Joni Ernst (R-IA)
Taxpayer-Funded Union Time Transparency Act
A Republican bill with 1 Republican cosponsor · See the cosponsor
Last activity — Read twice and referred to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs.
In committee
Introduced and handed to a committee in the chamber it started in.
The committee holds it, and most bills are never heard from again. A hearing or a committee vote would be news; silence is the usual outcome, and it kills the bill without anyone voting against it.
Its path through Congress
- Introduced
- In Committee
What this bill would do
The Taxpayer-Funded Union Time Transparency Act requires federal agency heads to submit an annual report to Congress regarding official time authorized under title 5, United States Code. This report must include detailed costs, employee information, and compensation data related to labor matters. Agencies are also required to post these reports on their public websites. The bill covers various expenses such as negotiating agreements, processing grievances, and travel costs. Additionally, it mandates that the Comptroller General audit agency accounting practices every four years.
Yes· 3 of 4
- Scored +3
Does this make what the government does easier for the public to see?
The act mandates public posting of labor cost reports to increase transparency in federal operations.
- Scored +2
Does this make the government pay for what it commits to?
Mandating detailed reports and GAO audits promotes greater fiscal accountability within federal agencies.
- Scored +1
Does this give the federal government more power?
The bill expands federal oversight and reporting requirements for agency heads.
The opposite
- Scored -4
Would union members be better off under this?
The bill subjects union-related activities and compensation to heightened scrutiny and public disclosure.
- Scored -3
Does this strengthen the rights of workers to organise?
The bill increases transparency and oversight of union-related costs, which may increase administrative burdens on union activities.
- Scored -2
Does this protect people from being watched or searched?
The bill requires agencies to publish specific employee pay rates and compensation data publicly.
Who it would affect, and how
Potential Positive Impacts for People
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Increased Transparency: The bill requires agency heads to submit a detailed report to Congress and post it on the agency's public website, which provides visibility into how official time and related costs are handled (Section 2(b)).
-
Financial Oversight: By requiring a detailed explanation of the purpose for each authorization of official time, the act allows for a closer look at how resources are used (Section 2(b)(2)).
-
Accountability of Accounting Practices: The Comptroller General is tasked with auditing agency accounting practices at least once every four years to ensure they are following generally accepted accounting principles (Section 2(c)(1)).
Potential Negative Impacts for People
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Increased Administrative Burden on Agencies: Agency heads must compile extensive data, including specific employee pay rates, benefits, and the exact percentage of time worked for authorized activities, to be submitted annually (Section 2(b)(3)).
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Potential for Increased Oversight Friction: If the Comptroller General finds that an agency is not using generally accepted accounting principles, they are required to brief the relevant congressional committees (Section 2(c)(2)).
Groups and Interests Ranking
Every group the model scored this bill for, from -10 to +10. Tap or hover a score for the reason it gave.
- Demographic And Interest Groups
- Would union members be better off under this? — The bill subjects union-related activities and compensation to heightened scrutiny and public disclosure.
- Governance And Ideology
- Does this make what the government does easier for the public to see? — The act mandates public posting of labor cost reports to increase transparency in federal operations. Does this give the federal government more power? — The bill expands federal oversight and reporting requirements for agency heads. Does this protect people from being watched or searched? — The bill requires agencies to publish specific employee pay rates and compensation data publicly.
- Economy And Finance
- Does this make the government pay for what it commits to? — Mandating detailed reports and GAO audits promotes greater fiscal accountability within federal agencies. Does this reduce what the federal government spends? — The bill aims to improve oversight of official time costs, which may lead to more efficient use of agency funds. Does this strengthen the rights of workers to organise? — The bill increases transparency and oversight of union-related costs, which may increase administrative burdens on union activities.
- 3/27/2025
- Read twice and referred to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs.
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- Introduced in Senate
One bill Congress.gov lists as related to this one — companions in the other chamber, earlier versions, and bills this one absorbed or was folded into.
Marsha BlackburnRepublican · Tennessee