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Archive for October 7th, 2005

Telework

Topic: Telework
07. October 2005 Comments
Re: Work Schedules
by Anonymous on 2005.10.07 01:31PM EDT  |

In addition to work schedules, I am interested
in what the future holds for telework. I know that there are 5 agencies
who had targets for participation in telework, and if they did not meet
their targets, stood to lose $5 million from their budget. They met
their targets and did not lose the money. Will this approach be used
for other federal agencies? It is time that the federal government
moved into the 21st century and realized that with a phone, fax, and
computer, many federal employees can do their jobs from anywhere.
Instances such as Hurricane Katrina, 9/11 and other calamities make
this an important issue. And as the baby boomers retire, it is going to
be critically important to offer this option as a recruitment tool, as
applicants are able to participate in this program in the private
sector. Thanks for the forum.

Coast Guard and Ethan Allen

Topic: Coast Guard
07. October 2005 Comments
Re: How Did The Coast Guard Get It So Right in New Orleans and So Wrong on Lake George?
by Anonymous on 2005.10.07 12:53PM EDT  | 
It is funny. The ship owners such as Shoreline
Tours say they rely on the coast gaurd to tell them how many passengers
are appropriate on a boat liek the ethan allen. Shouln't the ship owner
know the answer to that question based on experience. More here…

More on Taxing CSRS

Topic: CSRS Retirement Tax Issue
07. October 2005 Comments 




Re: Taxing CSRS Retirement Contributions


by Anonymous on 2005.10.07 12:28PM EDT  | 


As a CSRS member with 26 years of Federal

service, I have long suppressed the fear that my employeer would “mess”

with my retirement system. My theory has been, that as the number of

CSRS members declined, the ability to resist such attempts would

deteriorate, thus making this group an easy target. 

My hope is that our Lawmakers could take the 'high road' and honor the

contract they have with their employees. After all, is the amount of

revenue gained worth the negative message sent to those talented

individuals they want to attract? Do our Lawmakers want to align

themselves with the likes of Enron officals or are they willing to

forgo the short term gain for the long term benifit? 

We in the Civil service, whether FERS or CSRS, must face the fact that

the majority of Americans believe, we are overpaid and underproductive.

This belief fosters the notion that there is political gain to be had

by picking on that group.


 In my opinion, this starts a downward spiral that may result in

the general population railing against the obscene retirement benifits

our Lawmakers create for themselves. So, Mr./Ms. Lawmaker if greed is

your motive, you might want to think twice about picking on the little

guy! If you are FERS member you may want to lend your suppport to your

older CSRS co-workers, if for no other reason than sending a message

that your service is to be treated with respect. 



				


				
			


				

				
Work Schedules

				Topic: Work Schedules
07. October 2005
Comments 


				

					


Civilian Work Schedules in the Marine Corps 


by cherokee on 2005.10.07 11:30AM EDT  |  


Cherry Point is doing away with most of its

alternative work schedules and replacing them with a fixed schedule. We

were told it was to increase efficiency. Doesn't make any sense because

we started alternative work schedules to increase efficiency. So much

for trying to save gas and promote a family friendly work place.



				


				
			


				

				
Taxing CSRS Retirement Contributions

				Topic: CSRS Retirement Tax Issue
07. October 2005
Comments 


				

					


Re: taxing CSRS retirement contributions 2x??


by Horatius on 2005.10.07 07:44AM EDT  |  


Come on, guys, it's because, over an average

time-after-retirement period, the bulk of the retirement payments

greatly exceed the sum of the contributions. As for why employee

contributions to the CSRS are taxed, it's because — under the IRS code

– the CSRS never “vests.”



				


				
			


				

				
Taxing CSRS retirement contributions

				Topic: CSRS Retirement Tax Issue
07. October 2005
Comments 


				

					
Re: taxing CSRS retirement contributions 2x??




by Anonymous on 2005.10.07 07:10AM EDT  | 


Its just another way for this administration to help the rich folks. I

have worked for DOD for 25 years and I have never seen an

administration circumvent the law like this one does. Reduce taxes on

the rich, increase taxes on the middle class and poor and look you

right in the eye when they are telling you that they are going to tax

your retirement going in and coming out. They have no shame because

they think god is on their side. They ought to read what the good book

says about mercy.



