The House panel charged with overseeing federal employee pay and benefits issues has a new chairman.
On Thursday, Rep. Joe Scarborough, R-Fla., was named chairman of the House Government Reform Subcommittee on the Civil Service. The civil service subcommittee deals with federal human resources policy and oversight, including compensation, classification and retirement.
Scarborough replaces Rep. John Mica, R-Fla., at the helm of the civil service panel.
The new chairman has served in the House since 1994. Scarborough's official biography says he supports a balanced budget, a "smaller and less intrusive federal government," and "a strong national defense." Scarborough is co-chairman of the New Federalists, the group of GOP freshmen in the 104th Congress who advocated shutting down the departments of Education, Housing and Urban Development, Commerce and Energy.
Scarborough's congressional district is home to the Pensacola Naval Complex, which employs more than 9,600 military and 6,800 civilian personnel, and Eglin Air Force Base, which employs more than 8,500 military personnel and 4,500 civilians.
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