Federal Managers Association

To view a copy of the letter, please visit: www.fedmanagers.org.

SSA SEES SMALL INCREASE IN FUNDING

As the battle over funding continues on Capitol Hill, the Social Security Administration (SSA) saw a small increase in funding over the President’s fiscal year 2009 budget. However, some continue to ask if the increase is enough to dig the agency out of its disability hearings backlog.

In a letter to the House Appropriations Labor/HHS/Education Subcommittee, the Federal Managers Association (FMA) asked the Appropriators to support the guidelines for SSA’s salaries and expenses account as agreed to in the conference report of the Concurrent Resolution on the Budget for Fiscal Year 2009 (S.Con.Res. 70), which provided $240 million above the President’s request.

“This additional funding is critical for SSA to address an ever increasing number of service delivery issues,” commented FMA National President Darryl Perkinson in the letter. “ In his FY09 budget request, the President proposed $10.327 billion for SSA’s Limitation on Administrative Expenses. Under the President’s budget, the agency would be able to process 85,000 more hearings in FY09 than in FY08. Any additional funds will allow the agency to further tackle this unprecedented backlog.”

A budget of $10.567 billion will allow the agency to fulfill its mission in serving the American people. SSA needs the additional funds to address the severe backlog in disability hearing requests. Currently, the number of pending hearing requests at the Office of Disability Adjudication and Review (ODAR) is over 750,000 and receipts continue to climb. The average processing time is now over 500 days, and in some offices it is as high as 800.

“Staffing levels at SSA are at their lowest since the early 1970s,” Perkinson went on to say. “While the action taken by the Subcommittee is certainly a step forward, any additional funding will have a direct impact on SSA’s ability to hire necessary staff, and in turn, have an immediate effect on this unprecedented backlog.”

To view a copy of the letter please visit: www.fedmanagers.org.

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WHAT’S HAPPENING ON CAPITOL HILL?

GOVERNMENT ILL-EQUIPPED TO HANDLE FINANCIAL CHALLENGES

On June 5, 2008, the House Oversight and Government Reform Subcommittee on Government Management, Organization and Procurement held a hearing entitled, Oversight of Federal Financial Management. The hearing examined the results of the Government Accountability Office’s (GAO) audit of the federal government’s consolidated financial statement (CFS) for the fiscal year ending in 2007, as well as management weaknesses, including improper payments, abuse of government credit cards, and problems with modernization.

Subcommittee Chairman Edolphus Towns (D-N.Y.) said in his opening statement, “As stewards of taxpayer dollars, it is our duty to ensure full transparency and accountability over the federal government’s operations and fiscal condition. We must have a full understanding of the federal government’s finances in order to fulfill this duty. We must ensure that taxpayer dollars are spent as efficiently as possible, and that they are protected from waste and abuse.”

According to GAO, “For the 11th consecutive year, three major impediments prevented GAO from rendering an opinion on the federal government's accrual basis consolidated financial statements: (1) serious financial management problems at the Department of Defense, (2) the federal government's inability to adequately account for and reconcile intragovernmental activity and balances between federal agencies, and (3) the federal government's ineffective process for preparing the consolidated financial statements.”

GAO went on to say, "Simply put, the federal government is on an imprudent and unsustainable long-term fiscal path. Addressing this challenge will require a multipronged approach. Moreover, the longer that action is delayed, the greater the risk that the eventual changes will be disruptive and destabilizing.”

For a full copy of witness testimony and the GAO report, please visit: http://governmentmanagement.oversight.house.gov/.

HOUSE GRANTS FEDS FOUR WEEKS OF PARENTAL LEAVE

Last week, the House of Representatives passed legislation (H.R. 5781) which would give federal employees up to four weeks of paid leave upon the birth or adoption of a child. The Congressional Budget Office estimates that the bill would cost $850 million over the first five fiscal years.

Currently, federal employees can use a combination of paid annual leave, sick leave and unpaid leave under the 1993 Family and Medical Leave Act (P.L. 103-3) for childbirth or adoption. Parents can take up to 12 weeks of unpaid maternity or paternity leave and are limited to 13 days of paid sick leave to care for newborn or adopted children.

“The federal government may refer to its leave policies as ‘family-friendly,’ but the reality is that it’s forcing many of its employees to choose between their paycheck and their new child,” said Rep. Carolyn Maloney (D-N.Y.), sponsor of the legislation.  “As the nation’s largest employer, the federal government should be setting a national standard with workplace policies that are truly family-friendly.”

The Administration, however, has threatened to veto the legislation, claiming federal employees already enjoy liberal leave policies which could be used for paternal purposes.

For more information on the legislation, please visit: http://thomas.loc.gov/.

CONGRESS OVERRIDES VETO, FARM BILL BECOMES LAW

Despite two vetoes by President Bush, the 2007 Farm Bill (H.R. 6124) finally became law last week. The five-year, $289 billion legislation passed the House by a vote of 317-109 and the Senate by 80-14.

