By Mark Mix
Home day care providers would be forced into unions
The General Services Administration is advertising to fill more than a dozen jobs and has approved hiring more than 40 employees since July, when the agency's top official announced a "targeted hiring freeze" in the wake of ongoing spending scandals.
Government officials blame unfair competition from China for the collapse of solar panel manufacturer Solyndra, but such concerns didn't stop the federal government from breaking stimulus program rules to use Chinese solar panels atop a federal building housing the offices of a senator, congressman and several agencies.
Susan Brita, deputy administrator of the U.S. General Services Administration, who emerged as a whistleblower star for her role in uncovering an $800,000 taxpayer-funded Las Vegas conference, was herself a participant in a similar taxpayer-funded event just a few weeks later.
"During the targeted hiring freeze, GSA has filled some key positions that are necessary for the agency to fulfill its mission, which is in accordance with the original terms restricting hiring throughout the agency," GSA spokesman Dan Cruz said.
Since July, 43 positions were approved during the freeze, though some were well into the hiring process when the freeze was announced, Mr. Cruz said.
