Tax Deadbeats on the Government Payroll

While those amounts are large, it's important to note that the IRS brought in $2.69 trillion in taxes in fiscal 2007. The most recent estimate of the "tax gap," the difference between what taxpayers should have paid and what they actually paid on a timely basis, is $345 billion.

Not surprisingly, IRS employees have one of the best compliance rates. For 2007, the IRS delinquency rate was 0.89 percent, down from 1 percent in 2006 and 2007. IRS employees can be fired for failing to comply with the tax code under the 1998 law that restructured the agency.

Honoring Public Servants

The Government Employees Insurance Co., known as Geico, honors federal employees each year for their work in protecting public safety and health. This year's award winners are:

Jennifer Allies of the Indian Health Service's Northern Cheyenne Service Unit in Lame Deer, Mont., for her commitment to providing physical therapy services for rural patients.

Joseph R. Baker, deputy fire chief at Fort Campbell, Ky., for his fire prevention and safety work on behalf of military personnel.

Joseph W. Hafner, a safety and occupational health specialist at Fort Bragg, N.C., for providing military personnel with auto crash and safety information.

Gloria Jean Prince, an education specialist with the Army Substance Abuse Program in South Korea, for her efforts to reach out to soldiers and help them address alcohol and drug problems.

Ileen Wong, who retired as nuclear director for crane and rigging operations at Pearl Harbor Naval Shipyard, for her volunteer work serving children with special needs.

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