Category: Government Executive

Obama signs debt ceiling suspension, ‘No Budget, No Pay’ into law

Obama signs debt ceiling suspension, ‘No Budget, No Pay’ into law

Carolyn Kaster/AP

President Obama has signed Congress’ temporary debt ceiling suspension into law, including the “No Budget, No Pay” provision.

The law will lift the current debt limit of $16.4 trillion through May 18, allowing the federal government to continue borrowing to pay its bills until then. It also prohibits lawmakers from getting paid should they fail to pass a fiscal 2014 budget. The funds would be held in an escrow account until the budget was passed. If an agreement is not reached, the salaries would resume at the start of the 114th Congress in January 2015. Continue reading “Obama signs debt ceiling suspension, ‘No Budget, No Pay’ into law”

House passes balanced budget bill

House passes balanced budget bill

Rep. Tom Price, R-Ga., a member of the House Budget Committee
Rep. Tom Price, R-Ga., a member of the House Budget Committee J. Scott Applewhite/AP

The House on Wednesday passed legislation that directs President Obama to submit a balanced budget plan to Congress this spring.

The Require a Plan Act (H.R. 444) compels Obama to submit a supplemental budget by April 1 if his fiscal 2014 budget blueprint does not include a plan to balance the government’s books. That supplemental budget would outline a long-term deficit reduction strategy and timeline for balancing the budget. The chamber approved the legislation, shepherded by Rep. Tom Price, R-Ga., and the GOP leadership, after debating it Wednesday morning.

The Democratic-controlled Senate is unlikely to take up the bill. Continue reading “House passes balanced budget bill”

President asks for second sequester delay

President asks for second sequester delay

 
Carolyn Kaster/AP

This story has been updated throughout.

President Obama on Tuesday urged lawmakers to again delay the automatic, governmentwide spending cuts before they take effect on March 1.

Congress should pass a short-term package that includes spending cuts and tax reforms to postpone sequestration for a few months if they cannot agree on a longer-term deficit reduction plan by the March 1 deadline, Obama said during a White House press conference. Continue reading “President asks for second sequester delay”

Feds anticipate the worst as spending cuts loom

Feds anticipate the worst as spending cuts loom

Shutterstock.com/AISPIX by Image Source

Most federal workers believe their agency will have to furlough employees if sequestration happens and remains in effect, according to a poll of Government Executive readers.

Nearly 70 percent of more than 4,000 respondents expected furloughs as a result of the automatic, across-the-board spending cuts — despite the fact that the Office of Management and Budget has said they are a last resort. Thirty-eight percent said they believed they would be furloughed, while 35 percent considered it a possibility, and 27 percent did not think they would be affected. If Congress does not act to further delay or reverse sequestration, it will go into effect on March 1. Continue reading “Feds anticipate the worst as spending cuts loom”

Federal managers retain wrong employees, feds say

Federal managers retain wrong employees, feds say

Photodisc

Federal employees worry their agencies are allowing their best employees to leave public service while retaining poor performers, according to a new report.

Less than a quarter of federal workers believe their organization “addresses poor performers effectively,” the Merit Systems Protection Board found in a workforce survey. Only 41 percent said their organization retains the best employees. Continue reading “Federal managers retain wrong employees, feds say”

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