Paycheck, GAO Bills Advance

The House has passed HR-6073, which would provide that federal employees receiving their pay by electronic funds transfer—as the large majority do–must be given the option of receiving their pay stubs electronically, as well. Sponsors say that while electronic transfers are more secure and cost less than printing and distributing paper checks, many agencies still print and distribute paper pay stubs for their employees, limiting the gains in efficiency from using electronic funds transfer. Meanwhile, the Senate has passed S-5264, which would grant lump-sum payments that would be creditable toward retirement benefits to certain GAO employees who were denied raises in 2006 and 2007 under GAO’s pay-for-performance plan, and guarantee future raises for all but the lowest-performing employees of at least the GS raise applying in a locality. The House previously passed a companion bill (HR-5683).