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A group of Washington-area lawmakers called on President Bush Wednesday to grant equal pay raises to civilian and military federal employees in his fiscal 2005 budget proposal.

Bush is due to send the budget proposal to Congress in early February.

The lawmakers made their request in a letter signed by eight Democrats and two Republicans, including House Government Reform Committee Chairman Tom Davis, R-Va., and House Minority Whip Steny Hoyer, D-Md. The Washington-area lawmakers represent tens of thousands of federal civil servants and have for years pushed to keep civilian pay increases in line with military pay increases.

In his fiscal 2004 budget proposal, Bush requested a 2 percent salary boost for civilian federal employees and a 4.1 percent pay raise for the armed forces. Congressional negotiators, however, included a 4.1 percent raise for both civil servants and military personnel in the fiscal 2004 omnibus appropriations bill. The House approved the conference report in early December and the Senate is currently considering the bill.

The White House did not respond to questions about Wednesday's letter and did not indicate if the president would seek the equal pay adjustments in fiscal 2005. While congressional officials called on Bush to seek equal pay increases, they said that the issue would be resolved on Capitol Hill.

"This is ultimately a decision for Congress to make," said David Marin, a spokesman for Rep. Davis.

In Wednesday's letter, the lawmakers also argued that the equal pay adjustment would assist with recruitment at a time when the federal government is facing a "human capital crisis."

"We cannot express strongly enough the importance of continuing the tradition of pay parity between military and civilian employees," the letter said. "We believe anything less than the pay adjustment proposed for military employees in 2005 sends the regrettable message that the services [civilian employees] provide to America every day are not highly valued."

Hoyer said that the eventual fiscal 2005 budget would most likely include equal pay adjustments.

"I am very confident that we will provide pay parity," he said in a statement. "Bipartisan majorities in Congress have provided pay parity for 15 of the last 17 years, demonstrating that it is an established principle of fairness that recognizes the contributions of both groups to our country's security and prosperity."

Davis "finds this to be an incredibly easy argument to make," Marin said. "It's a question of fairness."

The American Federation of Government Employees released a statement Wednesday supporting the push for equal pay adjustments.

"Federal employees who often work side-by-side with military personnel are crucial to our nation's defense, security and general welfare," AFGE President John Gage said. "As such, they should be afforded the same pay increases as those in the military."

COMMENTS

• Very good point about sitting next to military personnel who are doing the same job and receiving the 4.1 percent pay raise. It would depend on what their grade and benefits are, I suppose, to do a real comparison, and whether they are a Major or a Sgt. Major. Military personnel also get housing and family benefits we civilians don't get, plus free medical. Is that considered part of their pay? And, what about the government asking for volunteers for Iraq from the civilian work force, to perform work formerly done by military personnel. Are civilians considered less valuable in the sitting in the seat once occupied by a military person? I don't think so, especially given my former military background, my experience, and skills. Charles Alexander Posted January 26, 2004 1:43 PM
• It's my understanding that the Congress doesn't have to vote FOR a pay raise for themselves, they have to vote AGAINST it to prevent a raise. Few in Congress or the White House seem truly concerned about the welfare of government employees OR veterans. Meanwhile certain corporations get sweetheart deals to reconstruct Iraq and still overcharge the government. David L. Carroll Posted January 25, 2004 6:41 PM
• The problem I have with our raises is that our health insurance costs keep rising but our pay stays lower. I guarentee Congress will vote in their raise and a very substantial one as usual. Someone needs to realize the federal employee is becoming extinct. We are doing four and five jobs for the same pay because of the years of downsizing. We aren't as highly paid as some seem to think and most of us are very dedicated to our jobs. Let's get some raises to the correct people in government, the lower grades not Congress. Thank you Deneta Smashey Posted January 23, 2004 11:58 AM