Obama Budget Would Cap Pay Raises for Civilian Workers, Military.
Isn't Congress considered "Federal Employees"?
Guess not!!
I wish I could say that I am in 'Shock and Awe", but it is more like Shock and disdain. It seems that now Obama is going to cap Federal and Military pay raises. Okay, I'm confused aren't our Congressional leaders "Federal Employees"? Didn't they just take a pay raise of almost 3% back in December?
Now tell me this does it make sense to cut the raises that our Military Personnel get for defending our country and putting their life on the line every day, but not to cut the raises of our Congressional offices that sit on their bum and are only in session from 94-111 days a year depending on the year, based on figures from Thomas.loc.gov, and as stated by Truth and Justice back in December. That comes out to about 15K for every day they are in session....... yes that's what I said, Fifteen thousand dollars a day, sounds like one of the best paying jobs in America for some of the least approved of Government officials.
Instead U.S. taxpayers will dish out an extra $2.5 million to boost annual congressional salaries by $4,700. This may seem outrageous since polls have consistently revealed historically low approval ratings for Congress in the last year amid a series of bipartisan legal scandals and corruption probes.
Now Steve Vogel at the Washington post is reporting:
Civilian employees of the federal government will be limited to a 2 percent pay increase in 2010 under the proposed budget released this morning by the Obama administration.
The administration describes the proposed increase as reflective of the current economic crisis and bringing federal pay and benefit practices more in line with what workers in the private sector are experiencing.
The fiscal 2010 budget summary released this morning notes that Obama has ordered a freeze of White House senior staff pay. "In this budget, federal employees also will be asked to do their part," the summary states.
The proposed increase compares with a 3.9 percent increase for federal workers in 2009 and 3.5 percent in 2008.
A senior official for the nation's largest federal employee union described the small increase as understandable. "It's a modest increase, but it certainly is prudent," said Jacque Simon, public policy director for the American Federation of Government Employees.
"We're in an economic crisis and everybody understands that," Simon said. "While it's certainly a modest pay increase, federal employees recognize the severity of the economic situation, and we're viewing it from that context."
Pay increases for men and women in uniform are to be capped 2.9 percent, an amount described in the budget summary as reflecting "the priorities of an administration that is committed to caring for the service members who protect our security and the families who support them."
Last year, military personnel received a 3.9 percent pay increase, half a percentage point more than President George W. Bush recommended.
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I posted the above at Free Republic and got a great email from GoldieLurks with the following info;
From FNC site:So our Obama can't even keep his promises from his inaugural address let alone his campaign, unbelievable!!
Obama Remarks Commander-In-Chief Ball
(21:47:10)
Understand, tonight isnt simply about the inauguration of an American President.
Its a celebration of our military and our military families, so going forward you will have our support and our respect.
(21:47:24) You will have a great Secretary of Defense in Bob Gates. You will have a great Secretary of Veterans affairs in General Erik Shinseki (applause).
(21:47:37) And every single day that I am in the White house, I will try to serve you as well as you are serving the United States of America.
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