Pay, purchasing, technology top new House chairman’s agenda

Pay-for-performance measures, procurement reform, improved technology systems and President Bush's management agenda will all see a renewed focus under the leadership of Rep. Tom Davis, R-Va., the newly appointed chairman of the House Government Reform Committee.

Davis, who chaired the Government Reform Subcommittee on Technology and Procurement Policy in the 107th Congress, was awarded the full committee chairmanship on Wednesday, beating out Reps. Christopher Cox, R-Calif., and Christopher Shays, R-Conn., who also had expressed interest in leading the panel.

While Davis is still settling on a firm agenda for the 108th Congress, he did float a few ideas in a statement released following his appointment.

"We need to create a performance-oriented civil service structure so that talented, committed Americans are drawn to public service and remain here," Davis said. "We need to closely monitor large-dollar federal contracts to make sure we're getting what we want, how we want it, and maximizing the taxpayers' dollar. We need to tear down the stovepipe structures that have characterized government technology systems, to improve cross-agency communication and lower costs."

Davis' appointment was greeted warmly by many in the federal technology and procurement arenas. Last year he was able to win passage of some procurement reform measures, and a spokesman for Davis said the lawmaker would introduce more acquisition reform legislation this year.

Under Davis, the committee is likely to function very differently than it did under its previous chairman, Dan Burton, R-Ind., who focused much of his attention on rooting out scandal at the Clinton White House.

"It's like going from the darkest night to the lightest day," said Steve Kelman, a professor at the John F. Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University and a former administrator of the Office of Federal Procurement Policy. "He has consistently been a strong advocate of a well-functioning procurement system and he has been willing to work in a bipartisan way for improved government management and better government performance. His taking over the chairmanship is good news for people interested in good government, and I say that as a Democrat."

Kelman said he hoped Davis would seek additional training funds for acquisition workers and push "share-in-savings" contracts, under which vendors would cover the up-front funding of a project in return for part of the savings that result.

Davis co-sponsored an e-government bill signed by President Bush last month, authorizing $345 million for interagency technology initiatives.

"Just in the two years that he was subcommittee chair, he was more bold, did more oversight and looked into more areas," said Olga Grkavac, executive vice president of the Information Technology Association of America. "I think with the chairmanship of the full committee he will have so many more resources and staff, as well as jurisdiction to be even more comprehensive and more bold in terms of legislative initiatives. With his understanding of technology and his practical experience he can really look to enhance the promise of technology across government." Beth Moten, legislative director for the American Federation of Government Employees, said her organization would like to see the committee focus on salary and job security issues.

"Pay and benefits sometimes are not comparable with private sector salaries, and I would like to see the committee try to address that in a way that is fair to federal workers, along with important job security concerns that employees have in light of the Bush administration's aggressive campaign to contract out 850,000 jobs," Moten said. According to National Treasury Employees Union President Colleen Kelley, Davis' direct manner and understanding of the federal workforce has led to a good working relationship between the lawmaker and the union over the years.

"We don't necessarily agree on every issue 100 percent of the time, but he's always been accessible to discuss the issues of importance to federal employees and he has always been straightforward about his position on issues," Kelley said. "That's the way I like to do business."

As for Davis' plans for a more performance-oriented civil service structure, Kelley said any pay-for-performance measures needed to be paired with a commitment to increase funding for pay and benefits and to implement a more effective employee appraisal system.

"Federal employees are not afraid of performance-oriented systems, as long as there are credible appraisals systems," Kelley said. "I hope that if Congress is going to support changes in this area they are going to support the resources needed to make it happen."