Federal Eye: August 9, 2009 - August 15, 2009

Spotted: Patent and Trademark Office Director Sworn In

Commerce Secretary Gary Locke (left) administers the oath of office to U.S. Patent and Trademark Office Director David Kappos (right) on Thursday. Kappos's wife, Leslie Kimball, is center. (Photo by Commerce Dept.) Some tough talk on Thursday at the...

By Ed O'Keefe  | August 14, 2009; 10:30 AM ET  |  Permalink  |  Comments (1)
Categories:  Agencies and Departments, Spotted  
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Eye Opener: Stimulus Reports Come Due

Happy Friday! The various state and local governments, contractors, non-profits and universities receiving grants, loans or contracts of $25,000 or more from the economic stimulus package must start registering with the federal government next week. Recipients have until Oct....

By Ed O'Keefe  | August 14, 2009; 6:00 AM ET  |  Permalink  |  Comments (0)
Categories:  Eye Opener, Tracking the Stimulus  
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Park Service's Fee Waivers Yield Mixed Results

President Obama will visit the Grand Canyon (above) this weekend. (Getty) Updated 5:08 p.m. ET The Obama administration’s decision to waive entrance fees at National Parks on three weekends this summer appears to be leading to modest increases in...

By Ed O'Keefe  | August 13, 2009; 1:38 PM ET  |  Permalink  |  Comments (0)
Categories:  Agencies and Departments  
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Eye Opener: Aug. 13, 2009

Happy Thursday! Follow The Federal Eye on Twitter and submit your news tips or other comments here. In the news... • Cabinet and Staff News: U.N. Ambassador Susan Rice gives a big speech at NYU on Wednesday. Why are...

By Ed O'Keefe  | August 13, 2009; 6:10 AM ET  |  Permalink  |  Comments (0)
Categories:  Eye Opener  
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Military Spouses Get Federal Hiring Preference

These smoochers may soon benefit from a new federal hiring authority that helps military spouses get federal jobs. (Getty) Federal agencies will soon have the option of hiring certain military spouses without having them compete for jobs, under new...

By Ed O'Keefe  | August 12, 2009; 5:40 PM ET  |  Permalink  |  Comments (16)
Categories:  Workplace Issues  
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International Frequent Flier Program Expanded

More international passengers will soon be able to bypass the long lines at international airports when they return from abroad. (Getty) Customs and Border Protection announced plans on Wednesday to expand its program for frequent international fliers to 13...

By Ed O'Keefe  | August 12, 2009; 3:41 PM ET  |  Permalink  |  Comments (0)
Categories:  Agencies and Departments  
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List of Guests at Sotomayor White House Event

President Obama and Supreme Court Justice Sonia Sotomayor at the White House on Wednesday. (Getty) Here's a list of invited guests at Wednesday's White House reception for Supreme Court Justice Sonia Sotomayor: • First Lady Michelle Obama • Celina...

By Ed O'Keefe  | August 12, 2009; 11:00 AM ET  |  Permalink  |  Comments (1)
Categories:  Administration  
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Eye Opener: Do New Postage Stamps Help or Hurt?

The U.S. Postal Service issued 20 stamps commemorating classic television shows on Tuesday, including "Howdy Doody." (Courtesy U.S. Postal Service) Happy Wednesday! The U.S. Postal Service issued 20 new commemorative stamps on Tuesday that celebrate several of television's earliest...

By Ed O'Keefe  | August 12, 2009; 6:00 AM ET  |  Permalink  |  Comments (11)
Categories:  Agencies and Departments, Eye Opener  
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The President and the Postal Service

President Obama speaks on Tuesday during a town hall meeting about health-care reform efforts in Portsmouth, N.H. (AP) President Obama made what his advisers believe were his first public comments on the U.S. Postal Service on Tuesday, basically knocking...

By Ed O'Keefe  | August 11, 2009; 7:25 PM ET  |  Permalink  |  Comments (36)
Categories:  Administration, Agencies and Departments  
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Faster Promotions Halted, at Least for Now

The Obama administration has decided to keep the "time-in-grade rule," meaning ambitious federal employees will have to slow their plans to climb the career ladder. The policy requires federal employees in General Schedule grades 5 and above to work for...

By Ed O'Keefe  | August 11, 2009; 1:47 PM ET  |  Permalink  |  Comments (0)
Categories:  Agencies and Departments, Workplace Issues  
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Chat With The Eye!

The Eye took your questions during Tuesday's Post Politics Hour. Some highlights appear below: Washington, DC: I see that the Domestic Partnership Benefits and Obligations Act made it out of subcommittee. I am assuming it will win committee approval soon....

By Ed O'Keefe  | August 11, 2009; 9:13 AM ET  |  Permalink  |  Comments (0)
Categories:  About the Blog  
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Eye Opener: GPO Not at Fault in Leak of Nuclear Info

Happy Tuesday! The Eye is back from an extended weekend at the beach, ready to take you through the rest of August and into mid-September, when he'll break again for his wedding and honeymoon with Almost Mrs. Eye! A...

By Ed O'Keefe  | August 11, 2009; 5:55 AM ET  |  Permalink  |  Comments (3)
Categories:  Eye Opener, Oversight  
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