NEWS: March 30, 2016
Public Workforce | The Nation
Court's Deadlock a Win for Public-Employee Unions
The U.S. Supreme Court gave public-employee unions and their Democratic allies a political and financial reprieve Tuesday when it deadlocked 4-4 over a challenge by teachers in California, keeping in place a 1970s-era rule that lets unions require non-union municipal employees, teachers, college instructors and transit workers to pay a "fair share fee" to help cover collective-bargaining costs.
>> New York Times, Los Angeles Times
New Oregon Law Protects Government Whistleblowers
Oregon Gov. Kate Brown signed legislation, conceived in the wake of Gov. John Kitzhaber's resignation last year, adding formal protections for state employees and nonprofit workers willing to expose corruption, abuse or fraud that might otherwise be covered up.
>> The Oregonian
Governmental Operations | The Nation
Poll: Most Disagree with Cruz
on Zapping Federal Departments
Americans like to grouse about government, but that hasn't translated into support for eliminating several federal agencies, according to a recent Gallup poll. Sixty-three percent of respondents disagreed with Republican presidential candidate Ted Cruz's proposal to get rid of the departments of Commerce, Education, Energy, and Housing and Urban Development. Poll respondents also rejected the idea of doing away with the IRS.
>> Government Executive
K-12 Education | Detroit
12 Principals Charged in Bribery-Kickback Scheme
Detroit Public Schools' new emergency manager announced sweeping policy changes to combat fraud in the wake of felony charges against current and former DPS employees and a vendor. Fourteen people, including 12 current and former principals, were charged in a nearly $1 million bribery and kickback scheme.
>> Detroit News
Maryland Lawmakers OK Private-School Scholarships
After years of resisting and over the objections of the state teachers' union, Maryland lawmakers have agreed to a $5 million grant program to provide state-funded private-school scholarships.
>> Washington Post
Higher Education | California
State Audit Rips University
for Favoring Out-of-State Students
The University of California has been disadvantaging Californians by admitting thousands of students from out of state with lower grades and test scores than state residents but who pay three times as much as Californians in tuition and fees, according to a blistering state audit. The report is a direct rebuke to the university's long-standing assertion that it has used the extra fees paid by nonresident students to underwrite thousands of campus slots for Californians.
>> San Francisco Chronicle, Sacramento Bee
Eyeing Layoffs, Chicago State Is Collecting Keys
In a dramatic sign of how Illinois' budget standoff is affecting higher education, Chicago State University officials are telling employees and students to turn in their keys to campus buildings and offices as the university prepares for possible widespread layoffs.
>> Chicago Tribune
Technology Management | The Nation
GAO: IRS Still Lagging on Data Safeguards
The Government Accountability Office took the Internal Revenue Service to task, reporting that it has not implemented a number of information-security protocols related to systems storing taxpayer data. The IRS agreed with the report, the latest of several criticizing the agency's safeguarding of its IT systems over the last 18 months.
>> FedScoop
Spend Smarter on Mobile Devices, Federal Agencies Told
Federal Chief Acquisition Officer Anne Rung and federal CIO Tony Scott announced a new mandate to save money by streamlining agencies' spending on mobile devices and service agreements.
>> Federal Times
Public Officials | Pennsylvania
Embattled AG Hires County DA
State Attorney General Kathleen G. Kane hired former Montgomery County District Attorney Bruce Castor to fill a new executive position in her office. Kane, whose law license has been suspended as she awaits trial on criminal charges, said she was hiring Castor as her solicitor general to help with executive functions.
>> Philly.com
Michigan County Prosecutor Facing Charges to Quit
Ingham County, Mich., Prosecuting Attorney Stuart Dunnings III, who faces 15 criminal charges including pandering and engaging the services of a prostitute, is resigning from his position effective July 2.
>> Lansing State Journal
Public Safety | Cleveland
Secret Service: No Guns at GOP Convention
The Secret Service said it will forbid attendees to carry firearms at the Republican National Convention in July, neutralizing a debate that had put pressure on the candidates to take a side on the issue. The debate over whether to permit guns flared after an online petition took issue with the Quicken Loans Arena's anti-weapons policy.
>> New York Times
>> Follow GovManagement on Twitter
>> Share this edition: | Veterans Policy
Field of Study
TODAY | 1 p.m. ET
Raun Lazier and Nathan Williamson of the Department of Veterans Affairs' Office of Policy and Planning will highlight areas where academics and practitioners can collaborate and will outline actions for developing a field of study for issues affecting veterans and their families. For more information or to register, click here. |
VIEWPOINT
Public Workforce | Shelley H. Metzenbaum
A Real Chance to Improve Federal Hiring
Earlier this month, Congress passed the 2015 Competitive Service Act, allowing federal agencies to hire each others' eligible job candidates. It is a short law that aims to fix a long-puzzling prohibition that prevents an agency from hiring qualified candidates another agency has identified. Will the Office of Personnel Management move quickly to help federal agencies take advantage of the new law? Or will it get bogged down over promulgating new regulations? I am hopeful that OPM will move quickly. The new law promises high returns.
>> Government Executive | More commentaries
| | A refuge office after the occupation |
DATAPOINT
$6 million
Amount the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service says the 41-day armed occupation of Oregon's Malheur National Refuge will cost the agency, including the tab for remediating damage, with an agency spokesman comparing the refuge after the occupiers left to a house after a wild party and an attorney for a leader of the protest questioning the agency's $6 million figure and saying the government should not use the protest as a blank check for unwarranted expenses
>> Reuters, New York Times | More data
QUOTABLE
“I've been watching that hotel and cursing it. It's horrible seeing that name every day.”
Eric Brewer, a records manager for the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, on the work going on next door to the EPA offices at Washington, D.C.'s Old Post Office Building to turn it into a modern luxury hotel that will bear the name of Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump, who has called the EPA a disgrace and labeled as unfair the IRS, whose offices are also located next door to the national landmark
>> Washington Post | More quotes
UPCOMING EVENTS
Center for American Progress
Discussion: "Harnessing the Talent of DACA and Unauthorized Students at the K-12 Level"
Today, noon-1:15 p.m. ET, Washington, D.C.
Urban Institute
Data talk: "Harnessing Credit Bureau Data for Research: Boomerang Buyers and Strategic Defaulters"
Today, 12:30-2 p.m. ET, Washington, D.C.
American Society for Public Administration
Webinar: "Veterans Policy Field of Study"
Today, 1 p.m. ET
International City/County Management Association
Webinar: "Successful Council-Manager Relationships"
Today, 1 p.m. ET
Deloitte
Webcast: "Insider Threats: What Every Government Agency Should Know and Do"
Today, 2 p.m. ET
Brookings Institution
Address by USAID Administrator Gayle Smith and discussion: "Assessing the Impact of Foreign Assistance: the Role of Evaluation"
Today, 3-4:30 p.m. ET, Washington, D.C.
American Society for Public Administration National Capital Area Chapter
Book talk with Bill Eggers: "The Solution Revolution: How Business, Government and Social Entrepreneurs Are Teaming Up to Solve Society's Toughest Problems"
Today, 6-9 p.m., Arlington, Va.
National Association of State Budget Officers
Spring Meeting on State Fiscal Conditions
March 31-April 1, New Orleans
>> Full events listings
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