Category: big government

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The Obama administration sets new record for denying, censoring government files

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The Obama administration sets new record for denying, censoring government files

MARCH 18, 2015, 1:41 PM    LAST UPDATED: WEDNESDAY, MARCH 18, 2015, 1:41 PM
BY TED BRIDIS
ASSOCIATED PRESS

WASHINGTON   — The Obama administration set a new record again for more often than ever censoring government files or outright denying access to them last year under the U.S. Freedom of Information Act, according to a new analysis of federal data by The Associated Press.

The government took longer to turn over files when it provided any, said more regularly that it couldn’t find documents, and refused a record number of times to turn over files quickly that might be especially newsworthy.

It also acknowledged in nearly 1 in 3 cases that its initial decisions to withhold or censor records were improper under the law — but only when it was challenged.

Its backlog of unanswered requests at year’s end grew remarkably by 55 percent to more than 200,000. It also cut by 375, or about 9 percent, the number of full-time employees across government paid to look for records. That was the fewest number of employees working on the issue in five years.

https://www.northjersey.com/news/us-sets-new-record-for-denying-censoring-government-files-1.1291278

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GOP Seeks Higher Pension Contributions for Feds, Much Lower Spending for Civilian Agencies

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GOP Seeks Higher Pension Contributions for Feds, Much Lower Spending for Civilian Agencies
By Eric Katz
March 17, 2015

This story has been updated.

House Republicans have once again called on federal employees to contribute more to their retirement, bringing back the effective pay cut in their fiscal 2016 budget blueprint.

Following the precedent set by Rep. Paul Ryan, R-Wis., who no longer sits on the House Budget Committee, new Chairman Rep. Tom Price, R-Ga., included a pension contribution hike for feds as part of the $5.5 trillion in total savings the budget proposed over the next 10 years.

“In keeping with a recommendation from the National Commission on Fiscal Responsibility and Reform, this budget calls for federal employees—including members of Congress and congressional staff—to make greater contributions toward their own retirement,” thelegislative text stated.

While the plan did not specify exactly how much pension contributions would increase, the commission on fiscal responsibility – known as the Simpson-Bowles Commission – recommended “gradually” increasing federal civilian pensions “so that new federal employees ultimately pay about one-half the cost of their pensions, and existing federal employees pay one-quarter.”

A Budget Committee spokesman confirmed that the 50-50 split would amount to a 6.35 percent contribution level from feds, the same level Ryan’s budget recommended last year.

https://www.govexec.com/oversight/2015/03/gop-budget-higher-pension-contributions-feds-much-lower-spending-civilian-agencies/107775/?oref=relatedstories