FederalDaily - April 27, 2007
Federal Workers, Retirees Owe $3 billion in Back Taxes
New information from the IRS shows that approximately 450,000 federal workers and retirees are adding
to the country’s $345 billion tax gap, owing collectively a total of $3 billion in back taxes.
The IRS data on delinquent feds, revealed on April 25 by Senate Finance Committee Chairman Max Baucus,
D-Mont., and Ranking Member Chuck Grassley, R-Iowa, prompted the senators to send President Bush a
letter urging him to take the scofflaws to the woodshed. “Those in government have a duty and
responsibility to assure the American public they have the highest ethical standards and are paying
their fair share of taxes,” the letter said. The senators asked Bush to have executive department
heads warn their employees and retirees of their tax obligations and the consequences for failing to
comply. “By not collecting all of the taxes that are owed, federal deficits and debt are significantly
increased,” the letter said. “In addition, an unfair tax burden is foisted on honest taxpayers.”
To see more, go to: www.senate.gov/~finance/press/Bpress/2007press/prb042507c.pdf
:: Back to Top ::
Bill Would Improve Injured Servicemembers’ Mental Healthcare
A new bill could help thousands of injured servicemembers with the creation of specialized medical
centers dedicated to treating war-related mental illness and brain injuries. If passed into law, the
Mental Health Care for our Wounded Warriors Act of 2007 would designate centralized facilities—or “Centers
of Excellence”—to research and coordinate all aspects of military mental health policies
and services. DoD now has no such centers to lead research on those conditions, develop treatment or
train health professionals in the most up-to-date care. The bill would also have DoD develop measures
to reduce the stigma surrounding mental health illnesses—including Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder
and traumatic brain injuries, said Sens. Joe Lieberman, I-Conn., and Barbara Boxer, D-Calif., the bill’s
primary sponsors. “We have no greater obligation than to care for our wounded servicemembers,” Lieberman
said on April 24. To see more, go to: http://boxer.senate.gov/news/releases/record.cfm?id=272975
:: Back to Top ::
Senators Seeks GAO Probe into Gender Gap in Federal Employment
Sens. Tom Harkin, D-Iowa, Hillary Clinton, D-N.Y., and Edward Kennedy, D-Mass., called on the Government
Accountability Office (GAO) to investigate the role the federal government can play in eliminating
the workplace pay gap between men and women. They also requested a review of compensation patterns
at federal agencies, similar to the one GAO recently conducted into Department of Energy workforce
pay. Women are still making only 77 percent of the salaries enjoyed by their male counterparts, while
women of color fare far worse, the senators noted in a letter to the GAO on April 24. The senators
asked GAO to specifically look into enforcement by the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission and
the Department of Labor of current anti-discrimination laws with regard to gender-based differentials
in pay. “Despite the progress that has been made, there is still a great deal to be done,” the
senators wrote. To see more, go to: http://clinton.senate.gov/news/statements/details.cfm?id=272945&&
:: Back to Top ::
|
