| Comment Number: | EM-023051 |
| Received: | 3/16/2005 1:33:25 AM |
| Subject: | Notice of Proposed Rulemaking, Request for Comment |
| Title: | National Security Personnel System |
| CFR Citation: | 5 CFR Chapter XCIX and Part 9901 |
| No Attachments |
Comments:
Please accept my comments on the proposed NSPS Regulations--RIN 3206-AK76/0790-AH82. As a federal employee since 1972, I have observed the various agendas of Administrations from both parties. A central purpose of the Civil Service Reform Act was to eliminate the cronyism, patronage approach to hiring/firing/and promotions of civil servants. Now this Administration wants to take us back to those days -- unnecessarily! An Act of Congress is a deliberative, thoughtful process -- and should be respected and honored. What the Bush Administrative stands to gain with this maneuver is the further erosion of citizens' trust. A good case in point is the treatment of Unions in this process. Unions, and the hard-working people they represent, built this great country. Without the strength of organized labor, we would still have a serfdom and a high standard of living would only be for business, industry, and land owners. Federal unions continue to serve the public good. Congress found this to be the case, saying in 5 USC 7101 that the participation of employees through unions safeguards the public interest and contributes to the effective conduct of public business. Union involvement has led to numerous successes. Conversely, there are examples of bad business carried out by government bureaucracies whose employees are too afraid to speak up. The safeguards are already in place to promote and maintain an effective, productive federal workforce. By implementing the proposed NSPS regulations, the erosion of "civil service" will begin.