FederalDaily - June 15, 2007
GAO: VA Must Ensure Bonuses Are Tied to Success in Treating Vets
The Department of Veteran Affairs (VA) needs to ensure that the level of its annual
bonuses to senior staff are in measure with the agency’s success at treating
veterans, according to the Government Accountability Office (GAO). GAO submitted
testimony on the matter on June 12 before a House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs
panel looking into the $3.8 million in bonuses paid last year to VA Senior Executive
Service (SES) employees. GAO said VA needs to continue to make sure the proper criteria
are in place for awarding future bonuses. GAO also found that VA executives based
in the Washington, D.C., area consistently outpaced their counterparts elsewhere
in the size of payments—$19,439 compared with $15,268 to officials in the VA
field offices. Also, VA awarded higher average bonuses to its career SES employees
than any other cabinet-level department, GAO said. When questioned about this by
GAO auditors, VA human resources staff “cited the outstanding performance
of VA’s three organizations,” according to GAO testimony. GAO said its “preliminary
review of VA’s requirements for performance plans contained in its 2006 submission
and 2007 draft submission show that VA made changes to the policy requirements for
its performance plans to reflect a greater emphasis on measurable results.” To
see more, go to: www.gao.gov/new.items/d07985t.pdf.
:: Back to Top ::
Measure Would Fix Whistleblower Loophole
A measure unanimously approved on June 13 by a Senate panel would eliminate a government accountability
loophole created last year when the Supreme Court voided certain public employee First Amendment protections,
a whistleblower rights group said this week. The group, the Government Accountability Project (GAP),
said that the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee approval of the Federal Employee
Protection of Disclosures Act, S.274, advances legislation that would plug a hole created by a 5-4
ruling in Garcetti v. Ceballos, in which the court held that the Constitution does not protect
public employees against retaliation by their supervisors for anything they say in the course of performing
their assigned duties. The bill also provides a general overhaul of the Whistleblower Protection Act
(WPA), and would apply WPA protections to a wider set of harassment scenarios—such as security
clearance actions, retaliatory investigations and gag orders, according to the group. To see more,
go to: www.whistleblower.org
:: Back to Top ::
Lawmaker Calls for Study of Tuition Reimbursement for Legislative Staff
An amendment tucked into the FY 2008 Legislative Branch Appropriations Bill would require the Government
Accountability Office (GAO) to study the possible establishment of a tuition-reimbursement program
for legislative branch staff going to school part-time. Under the amendment, sponsored by Rep. Jim
Moran, D-Va., GAO would review executive branch tuition-reimbursement programs and submit a report
to Congress no later than six months after the bill is signed into law. Moran on June 12 noted that
employees for both the executive branch and the Capitol Police have access to loan-repayment and tuition-reimbursement
programs. “Many Hill staffers are in pursuit of a graduate degree at night while assisting Congress
during the day,” Moran said. “Providing educational benefits enticing them to stick around
longer strengthens Congress’ institutional knowledge.” The appropriations bill is expected
to be considered on the House floor next week for a vote, Moran said. To see more, go to: http://moran.house.gov/list/press/va08_moran/pr070612.shtml
:: Back to Top ::
|
