Monthly Archives: September 2018

PRESIDENT SIGNS VA, LEG BRANCH APPROPS: DEFENSE SPENDING BILL EDGES CLOSER TO PASSAGE, WITH NEW OTA PROVISIONS

President Trump has signed the FY’19 appropriations bills funding the Department of Veterans Affairs and Legislative Branch activities, as well as measures funding military construction and energy and water programs.  As such, at least a portion of the government will not start FY’19 under a Continuing Resolution.  Indeed, most of the government may start FY’19 with Read more

A DRUG FREE WORKPLACE CAN ACTUALLY NOW GET YOU IN TROUBLE

Well pass the dutchie on the left hand side.  A US District Court has ruled, and awarded damages, in a case where a federal contractor refused to hire an admitted medical marijuana user.  How is a federal contractor supposed stay compliant these days?  The U.S. District Court for the District of Connecticut ruled in Noffsinger v. SSC Niantic Operating Co. that federal law does not preempt a state law that expressly prohibits employers from firing or refusing to hire Read more

ITS 7:00 PM. DO YOU KNOW WHO YOUR SALES TEAM IS TAKING TO DINNER?

Among the many ways federal business is different from the commercial market is the ability to buy a current or potential client a nice meal.  Relationships can be solidified in a social setting, especially where wine, beer, and good food are present.  Unfortunately, federal ethics laws prohibit many gifts, such as business dinners, when your client works for a government agency.  Don’t run the risk of hurting both your company and your potential customer over a steak dinner.  Allen Federal has been teaching classes on federal gift giving and ethics for over two decades.  We’re happy to tell you about dinner at the Palm, before it becomes a palm slap to your forehead.  Check out what we can do to train your company by contacting us at info@allenfederal.com.  Even if you don’t want training, Allen Federal is happy to have that steak dinner if you really need to exercise your expense account!

CONGRESS PASSES FIRST APPROPRIATIONS BILLS, MORE COULD FOLLOW

The Department of Veterans Affairs, Military Construction functions, and the Legislative Branch may all start Fiscal Year 2019 with full appropriations if President Trump signs a “mini-bus” appropriations bill passed by Congress late last week.  The measure, which also includes energy and water project funding, is the first of what may be three spending bills that Congress Read more