				


				
			


				

				
Budget Concerns

				Topic: Budget Allocation/Infrastructure
07. October 2005
Comments 


				

					




Budget Concerns


by Anonymous on 2005.10.07 08:08AM EDT  | 



A major concern to me is the allocation of

funds by agencies to their various program areas. There is a serious

lack of concern to give the $$$ to programs regardless of the budget

language. My agency consistently spends their appropriation on pet

projects and ignores the infrastructure — this is definitely the path

to ruin. It infuriates me as a taxpayer and frustrates me as a manager.




 

				


				
			


				

				
Taxing Feds' Income when TDY overseas

				Topic: Contracting and contractors,  Feds Working Overseas
07. October 2005
Comments 


				

					












by Anonymous on 2005.10.07 10:11AM EDT  | 


I am a federal employee aerving in IRAQ. I

work beside Uniformed military and DOD contractors. Uniformed military

are given a tax exemption on all pay and allowances up to $5600.00 per

month. DOD contractors pay is tax exempt up to the first $80,000.00 per

year. I am paying 37% + taxes including Fedaeral income; State income

and Local Income to the locality I am TDY from. Why hasn't congress

given federal employees working in a war zone relief from taxes? My

foreign posting and danger pay are fully taxed as well while uniformed

military's danger pay is a tax free allowance. Why?


by Anonymous at 10:06AM (EDT) on Oct 7, 2005  |  

I too am interested in this. 


I have deployed numerous times to Kosovo, Kuwait and Iraq and have asked this same question. 


I am told there is legislation going through congress to have a

part of our pay be nontaxable, however that legislation has been “going

through congress” for several years and thus far no action. 


I was told we are such a small group of persons that the folks in

congress don't worry about us because we are not a large body of

people. 


I beg to differ as all DOD and DAC personnel make up a pretty large block of people deploying to Hostile Fire Zones. 


One of the DOD personnel I work with was recently killed in a mortar attack in Iraq so I guess we ARE in a hostile fire zone. 


Another point is when we do deploy, we are given orders, just like the

soldiers we support and are expected to remain in the Hostile Fire Zone

even if the soldiers are evacuated. 


All I can say is we should all be writing our congresspersons and keep this legislation going until it passes.







 







				


				
			


				

				
Performance Based Pay

				Topic: Pay for Performance
07. October 2005
Comments 


				

					
Re: Best Places to Work and Performance-Based Pay

by Anonymous on 2005.10.07 10:08AM EDT  |

And I just thought that only the Food Safety and Inspection Service

promoted cronies! That's the main reason, in my opinion, that the pay

for performance system is a waste. When you really think about it,

these incompetents are already getting paid more through the cash

awards as well as being promoted over highly trained veterinarians.


Unfortunately, the public will not be aware of the level of

incompetence within this agency until there's a problem that affects

them, i.e. death via food poisioning or a bioterror attack on the food

supply.

				


				
			


				

				
Comments on Are Lobbyists Overpaid?

				Topic: Patronage,  Lobbyists
07. October 2005
Comments 


				

					
Re: Are lobbyists overpaid?
by Anonymous on 2005.10.07 04:10AM EDT  | 
And, when looking at this “type” of lobbying and political paybacks, never forget about one of the last, true vestiges of the old “spoils” system: The existence of the Political Appointees in the State Department — most particularly those sent overseas as Ambassadors. Generally somewhere around a third of U.S. Ambasssadors are politically appointed — friends of the POTUS in one way or another, or the Vice POTUS or the latest current most powerful this, that or the other thing. They often abuse, tax and damage the resources of missions abroad — leading to at many times major distractions from the real purpose of an Embassy being in another country. 

				


				
			


		
		

			
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