In a message to the House when sending the bill back to Congress, President Bush commented, “For a year and a half, I have consistently asked that the Congress pass a good farm bill that I can sign. Regrettably, the Congress has failed to do so. At a time of high food prices and record farm income, this bill lacks program reform and fiscal discipline. It continues subsidies for the wealthy and increases farm bill spending by more than $20 billion, while using budget gimmicks to hide much of the increase. It is inconsistent with our objectives in international trade negotiations, which include securing greater market access for American farmers and ranchers. It would needlessly expand the size and scope of government. Americans sent us to Washington to achieve results and be good stewards of their hard-earned taxpayer dollars. This bill violates that fundamental commitment.”

However, House Agriculture Committee Chairman Collin Peterson (D-Minn.) had this to say about the bill. “Every American who eats should recognize the importance of farm and nutrition policy in everyday life. The Farm Bill ensures that all Americans have access to a safe, secure and inexpensive food supply and provides a safety net for farmers and ranchers. It also authorizes important nutrition programs, encourages environmentally friendly conservation programs, and supports the development of agriculturally based renewable energy, which will help to reduce our dependence on foreign oil.”

For more information on the legislation, please visit: http://thomas.loc.gov/. To view White House objections to the bill, visit: www.whitehouse.gov.

LEGISLATION WOULD END COMPETITIONS FOR ONE YEAR

As part of its fiscal year 2009 spending bill, the House Appropriations Financial Services and General Government Subcommittee approved a provision which would halt any new A-76 competitions, otherwise known as competitive sourcing, for one year. The language follows suit of other pending legislation in Congress. Earlier this year, the House passed the FY09 Defense Authorization bill (H.R. 5658) which would suspend new competitions at the Department of Defense for three years.

“The provision halts this Administration’s controversial and detrimental Federal workforce program until the next Administration has had an opportunity to consider and implement its own workforce policies,” stated Subcommittee Chairman José Serrano (D-N.Y.).

“The Federal Managers Association wholeheartedly supports this freeze on A-76 competitions,” commented FMA National President Darryl Perkinson. “It is time the government steps back and truly evaluates its contracting activities, and whether these activities are bringing the value they promise. We must continue to ensure inherently governmental work remains within the government.”

For more information on the FY09 Financial Services bill, please visit: http://appropriations.house.gov/Subcommittees/sub_fsdc.shtml.

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WHAT’S NEW IN THE EXECUTIVE BRANCH?

FEW AGENCIES EFFECTIVELY BRINGING NEW EMPLOYEES ONBOARD

On Wednesday, June 18th, the Coalition for Effective Change (CEC), of which the Federal Managers Association is a member, met to discuss the results of a new study entitled, Getting on Board: a Model for Integrating and Engaging New Employees. The study was conducted by the Partnership for Public Service and Booz Allen Hamilton.

According to the report, the federal government must do a better job integrating new employees into the workplace. Successfully “onboarding” employees during their first year of service makes them more engaged, increases retention by as much as 25 percent, improves performance and ultimately accelerates time-to-productivity.

The key recommendation of the Getting On Board report is for federal agencies to implement a four part strategy outlining steps to integrate new employees so they are welcomed, informed, gain a sense of commitment to the organization, and ultimately, more effective and productive. These steps include:

• Defining principles to ensure the onboarding process is aligned to the agency mission;
• Identifying specific roles for agency personnel and new employees;
• Implementing specific phases and activities to integrate new employees; and,
• Measuring and reporting on onboarding outcomes.   

To view the full report, please visit: www.ourpublicservice.org.

SUPREME COURT RULES ON AGE DISCRIMINATION

On May 27, 2008, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that federal employees should have the same protections against retaliation for alleging age discrimination that apply to private sector workers. In Gomez-Perez v. Potter, Postmaster General, the 6-3 decision allows federal employees to sue their agencies if they were retaliated against for complaining about age discrimination.

While the agency is responsible if an employee is retaliated against, the agency can take its own measures against the supervisor who did the retaliating. This could mean managers may find themselves subject to retaliation claims. Proper documentation is essential to ensuring retaliation does not take place.

In the decision, the Supreme Court supported a broad interpretation of the Age Discrimination in Employment Act of 1967, which held that the law prohibits retaliation for filing age discrimination complaints just as it prohibits age discrimination itself. The act was extended to include the federal workforce in 1974.

CFC ANNOUNCES RECORD PLEDGE AMOUNT

The Combined Federal Campaign (CFC) posted a fifth-consecutive year of record pledges, with the federal community donating $273.1 million in 2007 to thousands of non-profit organizations across the country. The CFC is currently in its 47th year.

"The CFC is about people helping people," Office of Personnel Management (OPM) Director Linda Springer said of the campaign. "Federal employees feel good about the work they do for America, and I do believe their attitudes about work are part and parcel of their personal desire to support organizations that do so much good in their local communities or on a national basis."

