BLACK B3
DAILY 03-09-10 MD SU B3 BLACK
TUESDAY, MARCH 9, 2010 KLMNO S B3
THE FEDERAL WORKER
Pentagon shooting puts focus
on federal building security
derway before the Pentagon in ways easily construed as being
Union leaders want shooting, aides said Monday. supportive of them — we contin-
lawmakers to do more
Separately, aides to Sen. Joseph ue to run the risk of more and
I. Lieberman (I-Conn.), chairman more incidents such as the one at
for workplace safety of the Homeland Security and the Pentagon and the particularly
Governmental Affairs Commit- tragic event in Austin,” Kelley said
tee, said he plans to introduce a late last week.
by Ed O’Keefe bill with proposed federal securi- In an interview Monday, she
ty changes in April, after delaying said she fears that attention and
House members will resume it last fall to account for the shoot- concern for federal security will
discussions next week about fed- ings at Fort Hood, Tex. soon dissipate, as it did after the
eral building security in the wake “These recent assaults on fed- 1995 bombing of the Alfred P.
of last week’s shooting at the Pen- eral employees seem to be moti- Murrah Federal Building in Okla-
tagon — the latest attack on feder- vated by a deep-seated and irra- homa City.
al facilities across the country. tional hostility against the gov- “There was a lot of attention
Government union leaders ernment,” Lieberman said late and sincere focus, but as time
have suggested that Washington last week. passes without another incident,
isn’t serious about addressing Such bold statements are what just in the rush of day-to-day busi-
workplace security, even after a federal workers need to hear, said ness, sometimes it doesn’t get the
report last summer from the Gov- Colleen M. Kelley, president of the ongoing attention that it needs,”
ernment Accountability Office ex- National Treasury Employees Kelley said.
posed serious gaps in protection Union, which represents IRS In an effort to keep the issue on
at 10 major federal buildings. The workers. lawmakers’ minds, union mem-
study gained wide attention upon “So long as we disrespect our bers plan to visit congressional of-
its release, but has generated little public servants — and so long as fices this week to try to secure
public discourse since then. public figures fail to speak out statements of public support for
But the shooting at the Penta- against statements that condone federal workers, she said.
gon, which followed a February acts of violence, and in fact speak ed.okeefe@washingtonpost.com
plane crash at Internal Revenue
BILL O’LEARY/THE WASHINGTON POST
Service offices in Austin and a
Candy Holmes wipes away a tear from Darlene Garner’s face after the couple obtained a marriage license. January shooting at the federal
courthouse in Las Vegas, has
Uncle Sam has no wedding gift for this couple
prompted further attention from
lawmakers.
The House subcommittee on
the federal workforce plans to fo-
W
hen Lorilyn “Candy” counterparts.” cus especially on how federal
Holmes and Darlene Ironically, if that legislation agencies are sharing tips on
Garner get married becomes law, Garner still would threats with local law enforce-
Tuesday, it will be a joyous and not be covered by the spousal ment agencies, which could be
historic occasion. benefits, because the legislation unfamiliar with the tenants and
But an uninvited uncle will applies only to unmarried security efforts at government
lurk among the well-wishers.
FEDERAL DIARY
same-sex couples. The inability buildings in their jurisdictions.
They won’t notice him, but to extend those benefits to the The committee has invited Home-
Holmes and Garner will know Joe Davidson woman who will be her wife land Security Secretary Janet Na-
he’s there. His disapproving makes the government’s politano to attend, but aides said
presence will linger, unseen, but its repeal,” Justice Department discrimination “more obvious, they have not decided whether
not unfelt. lawyers said in court papers filed more apparent, more stark,” she will.
Uncle Sam doesn’t like the on behalf of OPM. “The Holmes said in an interview. Plans for the hearing were un-
Holmes-Garner wedding because Administration also supports She was in the Oval Office in
the couple are the same sex. legislation that would make June when Obama signed a
a71 Officers who shot
Though he does not have the federal benefits such as the presidential memorandum
LINDA DAVIDSON/THE WASHINGTON POST
power to stop the nuptials, he FEHBP [Federal Employees extending limited domestic
Pentagon gunman recall
Pentagon security was tightened last week after a shooting in which a
does have the ability, like a Health Benefits Program] benefits to same-sex domestic the mayhem. B2 gunman opened fire and three officers returned it, killing him.
meddlesome relative, to make available to the same-sex partners of federal employees.
his displeasure known. partners of federal employees. The memo covered long-term
While Sam provides a nice . . . Nonetheless, the Executive care insurance and the use of
package of benefits that cover Branch must apply and faithfully federal employee sick leave to
spouses of his staff members, he’s execute the laws as they stand . . . care for ill domestic partners.
