Senators Push for More Telecommuting

Voinovich, the ranking member on the Senate's federal workforce subcommittee, introduced a similar bill last year, but Congress has appeared reluctant to take up a major change until it sees how the Defense and Homeland Security departments fare with their new performance-management systems.

On Wednesday, the House Homeland Security Committee voted to roll back a pay-for-performance system under development at the Department of Homeland Security. The action was faulted yesterday by Linda M. Springer, director of the Office of Personnel Management, who said "we oppose any efforts to revoke these authorities."

The National Treasury Employees Union, which has lobbied Congress to block the new system, welcomed the committee action. Colleen M. Kelley, the union president, said the system would "make even worse the serious morale problems that are widespread in DHS."

In addition to the pay bill, Voinovich introduced two other measures yesterday.

One would realign the pay system for senior-level and scientific and professional personnel, providing them an opportunity for higher salaries. Congress approved a similar performance-based system, with a higher salary scale, for federal executives in 2003.

The other bill would amend the tax code to allow student loan repayments to be offered on a tax-free basis to military and civil service employees. Voinovich said the bill would help agencies recruited top-notch talent.

Talk Shows

Dotty Blum, past president of the Employee Assistance Professional Association, will be the guest on "FedTalk" at 11 a.m. today on http://federalnewsradio.com and WFED radio (1050 AM).

Vice Adm. John C. Harvey Jr., chief of naval personnel and deputy chief of naval operations for manpower, personnel, training and education, will be the guest on "The IBM Business of Government Hour" at 9 a.m. Saturday on WJFK radio (106.7 FM).

Stephen Barr's e-mail address isbarrs@washpost.com.