Some Republicans in Congress are pushing for deep spending cuts to offset the cost of hurricane relief and recovery.

While the majority party has not agreed on a plan, some proposals call for cutting spending across the board by 2%.

Most agencies are already operating under continuing resolutions, freezing their budgets at last year’s level, because their fiscal 2006 appropriations have not been approved.

David Safavian, former chief of the Office of Federal Procurement Policy, was indicted Oct. 5 on charges of obstructing proceedings at the General Services Administration and the Senate and making false statements, the Justice Department announced.

Safavian resigned from his presidentially appointed position just before he was arrested Sept. 19. (SAA, 9/23)

The indictment charges that, while he was chief of staff at GSA, he made false statements to a GSA investigator and ethics officer about his relationship with a lobbyist, identified in published reports as Jack Abramoff. Abramoff, a well-connected Republican, is currently facing a criminal investigation of his dealings with Native American tribes. He has pleaded not guilty to separate charges related to his purchase of a casino cruise line.

Deputy GSA Administrator David Bibb will begin serving as acting administrator on Nov. 1, when Stephen Perry leaves. Perry announced his resignation earlier this month.

Perry is a 34-year veteran of the agency.

Women Impacting Public Policy named its co-founder Barbara Kasoff as president and CEO. She succeeds Terry Neese.

WIPP also announced creation of a bipartisan executive leadership team. Melanie Sabelhaus, former deputy administrator of SBA in the Bush administration, will serve as senior Republican strategist and Susan Turnbull will be senior Democratic strategist. Turnbull is vice chair of the Democratic National Committee.