As a federal worker, do you feel safe in your place of
not going to give that wedding even where it disagrees with Holmes, 53, and Garner, 61,
work? If you’re not a federal worker, do you think the
gift to Holmes, who has served them as a policy matter, as it reflected on their relationship
him for 33 years, and Garner. does here.” and federal law after their
government is doing enough to protect federal
Holmes, an information The papers were filed in a case wedding rehearsal on Sunday at
technology manager at the brought by Karen Golinski, a the Human Rights Campaign
facilities near you?
Government Accountability lawyer employed by the U.S. building. Both are ministers in a71 E-mail your answers to federaleye@washingtonpost.com and please include your full name, home town and the
Office, will make history when Court of Appeals for the 9th the Metropolitan Community agency for which you work. We might use your comments in The Washington Post.
she and Garner, along with Circuit, who has sued OPM Churches and plan a religious
others, become the first same-sex because it says health insurance matrimonial ceremony later this
couples to legally marry in the benefits available to federal year. WHAT YOU SAID
District. They are marriages that spouses may not be provided to Despite DOMA, Holmes said,
Uncle Sam won’t recognize. her wife. They were wed in “I’m glad and appreciative for After Thursday’s shooting at it that much. I saw the reports on James Paul, a University of
Most, but not all, of Holmes’s California when same-sex the opportunity to marry, no the entrance to the Pentagon — the news [about the Pentagon Maryland student and a federal
co-workers, however, are marriages were legal. matter what the government which ended with the wounding shooting]. I think these are intern, outside the USDA
supportive. House and Senate committees does.” of two security officers and the isolated incidents, and I don’t building on Independence
The Defense of Marriage Act have approved legislation that Though the federal death of shooter John Patrick feel threatened. I feel safe, Avenue.
prevents him from honoring would provide benefits to government won’t recognize her Bedell — Washington Post especially with all the security — Sandhya Somashekhar,
same-sex marriages. It’s a law the same-sex partners of federal marriage, she said her federal reporters visited several federal around these buildings,” said staff writer
Obama administration says it employees. Holmes testified in government co-workers, at least sites.
must enforce, even though favor of the House bill in July, many of them, don’t have a “They are more alert now. Ten
President Obama doesn’t like it. saying she wanted to “bear problem with it. “The workplace years ago, they didn’t care what
Just a week ago, the Justice witness openly as a lesbian has been very positive, very you did. Now they do,” said
Feingold, McCain try to trim appointees
Department told a judge in federal employee who seeks fair affirming,” she said. Elaine McNeil, a 21-year
California that because of and equal treatment.” Her supervisor — a man — has Pentagon employee who echoed Sens. Russ Feingold (D-Wis.) of nearly $900 million over 10
DOMA, the Office of Personnel “It is disturbing and even offered to organize a comments of several Defense and John McCain (R-Ariz.) on years.
Management must block benefits demoralizing to be deemed a wedding shower. Department veterans when she Monday introduced a bill to slash Presidents generally “believe
to the wife of a woman employed second-class citizen and worker,” “I was so struck by it, it drew said she feels safer now than the number of presidential politi- that the more political appoint-
by a federal court. her testimony continued, “and to tears,” she said of the offer. For before the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks. cal appointees, both full-time and ees you get into office, the more
“As the President has stated be told through unfair policies years she had attended such — Ann Scott Tyson, staff writer part-time, from about 3,500 to responsive the bureaucracy be-
previously, this Administration and unjust practices that I events for others, she said, 2,000 employees. comes,” said New York University
does not support DOMA as a cannot enjoy the benefits of my thinking that she would never “When something like this The measure, similar to ones professor Paul Light. Although
matter of policy, believes that it labor on an equal footing with have the same opportunity. happens at the Pentagon, it’s they introduced during the Clin- that might be so at a certain level,
is discriminatory, and supports my opposite-gender federaldiary@washpost.com definitely a conversation piece ton and Bush administrations, after a while “an inflated number
around the office. It never leaves would most likely cut lower-level of presidential appointees makes
your mind,” said M. Akins of schedule C appointees — the for paralysis,” he said.
