The Week in Comments: Budget, performance and Wikileaks
The best in reader reaction to recent articles.
A roundup of some of the comments received this week in the GovExec.com Mailbag. All comments are presented in their original, unedited form.
On House passes budget resolution with pay, benefits cuts
I do not understand why the House-controlled Republicans have this anti-federal employee approach towards federal employees. Many of them are very hard-working and skilled employees as I know a few of them personally. The Republicans should not target the federal employees as a mean of reducing our national deficit. Shame on the Republicans for degrading federal employees.
What a double standard this joke of a House has passed. They want to stab the Federal Employees in the back, while not touching their own pay and benefits, which far outweigh the normal employees package. I was a Republican, not anymore! Not with stupidity at the helm!
I'm currently eligible to retire. Obama is making my decision easy.
On Government implements new performance management law
Oh boy, yet another performance management kerfluffal. I'm going to set my "hi priority goal" to ignoring yet another useless management burden that produces absolutely nothing.
This means, in DoD, some retired military officer will get this job as he is a friend of the general. Way to go!
More governmental waste on high end position and priorities that are mumbo jumbo. Can we set real goals that are attainable and measurable?
NOTHING should be put in place unless Congress comes under the same performance plan! Can they pass a Budget on time every year before 1 October?
On Defense contract audits manager accused of unprofessional behavior
It's about time the Central Region got put under the spot light. Now if we can get the Region itself fixed, we may be headed in the right direction. Resources, personnel, RAMs, they all need to realize they support the field offices, not the other way around.
Now thats funny! A Manager actually getting in trouble for something? I have supervisors that can't get their own work done, don't supervise at all, and bend the rules only when it suits them. Why does the government spend all its money and resources holding on to these people when they should have been fired a long time ago.
This article is interesting but when you read the DoDIG report it cites as its source, it becomes very apparent that the abusive management and other DCAA mis-deeds occured back in 2008 (or earlier!!). We all know that was the old DCAA. We have come a long way since then, haven't we??
On TSA union election heads to a runoff
You mean to tell me that something as simple as electing a union is so mired in red tape that there needs to be a runoff election??? What possible excuse could justify some people not agreeing to a simple majority election when the process was designed? And what kind of moron of biblical proportions would agree to complicate something as simple as this? After this fiasco, I'm beginning to question why a union is needed for TSOs in the first place.
This is pretty funny - The treasury employees union in the running to represent a bunch of security guards. What's the correlation between treasury (financial related) and TSA (security and law enforcement personnel)? I don't see one other than union dues payable to the winner - oh, yes, money in the form of union dues, that's the answer I was looking for.
You will vote for a Union or else! What happens if the next vote has more not wanting a union, then what, another run-off?
On Relying on continuing resolutions wasted billions, says Pentagon acquisition chief
Congress wants to come after my petty salary increases and retirement benefits, but wastes billions because they can't do their job; the taxpayers need to keep cleaning house until we get some politicians in DC that will do their job and quit playing the Republican/Democrat Blame Game!
The Democratic and Republican Party do not care how they wasted the Taxpayer's money, they only care about how to make their Party look good! They act like little children. If Congress was put on Pay for Performance they would fall flat on their face for not passing a Budget on time. For failing to pass a Budget they all should be penalized by reducing their salary for each day delay. The American Taxpayer wants results not Continuing Resolutions!
I'm still wondering how many millions were spent on the near shutdown with all of the memos,meetings, phone calls, letters, lost productivity, etc. which was also a result of the lack of a budget.
How about this? For every day after Sep 30 that Congress fails to pass the budget for the new fiscal year starting Oct 1 they are not paid. I'll bet we'd see them do their jobs them. Hey - if I don't do my job I won't get paid. It should be the same for Congress.
On New online assessment for government job applicants
Ah, taking tests. Been through that on job applications before. You spend the time to brush up on things, take the test, pass it, and you still aren't guaranteed the job even after all that headache. Besides, it leaves room for corruption like those "certain" favorite candidates being provided test "answers" by "those in the know", much like KSA questions and "appropriate responses" happened to be "leaked out" to the favorites especially for a short open application period. Who gauges the appropriateness of the questions? Are they going to go through being deemed politically correct, fair, and reasonable?
Huh? Why can't the government use a resume and interview process like the private sector? All these tools do is ensure the insular nature of federal service and the over complication of the hiring process.
Just another automated system because Government Human Resources people won't read applications like all the HR people in the private sector do. What's so complicated about reviewing resumes of job applicants?
On WikiLeaks suspect to be moved to Fort Leavenworth
The poor young man is a scapegoat. No lowly private had privledge to all that information. A big cover up from the top!!!
This man is despicable and shouldn't be allowed any privileges. Why would he deserve privileges and why are you apologizing for his treatment? He deserves no sympathy. My husband served 30 years in the Air Force in a top secret position. He "never" talked about his job at all and still doesn't. This man is a disgrace to everyone in uniform.
It used to be that a traitor would not be treated like a hero. What is wrong with this society?
I work at Quantico....there is NO doubt in my mind that he was mistreated here...I know how this place operates and it's the most pervasively abusive place I've ever worked. As for "he deserves it". Uh, no he doesn't simply because the people here took it upon themselves to ILLEGALLY punish someone who has not even been tried. So you facists can move to Iran if you want to endorse such practices...I'd rather uphold the principles of this beautiful country.
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