• GAO Analysts Organization homepage  &  GAO Union IC Messages  
• GovExec.com — The Workforce 
• Wasington Post - Joe Davidson’s Federal Diary
• FCW.com – Workforce News 
• FederalNewsRadio - WFED: Home Page
• FederalDaily.com > Federal Labor-Management Relations
• FederalTimes.com
• DOL/ESA/Office of Labor-Management Standards (OLMS) – Union Reports and Collective Bargaining Agreements
• OPM news articles & OPM Labor-Management Relations home page
• OPM Labor-Management Relations Glossary
• OPM Employee Relations home page
• Federal Employees and the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA)
• U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission & EEOC News Articles
• Congressional Office of Compliance (OOC) 
• GAO Personnel Appeals Board (PAB)
• GAO INTRANET link

Candidates hint at how they’ll tackle pay issues by Brittany R. Ballenstedt, GovExec.com - October 24, 2008

Get Rid of the Performance Review!  It destroys morale, kills teamwork and hurts the bottom line. And that’s just for starters.  By SAMUEL A. CULBERT, Professor of Management at the UCLA Anderson School of Management, OP-Ed in Wall Street Journal - Oct. 20, 2008

GAO: Defense should address employee concerns with personnel system By Brittany R. Ballenstedt, GovExec.com - September 11, 2008

Defense to probe fairness of pay for performance system By Brittany Ballenstedt, GovExec.com - August 22, 2008

Agencies struggle with pay for performance By Mary Mosquera, FCW - Aug 18

Transcript of Senate Hearing of Federal Employee Pay-for-Performance, Senate Subommittee on the Federal Workforce, July 22

Senate Hearing (Tues, July 22 @ 2:00) Improving Performance: A Review of Pay-for-Performance Systems in the Federal Government  Senate Subcommittee on Oversight of Government Management, the Federal Workforce, and the District of Columbia: 7/22/08, 2:00 PM (EST), Dirksen Senate Office Building, Room 342

Intelligent Design [Intelligence Agencies’ Pay for Perfomance Sysyem] By Alyssa Rosenberg, GovExec.com, May 29, 2008

Intelligence community to launch pay for performance system By Brittany R. Ballenstedt, GovExec.com, May 15, 2008

Re-evaluating pay for performance By CHARLES TIEFER, Commentary to the Federal Times, April 6, 2008 NEWS+ANALYSIS Pay Potential Performance-based raises could stifle employees more than motivate them. By Brittany Ballenstedt, GovExec.com, April 2008

At the GAO, a Union First  By Joe Davidson, Washington Post - October 1, 2008

GAO, union reach interim bargaining agreement  By Brittany Ballenstedt, GovExec.com - 09/29/08

Watchdog group (POGO) unveils government reform priorities for next administration By Robert Brodsky - Oct. 20, 2008

Bush Signs Funding Bill In Final Hours Of FY08  CongressDaily - Oct. 1, 2008   The CR also grants a 3.9 percent 2009 pay raise to civilian federal employees.

Salary council discusses 2009 raise, pay gap data By Alyssa Rosenberg, GovExec.com – September 30, 2008

How to Run a Rescue: Success Requires a Smart, Lean Bureaucracy By Paul C. Light, Robert F. Wagner School of Public Service at NYU, Op-Ed to Washington Post - Sept 30, 2008    Ten ideas Congress should consider to start building toward a more accountable Office of Financial Stability under the Emergency Economic Stabilization Act.

