Soundbytes: Lipstick, Medicare and The Census

On GSA chief says agency will "up its game" with technology

I am a design engineer, working for the Charleston Air Force Base, Charleston, SC. Our Contracting Squadron, who does our purchasing, does not encourage me to use GSA. I am being told by Contracting, that, if I want to purchase a product or service on GSA, that I have to "bid it out" to the world first, to see what price we can get it for. If the "bid out " price is lower, then we have to go with that, not GSA. Contracting says it is a waste of their time to try to purchase anything through GSA. From leonardjohnston

On Health care reform bill targets technology to improve medical services

Typical Big Government approach to most problems in this nation: Study it, model it, and hire lots of Government employees to perform the studies and modeling. Why not just enforce the law and rid the Medicare/Medicaid system of, let's say, 40% of the fraud perpetuated annually on the system(s). That should pay for ALL of the alledged $30+ million uninsured, even including those who don't want or think they need health care coverage. Read more from JERRYHAYNES

On IT problems still hound Census as it readies count

hmmm...

govco already predicting failures in getting a proper census count. what does that foreshadow about the health care reform monstrosity??? From eilspaul

On Defense CIO nominee will face tough challenges

Ms. Takai has no chance of making a difference if she does not clean house, something John Grimes should have done. The culture in NII and ATL is so polluted, that no change will occur until those who are responsible for the billions in IT failure are held accountable...The military leadership is often stymied by bureaucrats who only want to put lipstick on this pig. Hopefully, our new leadership will rid the department of the rice bowls and special interests that have stymied 15 years of failed IT reform. Read more from IT Reformer

On Senators concerned over savings lost due to Networx delays

The real shame is that GSA was never ready to make a full transition. They'd spent money that should have been cash on hand to coer other operating requirements. Also, hasv you looked at the contract? It's a nightmare with over 9,000 clins, it sure doesn't look like any commercial contract I've ever seen. From Concerned Taxpayer

On Commemorating Vietnam Vets in N.M.

This memorial brings back so many memories of a time forever stuck in our memories. Few can understand the true meaning of such a sculpture unless they where there. I think of the Vietnam war every single day and have since I left there over 40 years ago. A war we won on the ground but was lost by those seated in Washington, not knowing the truth of what was going on. Welcome Home brothers and sisters. Mr. Salas, great job. From Richard Tompkins

On Panel Approves Telework Bill

It's about time the congress decided to bring the nation's largest employer into the 21st century. This comes on the heels of the latest rant by the OPM to increase telework among federal agencies which has had little to no effect. Read more from FedHRXpert