SAVE Award 2011 Ideas

Mandate purchasing preference to products made in the USA. Purchasing products that are assembled from parts made in other countries is a half measure. This type of mandate would quickly pay for itself in increased employment and GNP figures.

My idea is to have one security clearance, or background check to cover all, or at least most agencies. For example right now a person can already have a Top-Secret clearance with the Department of Defense, and they would have to start a background investigation all over again if they were to apply with another agency, even if it’s only for a Secret clearance. They would have to fill out the same SF-86, the same eQip... more »

Open up shopping opportunities to federal civilian employees possessing a valid Government ID Card.

Currently, military commissaries and exchanges authorize the sale of most products and services only Active Duty Military possessing a valid ID card and authorized dependents. However, potential revenue from civilian employees is being overlooked. There is a lot of opportunity to increase revenue, move more inventory,... more »

Congress took a $500 a month pay raise two or three years ago, that equates to a $6000 a year pay raise. I would like to have a pay raise that much at one time each month also. With all the pay cuts in the budget, they keep going after social security, health benefits, military, the elderly, the retired, etc. I believe that Congress should be looking closer to home and start cutting their own pay. Medical benefits... more »

When this country began, we created programs and benefits to help populate, fill out, and explore this great country, e.g. the Homestead Act, and associated Homestead Acts.

In addition there are many laws protecting the labor, employment, and commerce of the U.S.

I believe unemployment in the U.S. has more to do with complacency, and reluctance to relocate, than it has to do with "jobs Americans don't want to do."... more »

Recommend the elimination of any tax 'loophole' or exception that results in disproportionate taxation among entities, such that those making 90% of the money pay 90% of the taxes, but also create a well-advertised and significant tax credit specifically for employers. This credit would be applied for each citizen employed, on a sliding scale of dollar value, determined by the taxes withheld for each of those employees... more »

I was once privvy to the fees that went into contracting - I was a contractor at the time - and I was simply amazed. The government was spending twice my measley salary - half of which I saw go to my paycheck, the other half of which was going to the contracting agency.

Cut out the middle man! Hire more undergraduate and graduate students on a semester or yearly basis. You will receive short-term "contracting" work,... more »

In the short term, this will cost money. In the long term, it could probably eliminate some full-time, benefitted administrative positions. Create a career building opportunity for young people. And replace expensive contractors with "in-house" hires. FEMA's Disaster Assistance Employee system is very much like this - as needed, full time temporary positions.

Recruitment to federal jobs is heavily burdened by ancient and illogical procedures that vastly complicate the application process and limit the hiring flexibility of individual managers. A college graduate applying

for a federal job confronts a complex and lengthy application form demanding far more information than any employer reasonably needs. The very nature of the application deters applicants.

Force all non-contract, non-acquisitions, non-essential personnel to take one year away from their federal positions every six years. One of the biggest issues in the federal workforce is a persistent complacency on the part of a significant minority of workers. This complacency slows government operations, erodes Agency morale, and stirs resentment among the general public, particularly among the majority of Americans... more »

The C.O.U.N.T. program (Conservation Organized Under New Terms) would be developed as a checks and balances system to help conserve financial resources for welfare programs across the 14 Federal agencies involved. This system would allow eligible welfare recipients the opportunity for education, housing assistance and monetary allowance under new terms and agreements.

First, set a reduced welfare budget taking off 3%... more »

Within DHS we have multiple offices and components yet if you wish to transfer to a position within DHS you still need to undergo another suitability clearance. The vetting process (background & clearance eligibility review) costs the taxpayers a considerable amount of money – not only for the investigation but also for the possible idle time spent by employees awaiting clearance results. The Office of Personnel Management... more »

There has been a gradual loosening of criteria to define "disability" in the past 20 years to the point that a large percentage of our population now qualifies. Safety nets are good but when too many people are in the net, society will not be able to support the burden. Quality of life and self image is much improved with employment rather than living on the dole.