Senate sends 3.9 percent pay raise to President Bush By Brittany R. Ballenstedt - September 29, 2008 

AFL-CIO highlights McCain and Obama differences on federal employee issues By Alyssa Rosenberg, GovExec.com - August 25, 2008

My Party Should Respect Secret Union Ballots By George McGovern, Opinion/Commnetary in WSJ, August 8, 2008

Federal employee groups, nonprofits cautiously optimistic about OPM nominee By Alyssa Rosenberg, GovExec.com - Aug 5, 2008

Unions call for pro-employee leaders at OPM, labor relations board By Alyssa Rosenberg, GovExec.com - Jul 16, 2008

PUBLIC LAW 110–323—SEPT. 22, 2008       122 STAT. 3539
Government Accountability Office Act of 2008   

GAO Act of 2008 (unsigned slip law format)

H.R. 5683 Bill Status Report: Government Accountability Office Act of 2008

President Bush Signs H.R. 5683 Into Law – Became Public Law, PL 110-323 — September 22, 2008

GAO Act of 2008: Presented to President (Cong. Rec. H8935; Sept. 17, 2008) - September 11, 2008

GAO Act Update & Summary of GAO Act - GAOIntranet, September 10, 2008

GAO Act of 2008 (H.R. 5683) and floor remarks from Congressional Record, Pages H7881-H7884 - September 9, 2008

GAO employees to get retroactive lump-sum cost-of-living payments By Jordy Yager, The Hill - 09/09/08

House sends GAO pay bill to President Bush By Brittany R. Ballenstedt, GovExec.com - Sept. 9

House Considers GAO Cost-of-living Change By Molly Hooper, CQ Staff - Sept 8,

Senate Approves GAO Pay Raise, IG Legislation By Craig Jennings, OMBWatch - Aug. 5

Senate passes bill to restore back pay to GAO employees Legislation would offer lump sum to analysts who were denied salary increases under new pay system, Brittany Ballenstedt, GovExec.com - Aug 4. 

Government Accountability Office Act of 2008 (Engrossed Amendment as Agreed to by Senate) [H.R.5683.EAS xml file]

Senate floor consideration on HR 5683, GAO Act of 2008 Congressional Record, August 1, 2008–Pages: S8068-S8073

The Senate passed by voice vote a slightly modified version of H.R. 5683, the Government Accountability Office Act of 2008, under a unanimous consent agreement on Friday, August 1, 2008.  Besides ensuring that GAO employees are provided future cost of living adjustments at least equal to other federal workers, the bill increases by 4% the amount of back pay provided to employees who were denied annual adjustments in 2006 and/or 2007, and requires both employees and the GAO to make retirement contributions to OPM on the back pay.  The House is expected to pass the measure when it returns to session in September, and GAO plans to use FY2008 funds for the back pay if the Act becomes law before FY2009 begins on October 1, 2008.  (From GAOUnion.org/GAOUnion.net)

GAO Salary Increase Passes in Senate By Molly K. Hooper, CQ Staff, CQ TODAY ONLINE NEWS – GOVERNMENT OPERATIONS: Aug. 1, 2008 – 5:45 p.m.

LIEBERMAN AMENDMENT SA 5264 to HR 5683 Sen. REID (for Sen. Lieberman) proposed an amendment to the bill, H.R. 5683, to make certain reforms with respect to the Government Accountability Office, Aug. 1

The Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs, at its June 25 markup session, approved HR 5683, the GAO Act of 2008 passed by the House.  CQ Report on Markup Session, Joanna Anderson, CQ Staff, Jun 25

The Committee adopted two amendments to the measure during the markup:

1. Deleted provision requiring that agencies–such as the Department of Treasury’s IRS and Bureau of the Public Debt–reimburse GAO for financial audits conducted under CFO Act (Lieberman Amendment Adopted); and

2. Added a provision requiring certain employees and GAO to make contributions to the OPM Retirement Trust Funds for retroactive payments provided under the Act to such GAO employees denied their annual across the board salary increase in 2006 and/or 2007 (Voinovich Amendment Adopted).

A third amendment to require GAO to fully fund contributions to the OPM Civil Service Retirement and Disability Retirement Trust Fund was supported by both the GAO Union and GAO management, but it was not offered for consideration at the mark-up (Third Amendment Not Considered).

