From: bheinzman@suddenlink.net [mailto:bheinzman@suddenlink.net]
Sent: Thursday, December 20, 2007 10:02 AM
Good Morning Everyone,
Just wanted to update on a few things before the Christmas holiday.
Farm Bill - The Senate has passed their version of the Farm Bill, and it goes to conference committee. Senator Harkin
will Chair the Committee but conferees may not be named until January. The House and Senate Agriculture committee
staffers held their first meeting on the farm bill conference Tuesday. According to a staffer, House Agriculture
Chairman Peterson plans to spend part of the recess in WDC working with the staff on the farm bill.
Acting Agriculture Secretary Chuck Conner has been quoted as saying, that if the conference report is similar to the
House and Senate bills, "the president's advisers are recommending a veto." Comments last week led some to
speculate that the White House might be softening its position. But in a speech to a group of lobbyists, Conner said,
"Please do not make the mistake of believing that the administration's concerns with the farm bill can go away without
making some fundamental changes." Conner said if President Bush is sent "anything like what we have seen" so far, he
and other advisers will say the Congress should "go back and do it again and send us another bill quickly." Conner
did leave open the possibility Bush might agree to some of what Congress has done. "Only the President makes that
final call," Conner said, adding that he hopes there is not a stalemate in which "an extension of current law becomes the
only option." Conner presented three items with which the administration is dissatisfied.
Tax measures used to fund the bill (which the administration considers tax increases); farm income subsidies for people
who earn more than $200,000 per year; and provisions that raise loan rates. Conner told reporters the administration
stands behind its proposal to increase the $5.2 billion in direct payments farmers get whether prices are high or low.
Several farm groups sent a letter to congressional agricultural leaders Tuesday urged a quick conference, "Based upon
the exceptional work of both the House and the Senate, we are confident that a strong new farm bill can be approved by
Congress and signed into law by the President early next year."
08 Budget - The $556 billion omnibus spending bill has been sent to the President for signature. More later on this.
LCP/LIP - I've been receiving lots of concern on the administration of disaster programs including making/changing the
rules as we go along. Calling producers to come back to the office for additional information, requiring written leases,
etc. I will try to compile as much as I can and follow up with WDC after the Christmas holiday.
Travel Regulations - Handbook 118-FI has been received in most offices. Several questions on apparent changes in
travel. Possible need for follow-up and clarification. Let me know if you have received questions/comments on this.
PII and Shredding of information - AS Notice ? (Don't remember the number.)- Hopefully some additional information will
soon be coming out from MSD that clarifies the process.
Temporary Shared Management and Directed Reassignments of PTs - Myron and I have both received some questions
on these subjects. Shared Management - the shared management agreement not being followed. Directed
reassignments of PTs and how it is handled if the PT refuses the reassignment.
Lead PTs being downgraded when shared mangement ends - There are many variables that come into play but my
understanding of the process is:
Assuming the employee had been Lead PT for the required amount of time for Grade and Pay Retention...
The Lead PT will retain grade for 2 years and will receive WGI's during that period if a WGI is applicable.
After 2 years the PT would be downgraded to a Grade 7, Step ___ (The step closest to current salary, but not less
than current salary.)
If Grade 7, Step 10 salary is less than the salary currently being earned as Lead PT, THEN, it would be Grade 7, Step
00.
The PT would then receive 1/2 of the annual COLA until salary is reduced to equal Grade 7, Step 10.
Caution to anyone who is in this position - Please DO NOT DEPEND on the above as I am not an HR expert. CONTACT
your Administrative Officer for information about your particular situation PLEASE!
To each and every one of you - Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!
Bonnie