CFC is the world's largest and most successful annual workplace charity campaign, with more than 300 CFC campaigns throughout the country and internationally to help to raise millions of dollars each year. Pledges made by federal civilian, postal and military donors during the campaign season (September 1st to December 15th) support eligible non-profit organizations that provide health and human service benefits throughout the world.

For more information on the CFC, please visit: www.opm.gov/cfc.

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GET INVOLVED AT THESE EVENTS!

EARLY-BIRD DEADLINE APPROACHING FOR 17TH MID-YEAR CONFERENCE

Please join us for FMA’s 17th annual Mid-Year Conference and Management Training Seminar, August 6 – 9, 2008 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania! This year’s Conference, Where Leadership in Government Began, will be held at the Sheraton Society Hill Hotel. Conference attendees will receive a special room rate of $149/night. You can make reservations by calling the hotel at 215-238-6000 and be sure to ask for the special rate for the Federal Managers Association Mid-Year Conference. Reservations must be made by July 4, 2008. The special rate is available August 3 – 10, 2008.

FMA members are now able to register for the conference via FMA’s Web site at www.fedmanagers.org. Fees for the Conference are as follows:

Early-bird: $325 (until June 27, 2008), Regular: $375, (until July 18, 2008), and Late: $400 (until August 1, 2008). Please continue to check www.fedmanagers.org for the most up-to-date information!

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Long Term Care Partners, LLC , FMA Corporate Partner.  Long Term Care Partners is the administrator of t he Federal Long Term Care Insurance Program.  Sponsored by the U.S. Office of Personnel Management, the Program is available to Federal and U.S. Postal Service employees and annuitants, active and retired members of the uniformed services, and their qualified relatives.  With more than 210,000 enrollees, it is the largest employer-sponsored long term care insurance program in the country.  FLTCIP policies are simple to understand and offer enrollees some distinct advantages, including comprehensive coverage, competitive and stable rates, international coverage, and administrative service standards that are the highest in the long-term care insurance industry.  Policies are sold direct through a highly-trained, non-commissioned staff with no high pressure sales tactics – simply sound advice.  Visit www.LTCFEDS.com or http://www.opm.gov/insure/ltc/index.asp for more information.

Blue Cross Blue Shield Association Federal Employee Program, FMA Corporate Partner:  The Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association represents the independent, locally operated Blue Cross and Blue Shield Plans. The 40 local member companies of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association have provided millions of families with top-quality, affordable health insurance for more than 70 years.  For the one in four Americans who carry Blue Cross and Blue Shield cards, the Blue Plans symbolize health security.  Visit www.fepblue.org and join the best, most-recognized group of health insurance providers in the world.

GEICO, FMA Corporate Partner:  GEICO was created over 60 years ago to insure Federal employees.  Over the years GEICO has continuously strengthened its affiliation with the Federal workforce.  Today GEICO has a special program established to support the Federal community.  GEICO’s Federal program participates in the following organizations and programs: GEICO Public Service Awards, which  have honored Federal workers (active and retired) who have contributed to the public good since 1980; and GEICO Federal Leave Record Cards, which for over 40 years have been provided by GEICO to Federal employees, free of charge, to help them track their annual leave.  Find out how much you could save with GEICO auto insurance as an FMA member by getting a line-by-line rate quote at:  www.geico.com

Shaw, Bransford, Veilleux and Roth, P.C. , (SBVR) concentrates its law practice on the representation of Federal employees, with a special emphasis on the representation of executives and managers.  SBVR serves as General Counsel to the Federal Managers Association and is uniquely situated to recognize the interests and viewpoints of Federal managers.  For up to two free half-hour legal consultations and reduced legal fees as an FMA member, please visit:  www.shawbransford.com

The Federal Managers Association and Management Concepts have teamed up to present the Federal Managers Practicum — a targeted certificate program for Federal managers. As the official development program for FMA, the Federal Managers Practicum helps FMA members develop critical skills to meet new workplace demands and deepen their managerial capabilities.  FMA’s leadership fully recognizes the need to prepare career-minded federal employees to manage the demands of the 21 st century workplace with greater competence and fully supports this unique and comprehensive certificate program.  For more information, please visit:  www.managementconcepts.com/fmp/fmpodp.asp

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The Washington Report is published biweekly by the

Federal Managers Association.

Jessica Klement, Editor

The Federal Managers Association, established in 1913, is the oldest, largest, most influential association representing the interests of the 200,000 managers, supervisors and executives serving in today’s federal government.

1641 Prince Street ~ Alexandria, VA 22314-2818 ~ (703) 683-8700 ~ FAX (703) 683-8707 ~

info@fedmanagers.org ~ www.fedmanagers.org

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The Washington Report is published biweekly by the Federal Managers Association.
Jessica Klement, Editor

The Federal Managers Association, established in 1913, is the oldest, largest, most influential association representing the interests of the nearly 200,000 managers, supervisors and executives serving in today’s Federal government.

1641 Prince Street ~ Alexandria VA 22314-2818 ~ (703) 683-8700 ~ FAX (703) 683-8707 ~ E-Mail Info@fedmanagers.org

Washington Report Archives