Text of H.R. 5683, GAO Act, AS PASSED IN HOUSE 

Floor Remarks made by Chairman Danny K. Davis and other Members during House consideration of H.R. 5683, GAO Act of 2008  Congressional Record, June 9, 2008–Pages: H5080-H5084

House passes bill to restore pay, By Richard W. Walker, FCW.com, June 11

House Passes GAO Pay Bill, Minus Investigative Provisions, Dan Friedman, Congress Daily, June 10

GAO Pay Raise Passes House, Minus Drug Language, Molly K. Hooper, CQ Staff, June 9

House Democrats Pull GAO Act from Floor due to Presidential Veto Threat, By Molly K. Hooper, CQ Staff, CQ Today Print Edition, June 3

Hse. Rpt. 110-671 on GAO Act of 2008 (May 22, 2008).pdf 

H.R. 5683 Waxman Substitute Reported by Committee (May 1, 2008).pdf 

House Committee Approves GAO Act of 2008, By Joanna Anderson and Emily P. Walker, CQ Staff: CQ COMMITTEE COVERAGE - Markup, May 1, 2008

House measure gives GAO powers, awards back wages, By Dan Friedman, CongressDaily, May 2, 2008

H.R. 5683 Cost Estimate, Congressional Budget Office, May 15, 2008

Panel approves bill to restore back raises to GAO employees by Brittany R. Ballenstedt, GovExec.com, April 7

Never Say Never by Emily Yehle & Elizabeth Brotherton, Roll Call, April 7 

Subcommittee Approves Bill on GAO Personnel and Pay by Emily P. Walker, CQ Staff, April 3

Markup session by the House Subcommittee on Federal Workforce is scheduled for Thursday, April 3, 2008, at 1:30 pm, in room 2154 Rayburn. 

H.R. 5683, The Government Accountability Office Act of 2008, was introduced on April 2 by Rep. Danny Davis, Chair of the House Subcommittee on the Federal Workforce. 

The legislation would restore the 2006 and 2007 annual across the board increase to GAO employees who met expectations but did not receive the adjustment and will ensure that, going forward, employees who are performing at a “meets expectations” level will receive a permanent pay adjustment that will be equal to the annual pay adjustment authorized for federal employees each year.

The legislation also includes several provisions from H.R. 3268, the “Government Accountability Act of 2007,” introduced by the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee Chairman Henry Waxman on July 31, 2007.

I.O.U.S.A. 2008 from IMDB;  AGORA Entertainment & I.O.U.S.A. - Executive producer site; & visit the Movie’s Official Website

Seeing Red: Buffett, Others Clash On Danger Posed by U.S. Debt By Frank Ahrens, Washington Post Staff Writer, Saturday, August 23, 2008; Page D01

‘I.O.U.S.A.’ on the silver screen By Max Cacas, FederalNewsRadio - Aug 22 
The film, which debuted earlier this year to critical acclaim at the Sundance Film Festival, has since been tweaked by director Patrick Creadon to include new footage since Walker’s departure from the GAO.

Obey: Deficits Require More Than Bookkeeping  The House Appropriations chairman takes a dim view of budget cutters who focus solely on the numbers; he likens them to bookkeepers with cardboard hearts, by Brian Friel, National Journal Magazine, Sat. Aug 2, 2008

Pete Peterson’s Billion $ Foundation to Anchor Second Great Guilded Age, PEU Report – July 21,2008

Vicious Ideologue Renews Attack on Social Security by: Dean Baker, t r u t h o u t | Perspective Monday 21 July 2008

Be sure and check out the Peter G. Peterson Foundation website & read all about the new The Paul Revere of Deficit Distress

For your constant enjoyment, bookmark & partake of Waldo’s new PGPF blog, and be sure and peruse the revised BIO at About the Blogger & Meet Dave: 

As President and CEO of the Foundation, Dave is now free to do what he wasn’t able to do while running the Government Accountability Office: advocate for specific solutions, work proactively with… partners to build strong coalitions, and… bring pressure on Washington to act.

As Comptroller General of the United States and head of the Government Accountability Office (GAO) from 1998 to 2008, spanning both Democratic and Republican administrations, Dave served as the federal government’s chief auditor. Appointed by President Bill Clinton and confirmed unanimously by the US Senate, he was an outspoken, nonpartisan advocate for addressing the major fiscal and other sustainability challenges facing the country. He also enacted transformational reforms at the agency and within the accountability profession.