FED FACES
Camp Springs, Md., who works “confidential aide” and “special In a statement, the senators
for the Department of Housing adviser” jobs usually filled by note that the number of political
and Urban Development. She campaign workers. appointees, estimated at 2,700 at
A physicist probes the skies to guard the Earth
said she knows of co-workers Both senators have promoted the end of the Carter administra-
who still take off work on Sept. 11 such reductions, which are sup- tion, has “shot up by nearly 28
out of fear, though she adds that ported by government reform ex- percent.” Their proposal gives the
David Fahey Biggest challenge: Having the security at HUD is strong. She perts, as a way to reduce costs, administration one year to deter-
Research physicist persistence and patience to bring spoke at L’Enfant Plaza. cut government and streamline mine where to make the cuts
Earth System Research important research results to the — Ed O’Keefe, staff writer the bureaucracy. The Congres- needed to bring down the total to
Laboratory, Chemical Sciences attention of the scientific com- sional Budget Office has estimat- 2,000 appointees.
Division, National Oceanic and munity. Fahey says it is also a “I really haven’t thought about ed these cuts could yield a savings — Al Kamen
Atmospheric Administration challenge to draw young people
into government to contribute to
Best known for: Scientifically in- Earth science research.
formed the Montreal Protocol by Quote: “I have come to appreci-
describing some of the causes of ate being attached to higher-or-
the hole in the Earth’s ozone lay- der goals that don’t involve profit
er. Signed by about 200 countries, and loss. The opportunities I
the Montreal Protocol required have at this laboratory in partic-
Your Place to Save - Monday through Sunday in Metro
the gradual end to the production ular are very singular and distin-
of chemicals that deplete the guishable from the private sector
ozone layer. It is the most signifi- and have fully absorbed my tal-
cant climate change treaty to
DAVID FAHEY
ents.”
REPLACEMENT
date. Fahey is now one of two Fahey contributed to the — From the Partnership
chief scientists for the first high- influential Montreal Protocol. for Public Service
altitude unmanned aircraft mis- WINDOWS
Payment
Options
Available
sion, which will study Earth sci- 1979 to 1981, and has been work- For more on Fahey, visit
Any Size White Double-Hung
ence beginning in April. ing as a research physicist at washingtonpost.com/fedpage. Send
Window INSTALLED!*
Government service: Fahey was NOAA’s Earth System Research your nominations for Federal Faces to
$
*3 Window Minimum
a NOAA postdoctoral fellow from Laboratory in Colorado since. fedfaces@washpost.com
Up to 4ft Wide x 7ft Tall
189
Qualifying
products up
Blackwater by any name . . . New TSA leader nominated
to $1500
of DC
Americans “have a right to be out- President Obama has chosen retired
raged” by the shenanigans of gov- Army Maj. Gen. Robert A. Harding, who
Energy Tax
WE SELL
Inc.
ENERGY STAR “Simply the Best for Less”
ernment contracting, says Sen. most recently served as director for op-
Credit! MHIC #1222286 VA License #2705274538 Class A
Claire McCaskill (D-Mo.)., left, cit- erations at the Defense Intelligence Agen-
ing the changing name of a com- cy, to take over one of the government’s
4116 Walney Rd., Ste. - J, Chantilly, VA 20151
pany once called Blackwater. A17 most visible agencies. A17 703-378-7999 www.windowworlddc.com
BLACK B3
Page 1  |  Page 2  |  Page 3  |  Page 4  |  Page 5  |  Page 6  |  Page 7  |  Page 8  |  Page 9  |  Page 10  |  Page 11  |  Page 12  |  Page 13  |  Page 14  |  Page 15  |  Page 16  |  Page 17  |  Page 18  |  Page 19  |  Page 20  |  Page 21  |  Page 22  |  Page 23  |  Page 24  |  Page 25  |  Page 26  |  Page 27  |  Page 28  |  Page 29  |  Page 30  |  Page 31  |  Page 32  |  Page 33  |  Page 34  |  Page 35  |  Page 36  |  Page 37  |  Page 38  |  Page 39  |  Page 40  |  Page 41  |  Page 42  |  Page 43  |  Page 44  |  Page 45  |  Page 46  |  Page 47  |  Page 48  |  Page 49  |  Page 50  |  Page 51  |  Page 52