Spending Measure Targets Workplace Issues

The general government spending bill cleared by the House Appropriations Committee contains language reflecting recent proposals on employee performance awards, although limited to the IRS. It states that that agency cannot pay any form of cash payment under a recognition program without first considering the “conduct and federal tax compliance” of the employee. It further would extend reporting requirements aimed at greater transparency in agency conference spending. The counterpart Senate plan, pending a full committee vote there, would meanwhile boost funding for a number of agency IGs and would require that agencies report to Congress on what they are doing in response to IG reports. It also would require new reports on travel by other than coach class or equivalent. Both would keep a requirement included annually since 1981 that USPS deliver mail six days a week, a main issue in efforts to reform the cash-strapped postal service; the House plan originally would have dropped that requirement, but it was added back in during committee voting. In voting on a separate spending bill, the House meanwhile rejected an amendment to bar use of “official time,” which is on-the-clock time federal employees who are union officials may spend on certain union-related responsibilities. That vote likely settles that issue for the year, although a later attempt could yet be made with another bill.