TOPICS
TOPICS
Deadline for 2003 pay raise looms
Time is running out for President Bush to make a decision about whether to give federal employees a 3.1 percent across-the-board pay raise next year.
The formula for federal pay raises established under the 1990 Federal Employees Pay Comparability Act calls for a 3.1 percent across-the-board increase for 2003 plus locality-based increases in January 2003. The president has until the end of the day on Aug. 31 to offer an alternative plan, or the 3.1 percent increase stands.
When the budget was released in February, the Bush administration proposed a 2.6 percent pay increase for civilian workers and a 4.1 percent military pay increase in 2003. Office of Management and Budget Director Mitch Daniels defended the military-civilian pay raise split, saying, "We believe that a distinction can and should be made between [civilians and] people who are in harm's way at time of war."
Last month, House legislators approved a 4.1 percent pay raise as part of the fiscal 2003 Treasury-Postal Appropriations bill. Reps. Jim Moran, D-Va., Tom Davis, R-Va., Connie Morella, R-Md., Frank Wolf, R-Va., Albert Wynn, D-Md., and Del. Eleanor Holmes Norton, D-D.C., all lobbied the administration to keep the civilian pay raise the same as the military pay increase. But, administration officials continue to stand by the proposed 2.6 percent raise.
"The administration continues to support the 2.6 percent pay raise set out in the budget proposal, and we're working with Congress on this issue," OMB spokeswoman Amy Call said.
The administration is "planning to take no action at this time," according to Call, but with several days left before the deadline, Bush still has several scenarios to consider:
- Announce a 2.1 percent across-the-board increase, leaving an additional 1 percent to use for locality-based increases. Then, by the end of November, Bush would have to issue a decision explaining how the additional 1 percent would be divided up among workers in each locality.
- Announce a lower across-the-board increase, if he thinks he has a chance of preventing Congress from boosting the raise to 4.1 percent, or if he might veto the Treasury-Postal appropriations bill which includes the higher pay raise.
- Concede that Congress is going to approve the 4.1 percent total increase and do nothing this week. The 3.1 percent across-the-board increase would stick, and then Bush would issue a decision by the end of November divvying up the additional 1 percent among localities.
Officials at the Office of Personnel Management have had several conversations with administration officials, but Donald Winstead, OPM's acting associate director for the workforce compensation and performance service, declined on Tuesday to reveal what action the agency recommended to the president.
"The administration asked Congress earlier this year to approve overall a 2.6 percent increase and they stand by that request," Winstead said.
COMMENTS
- Please remember that while we prepare to snipe at each other over what appears to be approximately a 1% difference, last year Congress passed their own pay increase: 3.4%. That is less than what I received in my locality. Congress really knows how to lead in these times of economic uncertainty and national security crises. Unfortunately that 3.4% only addresses a direct salary increase openly debated and discussed. When we factor in the additional tax free $165 a day they voted for themselves, hidden in other legislation, their effective increase runs about 24%. Let that number roll off your tongue. "24%." Get a calculator and see what your family could have gotten, and then realize that you never will get that type of consideration because you are not a member of Congress. You are just a soldier or a civil servant, in their eyes. Please remember that we together fight the wars, that we together risk leaving our families forever when we go off to work, and we together are responsible for providing the well being to hundreds of millions of our fellow countrymen. Remember these things when the political debates begin and the appropriations are being signed. Remember when these elected officials come to your facility and smile for the cameras. Remember their priorities at the poles. Joe Shockcor Posted February 24, 2003 3:34 PM
- The statement from Office of Management and Budget Director Mitch Daniels defending the administration's reason for the proposed military-civilian pay raise split, "is bewildering." His statement is, "...We (the administration) believe that a distinction can and should be made between (civilians and) people who are in harm's way at time of war." This statement by Mr. Daniels "takes my breath away." Is the memory of the good director of the OMB so myopic that he forgets that it was "civilians" under attack at the twin towers in New York City September 11, 2000, and that it was civilians who perished on three airplanes used by the enemy as high octane fuel missiles to attack the homeland and not some foreign soil? Is the memory of the good director of the OMB so myopic that he forgets that it was public servants, including federal employees, who were first on the scene to give comfort and aid to the victims and who continue to stand steadfast in defending our borders? The OMB director's statement pierces the hearts of our public servants, including the federal civilian workforce, who question how appreciative this administration is of federal workers. Jerry Doyle Posted February 24, 2003 3:32 PM
- There is already a process for the military in harm's way to receive more pay. Some comes from tax elimination during the time of deployment and the rest comes from Hazardous Duty Pay. The solution seems simple. Increase the Hazardous Duty Pay! Then, when military are deployed they will get the extra pay and when they are not they will not receive it. Why reinvent the wheel when the objective could be accomplished in a much more simple manner? Then civilians working side by side with military would not object to the different pay rates. There is a real 'us and them' feel to the relationship between the military and civilians. We really don't need the legislative branch causing a larger chasm between us. Military, thank you for your sacrifices and all you do! Civilians, thank you for covering for us in our absence and all you do! Pay parity can work. Anonymous Posted February 24, 2003 3:32 PM
