FederalDaily - May 18, 2007
Markey Seeks MYSpace, YouTube Reprieve for Soldiers
Rep. Edward Markey, D-Mass., on May 15 asked Defense Secretary Robert Gates to reverse the Pentagon’s
decision to cut off soldiers’ access to popular Web sites such as MySpace and YouTube. Citing
security concerns and technological limits, the Pentagon last week blocked 12 sites from the military’s
computer network. The change limits use of popular outlets for servicemembers on the front lines, who
regularly post videos and journals as a way to keep in touch with folks back home. Markey noted that
he did not see how blocking just 12 sites really improved military security since countless others
remain available. And, he did not agree with the concerns over maintaining an adequate bandwidth because
the Pentagon exempted Internet gaming sites—which are notorious bandwidth hogs—from the
ban. “Given the fact that many of the blocked sites are used by troops overseas to communicate
with their family and friends back home,” Markey wrote, “I urge the Defense Department
to reverse its policy of blocking such sites.” To see more, go to: http://markey.house.gov/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=2832&Itemid=141
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NTEU’S Kelley to Testify at IRS Privatization Hearing
National Treasury Employees Union (NTEU) President Colleen Kelley will testify next week before a
House panel investigating the viability of the IRS’s program that uses private debt collectors
to chase down tax deadbeats. Kelley has been an outspoken critic of the administration’s push
to move as much federal work as possible to the private sector. NTEU has been particularly critical
of the administration’s efforts to take inherently government work—such as tax collections—out
of the hands of federal employees. Two similar bills are pending in both the Senate (S. 335) and House
(H.R. 685) that would effectively end the program. In announcing the May 23 hearing, Rep. Charles Rangel,
D-N.Y, chairman of House Ways and Means Committee, called the use of private companies to collect federal
income taxes “an affront to the integrity of our tax system.” He added that collecting
taxes “is a basic government function and one that should not be assigned to profit-making businesses.” To
see more, go to: www.nteu.org
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Group Wants IG to Probe Education Employees’ E-mails
A government watchdog group asked the Department of Education Inspector General’s office to
investigate whether Education employees have been using private e-mail accounts for official department
business. In addition to the fact it would violate federal law, the use of external e-mail networks
is prohibited because records would not be saved as required, Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics
in Washington (CREW) noted on May 16. Word of the external e-mail network surfaced after CREW filed
a federal Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request with the agency, seeking records related to the
Education Department’s $1 billion Reading First program. The program, which funds childhood literacy
programs, has been fraught with controversy. Education Department officials told CREW attorneys they
were having trouble locating such records because “Department personnel often use private e-mail
addresses,” CREW said. Such a practice would violate the Federal Records Act (FRA), which requires
agencies to preserve records of official business. “Complying with the law is not optional,” said
Melanie Sloan, executive director of CREW. To see more, go to: www.citizensforethics.org/node/28380
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