On the recordJuly 26, 2002
I rise in favor of the Morella amendment. Mr. Chairman, we must ensure that "flexibility" does not become a code word for favoritism. Furthermore, we must ensure that "flexibility" does not become a euphemism for gutting federal civil servants' rights. The federal civil service was created for a reason: to prevent arbitrary and capricious employment decisions based on politics and patronage rather than competence and professionalism. All this amendment does is tell the employees who will be working in the new department, "If you will be performing the same job as you do now, you will be able to retain the right to collective bargaining rights." There is no doubt that certain reforms to our civil service are necessary, but stripping the rights of federal employees behind the curtain of homeland security is not the right approach.
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