Pay raise spared in Senate budget measure
A measure to eliminate a 3.1 percent average pay raise for federal employees was not included among the $35 billion in budget cuts approved by the Senate Thursday. But the proposal isn't dead yet.
Seven Republican senators calling themselves the "Fiscal Watch Team" proposed last week to freeze non-law-enforcement federal pay next year. The proposal is part of an effort to cut the budget by $125 billion to help fund Katrina recovery efforts.
But the senators did not end up introducing a federal pay amendment to Thursday's deficit reduction bill (S. 1932), which passed by a vote of 52-47. The bill contained language to increase premiums on student loans and make cuts in Medicare and Medicaid.
But Sen. John Ensign, R-Nev., a member of the Fiscal Watch Team, will "absolutely" introduce separate legislation to stop the raise, either as a stand-alone bill or as an amendment, said Jack Finn, his communications director.
"It wasn't a case of choosing not to," Finn said. "It was just a matter of a lot of work that has to be done before we're ready to introduce it."
Federal employee unions have expressed strong opposition to the proposed wage freeze. In a Nov. 2 letter, the American Federation of Government Employees urged senators to vote against such an amendment.
"Congress's longstanding bipartisan commitment to providing the same annual pay raises to federal civilian employees and military personnel is a recognition of the crucial contributions these civilian workers make to your nation's safety and security," the letter stated.
In a press release announcing the proposal, Ensign said, "it has taken a lot of hard work and a lot of tough decisions, but we have crafted legislation that we believe provides responsible and necessary cuts in government spending to offset the much-needed relief efforts in the wake of Hurricanes Katrina and Rita."
The House still has to act on its budget bill. Although no House member has suggested a freeze on federal pay, a group called the Republican Study Committee has proposed calculating retirement annuities for federal employees based on an average of their five highest-earning years of service, instead of a three-year average. Adding two years of lower pay would reduce retirees' pension benefits.
The RSC members also recommended a reduction in the government subsidy for some federal retirees who participate in the Federal Employees Health Benefits plan.
After the House votes on its cuts, the two chambers need to come to an agreement on the budget bill before sending it to President Bush for his signature.
Both the House and the Senate previously approved a 3.1 percent raise for civilian employees, as part of the fiscal 2006 Transportation-Treasury appropriations bill.
The Senate also voted in support of a Transportation-Treasury amendment to eliminate its own pay raise for 2006.
House and Senate negotiators must still reconcile differences on the Transportation-Treasury spending measure before it heads to Bush's desk.
COMMENTS
- It makes no sense to me why federal employees need to suffer because of a natural disaster. Maybe they should simply cut the salaries of the employees at FEMA or better yet, how about we save some money by not attacking other countries? I can't even fathom how this group of senators sees this as a viable/fair solution. Granted I'm a Democrat, but I used to like McCain. Seeing that he's backing this proposal is very disappointing for me. I'm tempted to move to Arizona just so I can vote him out of office. Angry Posted November 14, 2005 2:46 PM
- Tinker, I couldn't agree with you more, my wife and I also gave greatly this year so I'm not very happy with this back stabbing attach on us after the fact. It just blows me away on how the government promotes CFC then turns around and sticks it to you. In years past I've always separated my thinking about my raise to that of a CFC contribution. However, like yourself any future CFC donations will be minimal if at all. Things are just getting to darn tight and my family comes first. GovExec.com reader Posted November 11, 2005 7:12 PM
- A comment on giving and CFC: Both my wife and I gave very generously to CFC, every penny went exclusively for the Katrina relief fund. If our pay is frozen, can I get our contributions back? Considering that this administration is going to try and donate my hard earned money to the Katrina Fund without my consent I feel I should have to opportunity and right to renege on my CFC contribution. The way things are going, with an unfair pay freeze directed only at federal employees and not the American public at large, and the pending pay-(maybe)-for-performance, this will be my last CFC contribution I will ever make. The time has come in which I must start to look out for myself and my family since my employer won’t anymore. Future CFC campaigns need to be held after the determination of a persons pay raise is known, (Feb.), and not before, as it appears most of us may not get anything to give anymore. Dave Posted November 9, 2005 9:21 PM
