Also discussed in the column are delays in closing Gitmo and liberal crowing over Lou Dobbs' resignation.
Posted on 11/13/2009 2:51:55 AM PST by markomalley
The Office of Personnel Management will be reviewing political appointees who have "burrowed in" to federal career jobs over the past five years, according a memo issued by Director John Berry to all government agencies and executive departments.
"Burrowing in" is what Beltway insiders call it when someone who was appointed by say, President George W. Bush, leaves an appointed position to take a career job inside the government.
"While political appointees may not be excluded from consideration for federal jobs because of their political affiliation, they must not be given preference or special advantages," Mr. Berry said in his memo, issued Nov. 5. "I believe we must hold ourselves and the government to a higher standard, one that honors and supports the president's strong commitment to a government that is transparent and open."
The memo stated that "in no case may an agency make an appointment" without authorization from OPM of any current executive branch employee or former executive branch employee who held that position within the past five years, which covers appointees named by Mr. Bush and President Obama. The new policy takes effect Jan. 1.
Some of Mr. Obama's critics view the memo with suspicion, like RedState.com co-founder Erick Erickson, who said it's evidence the Obama administration "intends to purge all Republicans from the federal bureaucracy retroactive to five years ago."
Meanwhile, high-ranking Democrats have viewed GOP "burrowers" with suspicion.
Democratic Sens. Dianne Feinstein of California and Sen. Charles E. Schumer of New York, both members of the Judiciary Committee, complained in a letter sent to Mr. Bush on Nov. 19, just weeks after Mr. Obama won the election, that 20 appointees had become career civil servants from March 1 to Nov. 3 of that year.
(Excerpt) Read more at washingtontimes.com ...
Also discussed in the column are delays in closing Gitmo and liberal crowing over Lou Dobbs' resignation.
as opposed to the "burrowers" who came in during the Carter and Clinton administrations.
“Meanwhile, high-ranking Democrats have viewed GOP “burrowers” with suspicion.”
Yeah, well, some of us view high-ranking liberals with suspicion.
TC
Sounds good to me: we’ve gone from “defeating opponents” to “destroying enemies”. When this gets taken far enough, *our* “enemies” will start noticing that we’re the ones clinging to our God and our guns....
It’s already been taken that far. I think we must just be confused as to what our next step should be, It’s been a long time since the first revolution, ya know.
The Communist Party will methodically purge the government of all opposition. They follow the same tried-and-true formula everywhere.
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