Although no longer the U.S. government’s chief auditor, Dave continues to serve as a global accountability expert as chairman of the United Nations Independent Audit Advisory Committee. He also serves on the boards of the Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget and the Partnership for Public Service…

BACKGROUND: SOURCE OF FUNDING FOR WALDO’S NEW FOUNDATION 

Blackstone co-founder Peter G. Peterson reaped $1.88 billion from the June 2007 initial public offering (IPO).  Blackstone Group LP has lost 55 percent of its market value since the IPO.

Blackstone’s creative accounting scrutinized: Executives will get a big back chunk of taxes they owe from IPO,AP - July. 13, 2007

Tax Loopholes Sweeten a Deal for Blackstone, By DAVID CAY JOHNSTONNY Times, July 13, 2007

Blackstone Profit Falls 89% on Credit Market Meltdown (Update9) By Jason Kelly, Last Updated: March 10, 2008

Blackstone Goes Public: The private equity giant’s $4 billion IPO in June 2007 changed the name of the game, Newser: Know More. Search Less. by C Miller; Last updated Nov 1, 07

Partial Truth Out on Pete Peterson, StateoftheDivision.blogspot.com, July 21, 2008

Hon. Eleanor Holmes Norton, Del-DC: Introduction of the Legislative Branch Personnel Appeals Procedural Consolidation Act – Cong. Rec. page E1696 (Extensions of Remarks - August 01, 2008)

By Ms. NORTON: H.R. 6822. A bill to require appeals of personnel actions involving the officers and employees of the Government Accountability Office to be considered by the Office of Special Counsel and the Merit Systems Protection Board in the same manner as appeals of prohibited personnel practices involving employees of Executive agencies under title 5, United States Code, and for other purposes.

Referred to the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform - Cong. Rec. page H7808. 

H.R. 6288 (Ms. Norton) Text of bill as introduced.pdf

Senate appropriations subcommittee approves 3.9 percent civilian pay raise, By Brittany Ballenstedt, GovExec.com, July 9, 2008

Locality adjustments fail to erase salary gap, critics say, By Alyssa Rosenberg, GovExec.com, June 27, 2008

House appropriators approve 3.9 percent civilian pay raise, By Brittany R. Ballenstedt, GovExec.com, June 25, 2008

House Appropriations Subcommittee approves 3.9 percent civilian pay raise, By Brittany R. Ballenstedt, June 17, 2008

A 2009 pay raise of 3.9% for the military was included in the House Armed Services Committee passed FY 2009 Defense Authorization bill, Francis Rose, FCW.com BLOG - May 15, 2008

Supreme Court Places Burden of Proof on Employers For Affirmative Defense of “Reasonable Factors Other Than Age”  The Supreme Court has made it easier for employees to establish age discrimination. In a 7-1 ruling in Meacham v. Knolls Atomic Power Laboratory the Court held that the burden of proof is on employers to show that action against a worker stems from “reasonable factors other than age.” CommonLawJournal.com, CLJ Staff, June 20, 2008

A Supreme Court Victory for Older Workers By LINDA GREENHOUSE, NYTimes, October 20

High court aids older workers who claim bias By Joan Biskupic, USA TODAY, October 20

Opinion: No. 06–1505  Meacham v. Knolls Atomic Power Laboratory  Argued April 23, 2008—Decided June 19, 2008 (pdf)

Beginning a Dialogue on Diversity in GAO, GAO Management News, June 17

GAO Blacks in Government (BIG) Comments & Suggestions on the Ivy Study, BIG Memo to Acting Comptroller General, June 13

Cautionary Tale for Black Workers in GAO’s “Pay for Performance” System By Shawn Zeller, CQ Weekly - May 12, 2008

Report Confirms Ratings Disparity at GAO by Emily Yehle, Roll Call - May 5, 2008

GAO to launch employee diversity reforms in response to job performance report By Alyssa Rosenberg, GovExec - May 2, 2008

African-American Performance Assessment Study, Final Report by Ivy Group, April 25, 2008