NEWS: Sept. 28, 2016
Tax Administration | The Nation
Citing Electronic Filing,
IRS Is Cutting 7,000 Jobs
The Internal Revenue Service, citing the growth of electronic tax-return filing, says it will eliminate more than 7,000 jobs related to the processing of paper tax returns in Austin, Texas, Covington, Ky., and Fresno, Calif., between 2019 and 2024, reducing its 84,000-person workforce by 8 percent. Meanwhile, the National Treasury Employees Union is calling on the IRS to retrain employees facing pink slips because of the congressionally mandated outsourcing of collection work for delinquent tax bills.
>> Washington Post, Federal News Radio
| | Paul Ryan and Nancy Pelosi |
Governmental Operations | The Nation
Ryan-Pelosi Deal May
Avert Federal Shutdown
House Speaker Paul D. Ryan and Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi struck a deal late Tuesday to deliver federal aid to address the water crisis in Flint, Mich., and other communities, potentially removing a major flashpoint in negotiations to keep the federal government fully operating past midnight Friday. The breakthrough came after the Senate blocked progress on a stopgap spending bill.
>> Washington Post
Social Policy/Spending | San Francisco
City Bans Contracts with Companies
Based in States with Anti-LGBT Laws
San Francisco will not enter into new contracts with companies based in states that bar civil-rights protections for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people under legislation passed unanimously by the Board of Supervisors. The legislation is an effort to pressure three states: Mississippi, North Carolina and Tennessee.
>> San Francisco Chronicle
California Bans State Travel to Anti-LGBT States
California Gov. Jerry Brown signed a bill that prohibits state agencies and the state's two university system from compelling their employees to travel to states with laws that allow discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation or gender identity.
>> Sacramento Bee
Public Officials | The Nation
Obama Nominates 1st Ambassador
to Cuba in More than a Half-Century
President Obama nominated the first U.S. ambassador to Cuba in more than 50 years, defying opponents of his policy of rapprochement with the government of President Raúl Castro. Obama selected Jeffrey DeLaurentis, a career Foreign Service officer who has served since 2014 as chief of mission in Havana. DeLaurentis will have to be confirmed by the Senate.
>> New York Times
Portland Schools' COO Resigns in Wake of Lead Scandal
Tony Magliano, the Portland, Ore., public schools' chief operating officer, has resigned after spending months on paid leave following a lead scandal that forced out the district's superintendent.
>> Portland Oregonian
Ethics | Detroit
City's Former IT Director Admits Taking Bribes
Charles L. Dodd Jr., who resigned Monday as Detroit's director of information technology services, pleaded guilty Tuesday to accepting more than $29,500 in bribe payments from two information-technology companies providing services and personnel to the city.
>> Detroit News
Federal Supervisor Suspended for Politicking on Job
An unidentified supervisor in the Commerce Department's Bureau of Industry and Security agreed to a 50-day unpaid suspension after acknowledging that he solicited contributions to a Montgomery County, Md., Republican party fundraiser while on the job.
>> Government Executive
Ousted Los Angeles Fire Marshal Alleges Corruption
Deputy Los Angeles Fire Chief John Vidovich, who was removed from his post as fire marshal last month, filed a $5 million retaliation claim alleging corruption in the city inspection programs he administered.
>> Los Angeles Times
Higher Education | Madison, Wis.
University Cuts Students' Work Hours
to Avoid ACA's Health-Insurance Mandate
The University of Wisconsin at Madison is cutting the work week of its student employees to no more than 29 hours so that the university won't have to offer the students health insurance under the requirements of the federal Affordable Care Act, a move some student workers say will make it harder for them to stay in school.
>> Madison Capital Times
Embattled Chicago State U. Enrolls Just 86 Freshmen
Chicago State University enrolled just 86 freshmen this fall, an alarming drop for the embattled public institution which now has 3,578 students, less than half the number it had six years ago.
>> Chicago Tribune
Veterans' Services | The Nation
IG: Imprisoned Vets Got $104 Million from VA
Military veterans serving time in federal prisons received almost $60 million in improper benefit payments from fiscal 2008 to fiscal 2015, and veterans in state and local jails received another $44 million in 2013 and 2014, according to a new inspector general's report.
>> Military Times
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DATAPOINT
32%
Increase in applications by lawful permanent residents to become voting-eligible U.S. citizens from March to June of this year over the same period in 2015, following increases of 28 percent in the first quarter of this year and 14 percent in the second half of last year, according to U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services
>> Los Angeles Times | More data
QUOTABLE
“I am tired. One of the things I am happy to leave in this job is the very public-facing position.”
Kaya Henderson, who will depart at the end of this week after five years as chancellor of the Washington, D.C., public schools and says that while some might be wondering if she wants to move up, perhaps to be secretary of education if Hillary Clinton is elected president, "I would like to serve in a different sector"
>> Washington Post | More quotes
VIEWPOINT
Higher Education/Public Workforce | Jason Delisle
Too Much Student Loan Forgiveness
This campaign season, candidates on both sides of the political aisle have said the federal government should help workers who go into public service repay their student loans. Presidential candidates and other policymakers may be surprised to learn that the federal government already offers a broad and generous loan repayment program for public-service workers. But the latest statistics suggest that the government does too much to help borrowers in public service jobs repay their loans, not too little. Recent figures point to a public service loan forgiveness bonanza on the horizon--one that will significantly distort incentives and pricing in higher education and disproportionately benefit borrowers with graduate and professional degrees.
>> Brookings Institution | More commentaries
Become the Next
PAR Editor in Chief!
The American Society for Public Administration is searching for the next editor in chief of Public Administration Review, ASPA's flagship professional journal. PAR has seen significant growth in its readership, impact and contributions to the field of public administration. The application deadline is this Friday, Sept. 30. For more information, click here. |
UPCOMING EVENTS
Heritage Foundation
Book event: "Resurrecting the Idea of a Christian Society"
Today, noon-1 p.m. ET, Washington, D.C.
Governing
Webinar: "Insights into the Business of Government: Financial Transparency Through Technology Success Stories from the State of Michigan and City of Los Angeles"
Today, 2 p.m. ET
Government Technology
Webinar: "Is Your Future Being Held for Ransom by the Changing Nature of Cyber Security Threats?"
Today, 2 p.m. ET
American Society for Public Administration
Webinar: "ASPA's New Website--Stepping into the 21st Century"
Sept. 29, 1 p.m. ET
Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health and Reuters
Webcast: "Zika in the U.S., Puerto Rico and Beyond: Risks and Response"
Sept. 29, 1 p.m. ET
Association of the United States Army
Annual Meeting and Exposition
Oct. 3-5, Washington, D.C.
>> Full events listings
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