FederalDaily - September 18, 2007

Bush Nominates Mukasey to Replace Gonzales

In an attempt to avoid a bruising nomination battle, President Bush on Sept. 17 named Michael Mukasey, a retired federal judge and law-and-order conservative, to replace Alberto Gonzales as attorney general. Bush nominated Mukasey, 66, an authority on national security issues, after Senate Democratic leader Harry Reid said he would block another potential top nominee, former U.S. Solicitor General Theodore Olson. Reid and many other Democrats consider Olson—who represented Bush in the court fight over the 2000 presidential elections—as too partisan. Mukasey, appointed by President Reagan to the federal bench in New York, presided over a number of high-profile cases, including the trial of the so-called “Blind Sheikh,” Abdel Rahman, and others charged with plotting the 1993 bombing of the World Trade Center and other terrorist acts. In making the nomination, Bush said: “Judge Mukasey brings impressive credentials to this task. Throughout his time on the bench Judge Mukasey was widely admired for his brilliance and his integrity.” To see more, go to: www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2007/09/20070917.html

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Army Offers Retention Bonus to Captains

Eligible Army captains can receive a $25,000 bonus by agreeing to a three-year active duty extension, the Army said last week. The new awards are part of the Army’s Critical Skills-Retention Bonus (CSRB) effort and are available to more than 16,000 regular-Army captains who agree to remain on active duty beyond their initial active-duty obligations. The bonus is part of “menu of incentives” targeting officers willing to remain on active duty. In addition to the cash, the other incentives include graduate school, military schooling, branch or functional area transfer or post of choice. The bonus is available to captains with dates of rank of April 1, 2002 or later. Officers serving in high-needs areas can receive higher bonuses. For example, officers commissioned in aviation, transportation, infantry, field artillery and military intelligence are eligible for a $35,000 CSRB. To see more, go to: www.army.mil/-news/2007/09/13/4848-captains-now-eligible-for-25k-retention-bonus.

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Controllers File Lawsuit Alleging Improper Mold Removal

Air traffic controllers from the Detroit Metro Air Traffic Control Tower filed a lawsuit alleging that the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has failed to properly address a nearly three-year-old problem of toxic black mold at the facility that has sickened controllers. The lawsuit alleges that FAA contractors failed to properly remove the mold, provide a work plan for effective removal of mold contamination or advise the FAA of the deficiencies in their efforts, said Vince Sugent, National Air Traffic Controllers Association (NATCA) Detroit Tower facility representative. The problem began in January 2005 with efforts to remove mold and correct a moisture problem in the tower. The complaint alleges that toxic mold remains in the building, NATCA said in a Sept. 14 statement. “The air traffic controllers at the Detroit Metro Tower continue to be exposed to toxic microbes and are suffering significant health problems,” said Sugent. “The controllers are also concerned with reprisal for coming forward.”  To see more, go to: www.natca.org/mediacenter/press-release-detail.aspx?id=454.

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