Seeking a Federal Job?

The government should do more to assure individuals with criminal records that they are not barred from certain types of federal employment, lawmakers said on Tuesday.
At a hearing before the House Oversight and Government Reform Subcommittee on the Federal Workforce, members of Congress said hiring ex-offenders could help many of them as they re-enter communities and also help government as it addresses impending staff shortages.
"The fact is that we as a country and employer continue to fall short in our attempt to eliminate barriers to employment for ex-offenders," said subcommittee Chairman Danny K. Davis, D-Ill. "Aside from select branches of the U.S. military, there is very little evidence that the federal government is availing itself as a legitimate source of employment for ex-offenders."

Commentary Du Jour

The Government should do more to ensure
Criminals with records don’t have to endure
The red-tape and rules that are often obscure
When seeking a job with the Feds

‘Cause jobs with the Feds has got this allure
Of perks and a pension both somewhat grandeur
And these are the things they would like to procure
When seeking a job with the Feds

So Senator Davis’s issue du jour
Is moving these criminals from jobless and poor
To good government workers so safe and secure
When seeking a job with the Feds

So what if the guy was a sly saboteur
Or was making a living with a fake signature
Let’s list on his resume “entrepreneur”
When seeking a job with the Feds

But I think this movement is strictly manure
Like covering a donkey in a gaudy velour
Or trying to make sense of a non-sequitur
This seeking a job with the Feds

Mdailey
06/12/08