PostalReporter.com Blog

(Govexec) Or would the Democrats have to get extremely lucky to take control of either chamber? At least for the moment, the forecast depends on whether contests are examined race by race — the “micro” approach — or are looked at altogether in light of the national political environment

The latter, “macro” approach is the one that suggests that the GOP could get swamped by a tidal wave. By almost every relevant measurement, national polls indicate that Republicans are at least as bad off as Democrats were at this point in 1994, before suffering devastating midterm losses.
Read full story on political analysis between 1994 elections(when Republicans won control of both House and Senate) and upcoming elections in 2006.

(Federal Times) The FBI is investigating a bogus e-mail that was sent March 16 to some of the 3.6 million Thrift Savings Plan participants asking for their Social Security numbers and other personal information that could be used to access their accounts, TSP officials said.

TSP officials said March 17 they are unsure how many participants received the e-mail and whether any accounts were breached. As a precaution, officials shut down the portion of the Web site that allows applicants to withdraw funds or apply for loans several hours after learning of the scam March 16. Access remained suspended as of press time March 17.

Transactions requested online are processed each day after noon. The bogus e-mail was sent a couple hours after the transaction period had closed for the day. TSP officials shut down the site around 6 p.m. March 16 and said they would review transactions made during the period in question to determine whether any appear suspicious before deciding whether to reactivate account access. 

The e-mail, purportedly sent from the address   mailto:accounts@tsp.gov informs users that an e-mail address had been added to their accounts and instructs them to contact TSP customer service with any questions by clicking on a link provided in the e-mail. The link takes users to a bogus version of the TSP account access screen, where they are asked to enter their Social Security numbers and the four-digit personal identification number (PIN) used to access their accounts. After entering that information, users are taken to another Web page where they are asked for credit card and banking information, TSP officials said

Anyone who responded to the e-mail and entered personal information on the bogus Web site should call the TSP customer service center, their credit card company and their bank immediately, TSP officials said. 

More from TSP Officials

E-Mail Scam

Some TSP participants have received an e-mail purporting to be from the TSP.  The e-mail asks for confirmation that the participant has added an e-mail address to his or her TSP account.  The link in this e-mail takes the person to a bogus version of the TSP account access screen where it asks for your Social Security Number and PIN.  It then takes you to another screen where it asks for credit card and banking information.

PLEASE BE ADVISED THAT THE E-MAIL IS NOT AN OFFICIAL THRIFT SAVINGS PLAN COMMUNICATION!

You should never give any personal, credit, or banking information in response to unsolicited e-mails; the TSP would never ask for this information via an e-mail.  If you did provide this information, contact your credit card company/bank immediately and seek guidance.  In addition, call the TSP and ask to have your account access blocked (1-877-968-3778).

Do not try to access the TSP Website by clicking on links in this or any other e-mail.  They are trying to steal your personal information (always access your account only by opening a new Browser window, and typing http://www.tsp.gov into the Address/URL field).

“Members of Congress debated a bill Wednesday that would convert federal employee health records to electronic files that employees would keep for life and that would transfer among doctors.”

“Rep. Jon Porter, R-Nev., chairman of the House Government Reform Subcommittee on the Federal Workforce and Agency Organization, held a hearing on the bill he introduced (H.R. 4859) last week that would mandate portable electronic health records within five years for everyone covered by federal employee health insurance.”

“The bill would require carriers who participate in the federal plan to provide electronic health records and also would allow individuals to add information including family history, diet and over-the-counter medications.”

“Del. Eleanor Holmes Norton, D-D.C., said she supports the notion of electronic health records but questioned funding and said participation should be voluntary.”

“I think that the federal workforce is an appropriate guinea pig to experiment on–that is to say if, in fact, you have willing guinea pigs,” Norton said. “If you’re going to put people’s medical records out there in the great cyberspace beyond …do not even consider an ‘everybody’s in it and you’ve got to opt out’ [system].”

source: Govexec