DOUBLE-STANDARD: Feds Moving 450 Treasury Jobs from MD to WV // But NOAA Resists Move of 200 Jobs from MA to MD

WEST VIRGINIA TO GAIN MARYLAND JOBS: The Washington Post yesterday reported that the federal government plans to move 450 Treasury Department jobs out of Prince George's County, Maryland to neighboring West Virginia. The rationale for the "consolidation" is that it would help the agency more efficiently use its facilities (excerpt below):

WASHINGTON POST: The federal government is relocating 450 Treasury Department jobs from Hyattsville to Parkersburg, West Virginia as part of a move to consolidate operations....

According to the General Services Administration, which manages federal real estate, the move will help Treasury meet a directive from President Obama for agencies to more efficiently use their facilities....

After hearing the news from Treasury officials, U.S. Rep. Donna Edwards (D-Md.) issued a press release Wednesday expressing disappointment and suggesting that workers receive help finding new jobs....

Senators Barbara Mikulski and Ben Cardin, as well as Representatives Steny Hoyer, Chris Van Hollen and Elijah E. Cummings, all Democrats, attached statements to Edwards’ also condemned the move.

MASSACHUSETTS TRIES TO RETAIN JOBS MOVING TO MARYLAND: But Senator Barbara Mikulski proposed a similar consolidation of 200 fisheries management jobs from Massachusetts to Montgomery County, Maryland, and that plan is seemingly facing a great deal more resistance. Either the Federal government believes in efficiency through geographic consolidation of its workforce or it doesn't. See excerpts from The Gloucester Times below:

GLOUCESTER TIMES: U.S. Sen. Barbara Mikulski’s idea to relocate the Northeast Regional Office of the National Marine Fisheries Service from Gloucester to near NMFS’ headquarters in Silver Spring, Md., would be costly and “could be disruptive” and inefficient, NOAA reported to Congress this week....

The U.S. Senate Appropriations Committee approved a fiscal 2013 spending plan for NOAA in April that included an amendment to close the Northeast Regional Office in Gloucester and move the bulk of fisheries management, administration and law enforcement to Silver Spring, Md....

Opposition to the move locally was based on the economic impact of having more than 200 of NOAA’s mostly highly paid employees working and living in and near the city....

Will Maryland become the victim of a double-standard when it comes to the Federal government consolidating offices?

Rep. Andy Harris Strips Funding From MoCo-Based NOAA // Rep. Roscoe Bartlett Voted to Cut Enviromental Agency Budget

 ANDY HARRIS & ROSCOE BARTLETT GET A PRESS RELEASE // MD LOSES $542,000

Maryland Juice was trolling through Rep. Andy Harris' website recently, and I noticed an alarming press release. It appears that the 1st Congressional District's Tea Party member is bragging that last week he succeeded in cutting over half a million dollars from the budget of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). There's just one problem with that: NOAA is headquartered in Montgomery County, Maryland. In fact, just last December, the Montgomery County Council spent $12 million to keep NOAA in Silver Spring.

Mr. Harris was so keen to show his contempt for federal employees and the environment that he slashed money from our local economy. The computer programmers and government contractors that would've seen an additional $542,000 in economic activity will now likely see that money go elsewhere. Strangely, embattled Rep. Roscoe Bartlett voted for his Maryland GOP colleague's bill, at the same time that he is struggling to appeal to Montgomery County voters. Andy Harris' press release even brags that this was one of the few budget cuts to actually pass this month (ie: he singled out Montgomery County!):

REP. ANDY HARRIS: This was one of only three successful amendments to the appropriations bill now before the House that reduces spending.