Save & Share:
Obama Issues New Call to Service
As reported by The Eye in 44: President Obama is looking for a few volunteers, asking Americans to dedicate themselves this summer to local community service projects in an extension of his earlier calls to sustain the nation's increased...
By
Ed O'Keefe
| June 17, 2009; 2:45 PM ET |
Permalink |
Comments (0)
Categories:
Administration
Save & Share:
Third Case of Watchdog Interference Alleged
Top officials at the International Trade Commission have removed the agency's inspector general amid a new investigation by Sen. Charles E. Grassley into allegations that an employee took files in the possession of the watchdog. Sen. Charles E. Grassley (R-Iowa)...
By
Ed O'Keefe
| June 17, 2009; 12:39 PM ET |
Permalink |
Comments (1)
Categories:
Oversight
Save & Share:
Obama Extends Benefits To Same-Sex Partners
President Obama signs a memorandum on federal benefits and non-discrimination as Vice President Biden and other officials watch. Gay rights activist Frank Kameny is to the president's right. (Photo by Alex Wong/Getty Images) Updated 6:23 p.m. ET President Obama...
By
Ed O'Keefe
| June 17, 2009; 6:00 AM ET |
Permalink |
Comments (195)
Categories:
Eye Opener, Workplace Issues
Save & Share:
White House Explains Firing of AmeriCorps IG
The inspector general fired last week by President Obama appeared confused, disoriented and unable to answer questions at a late May board meeting of the Corporation for National and Community Service, according to a White House letter (pdf) delivered to...
By
Ed O'Keefe
| June 16, 2009; 11:02 PM ET |
Permalink |
Comments (59)
Categories:
Oversight
Save & Share:
Report: VA Facilities Improperly Sterilized Colonoscopy Equipment
An internal investigation out today finds that fewer than half of Veteran's Affairs facilities selected for random inspections had properly sterilized medical equipment used to perform colonoscopies, despite orders to comply with safety guidelines. The Veterans Affairs inspector general report(pdf)...
By
Ed O'Keefe
| June 16, 2009; 5:31 PM ET |
Permalink |
Comments (8)
Categories:
Agencies and Departments, Oversight
Save & Share:
Lawmakers Question Obama's Dismissal of AmeriCorps IG
FINAL UPDATE TO THIS POST: Read the White House's justifications for the dismissal in this new post. UPDATE 7:10 p.m. ET: In a statement, Sen. Claire McCaskill (D-Mo.) says, "The White House has failed to follow the proper procedure in...
By
Ed O'Keefe
| June 16, 2009; 11:37 AM ET |
Permalink |
Comments (24)
Categories:
Oversight, Supreme Court
Save & Share:
Eye Opener: A 2nd Opinion on the Stimulus
Happy Tuesday! Sen. Tom Coburn (R-Okla.) today will release what he calls "A Second Opinion on the Stimulus," a smart title considering his medical background. The report "contends the Obama administration's stimulus program is fraught with waste and incompetence...
By
Ed O'Keefe
| June 16, 2009; 6:10 AM ET |
Permalink |
Comments (2)
Categories:
Eye Opener, Tracking the Stimulus
Save & Share:
Big Federal Job and Internship Fair in July
They might not bring signs like this, but several federal government recruiters are expected at a big mid-July job and internship fair. Dust off the resume: The Partnership for Public Service will hold its annual "mega" federal job and...
By
Ed O'Keefe
| June 15, 2009; 1:20 PM ET |
Permalink |
Comments (0)
Categories:
Workplace Issues
Save & Share:
Spotted: BudgetBall Champions
David Walker, left, former comptroller general and now CEO of the Peter G. Peterson Foundation, poses with winners of the inaugural BudgetBall Tournament on the National Mall on Saturday (Photo courtesy of the Peter G. Peterson Foundation) Washington, D.C...
By
Ed O'Keefe
| June 15, 2009; 11:28 AM ET |
Permalink |
Comments (0)
Categories:
Public Service, Spotted
Save & Share:
Eye Opener: June 15, 2009
Happy Monday! There are two interesting reads describing behind-the-scenes drama in different corners of government worth your time today. 1.) The Secret History: Leon Panetta and the CIA: Jane Mayer (whose husband Bill Hamilton served as a Post editor...
By
Ed O'Keefe
| June 15, 2009; 6:05 AM ET |
Permalink |
Comments (1)
Categories:
Eye Opener
Save & Share:
