Return to Article: Bush administration, House at odds over 2006 pay raise
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11736
Taxpayer,
Well, h*ll, son! The "average taxpayer" is a whiner! Didn't you know that by now?
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11695
"The employer generally gets the employees he deserves." J. Paul Getty
Hopefully, the U.S. Government has plenty of individuals working for it that aren't the negative, whiny types that so frequently post here. If the GovExec readers' posts are an indication of what the US has for employees, and J. Paul was correct, what does that say for the employer (the US taxpayers)?
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11608
We're all wearing the blue dress now.
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11518
The Democrats did not try to totally destroy the entire civil service system to the benefit of wealthy constituents and slobbering contractors waiting in the wings.
Like all administrations, Clinton's tried to save a buck on the backs of Federal employees, but destruction of workers' rights and pay were not the goal, as they are for King George, which is the fundamental difference in what is happening now versus then.
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11289
Don't you all realize that the Democrats HAD to vote for the passage of the laws putting us ALL under this pay-for-performance garbage. To quote a previous writer "WAKE UP". You will defend the Dems till you are blue in the face. All politicians have always used Fed employees as tools to get elected and pass their own agendas. The only way to stop this madness is to VOTE OUT THE SCUMBAGS THAT PASS THESE LAWS; Democrats, Republicans and Independents alike. Get your head out of the sand (or wherever else it may be) and face reality.
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11175
I AM SO TIRED!!! CAN'T WE THE PEOPLE DEMAND BUSH BE IMPEACHED??? OR HAS THAT RIGHT BEEN TAKEN AWAY ALSO. REMEMBER HOW HILTER RULED GERMANY?? THINK ABOUT IT!!!
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11170
That's the whole idea, Maureen. No matter what happens, or how well you perform, the bottom line is, all they have to say is that funds are not available, period.
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11166
Once again, I wonder how Bush won re-election. Pay raise, 3.1% isn't much, considering how much gas has increased this year. Housing, at this rate, I doubt I'll be able to afford one as a federal employee. Guess I'll need to say I'm active duty and get $100,000 to buy a house. Pathetic...
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11103
"Extending the raise to those two agencies would undermine efforts to "begin using authorities conferred upon them by Congress to design and implement a modern personnel and pay system that best meets their needs," OMB officials wrote.
My question is how does implementing a COLA undermine efforts to implement a new system unless the PURPOSE of the new system is to lower the pay of everyone. The amount of money in the new NSPS system (whenever it is enacted) should not be less than it would have been under the current system. This implies that we are currently overpaid and that DOES NOT match the wage surveys that are done all the time.
Does this mean under NSPS there will be no COLA money? Where then, pray tell, are commands to get the money to pay the high performers? It's not like they can reduce someone's salary, or is it?
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11100
You get what you vote for... who will admit they voted for Bush now? There was no shortage of smug Bush postings after the last election, where are you now? Speak up for what you've done to us, the country and the world by voting for "w", as you proudly referred to him then, be proud now and raise your hand.
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11075
"Don't own a home yet? You probably never will, youngster."
I'm in my early 40s, still renting, and work for DoD (10 years). Now with NSPS, you're right! There is no American Dream anymore, but there certainly is the American Nightmare with this cursed administration! To those who own homes, if the ever rising property taxes don't kill you, the new "Eminent Domain" scam ruling might.
Where's the next "New World" Frontier. I'm ready to depart for it.
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11072
I understand everyones concern but don't react to the fact that you're NOT going to get the cost-of-living-increase. Chances are very much in the positive that you will receive rather than not.
Our congressional leaders won't support a no pay stance while pinheads are deciding our personnel systems fate.
Best that could come out of this for the immediate is if the cost-of-living increase wrinkles the administration's budget plans they may just have to delay NSPS until next year after there are written regulations and proper funds in place as it should be.
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11071
Well the end of my service is near, today I have the age and 30 years, actually 31, in reality though I would have like to work a few more years but given the Clinton administration and his do more with less and now Bushwacker's administration which seems to be hell bent on destroying us, I may opt to leave much earlier, I'm exhausted, my only regret is leaving on Bushwacker's watch, I would have loved to see him either get impeached or lame ducked.
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11070
Great. 30+ years of outstanding service to INS and now DHS and this is the thanks we get. No raise while they figure out which system to put us under. Why do we have to have this struggle every year just to keep ahead of inflation. Don't own a home yet? You probably never will, youngster. Not til 2008 anyway.
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11069
I believe its's time to let "the people" decide whether or not the members of Congress get a pay raise!!!!!
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11067
What a disgrace! We in ICE were told that the new pay banding system, MAXHR, would be phased in by stages, and ICE wouldn't be included until 2009. Now the administration is saying that DHS employees shouldn't get the governmentwide pay increase because of this YET TO BE IMPLEMENTED new pay system? My tax, utility, insurance, and other bills are rising every year, yet even though I won't be subject to pay banding for another 4 years, and will continue to be part of the General Schedule until then, I can't get a pay increase????? Time to consider my options, and maybe join the flood of employees who are bailing out of this totally screwed-up agency while we still can.
By the way, the new badges and credentials finally came in after 25 months. When I saw them, I felt like throwing up. Cheap looking and amateurish, my kids could have come up with a better design. Many agents in my office have decided to wait until the very last minute to turn in our Customs agent badges and credentials, which not only look much more professional, but actually stand for something!
Will the last agent leaving ICE please turn out the lights when you go? I'm sure the FBI and the rest of the law enforcement community are laughing hysterically at the monstrosities called ICE and DHS, which are nothing more than kneejerk reactions to 9/11 that have wasted untold millions of taxpayer dollars, and have done little to make our country safer from terrorist attacks and other crimes perpetrated by hostile interests. Way to go, feckless politicians!
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11065
OPM says, "Any recruitment or retention problems facing the Government are limited to a few areas and occupations and do not warrant such an arbitrary, across-the-board increase."
So what's new? They've been spouting this bilge for the last 25 years regardless of who's in the White House. Meanwhile, the Boomers are getting older and closer to retirement and there's no one to replace them coming up through the ranks.
Just wait till OPM has a recruitment crunch in a couple of years because no one wants to work for such low pay. Then I guess they'll get what they always wanted - a completely contracted-out workforce.
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11064
"Attracting the best and brightest" can't be a concern at DoH either, since almost every job advertisement is limited to current DoH employees!!! Why can't the individuals testifying just be honest about why they think change is warranted, and not try and tell us what they think the public wants to hear?
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11061
This article just underscores what we have all known for a while. HRMax, the new DHS personnel system, is just another way to say "wage freeze." We have all been forced to watch an orientation video on HRMax that says nothing yet tells us to be happy about this new system that has no rules, no job categories, etc. The only concrete thing that we have seen from the new system is the attempt to cut us out of the annual pay raise. What a morale booster - good for you DHS! Good for you OMB!
I have worked for ICE since its inception, and I have seen the failure of leadership across the board. I have no faith ICE management will faithfully or fairly execute "pay for performance," as they can't get other, simpler operational issues resolved. I will take the annual raise over some promised pay for performance compensation that will never materialize.
This flap over the 3.1% raise is just another example of how DHS (and the WHITE HOUSE) are focused on the wrong things... I wish OMB would talk to Congress about what DHS is not accomplishing (i.e., securing the homeland) vs. the annual pay raises...
Can the new personnel system change the fact that before DHS I had a great career, but under DHS I have a crappy job?
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11059
If the people at DHS have not figured out that they have to quit and move on to another Department they belong in DHS with the rest of these idiots. This is exactly what happened to INS. The employees waited and hoped that things would change. Surprise! Nothing changed. Instead things got worse, a terrorist attack occurred and they were abolished. Guess what? Customs got dismantled and portions of it went to the old INS. They called the new agency ICE. When the next terrorist attack takes place, CBP in particular will be beaten up and abolished. The new agency will be called CRACK, Customs Response Against Civilians Killed. This new agency will incorporate ICE, Commerce, HUD, Education and any other clout-less organization that had nothing to do with the fight against terrorism. The employees will not get pay raises because they will belong to a new pay for performance system. It will be called HR wel-fare.
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11058
Everyday, I regret voting for Mr. Bush! The bushwacker has done nothing but insulted the federal worker. What a wasted vote! Next time I'll vote Democratic!
Fed up Govt Employee
Robins AFB GA -
11056
Government employees need to read between the lines - "OMB contends the annual pay adjustment should not apply to blue-collar workers" - this is the beginning of the return to the pre union days of you want a raise give to the party in charge and when the power changes party you lose your job. Think about your raises - everyone gets a 3% raise - well the bosses get that on $100,000 and the blue collar worker gets it on $25,000 - golly they get quite a bit more of a raise and get farther ahead and the blue collar worker pays more for their products. The raise factor needs to take that into account the blue-collar worker needs 5% or more and the bosses 2% to keep things even.
If you have any sense you are not in favor or the pay banding system that DHS and Pentagon employees are being forced to accept. It is as mentioned above Boss Hogg controlling your life, spending power and retirement. Open your eyes - this is only the beginning - your benefits are next!!
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11053
If the raise costs $1B, then that is $1B less the administration can't give to some unappreciative country in foreign aid. Maybe Iraq can contribute to its own reconstruction?
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11050
For all of you Bush fans, here is what you get from him. If he gets his way you won't be getting any more raises.
Are you happy you voted for this, whatever he is, I have trouble calling him a man or leader, I just can't do it any longer.
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11049
"Extending the raise to those two agencies would undermine efforts to "begin using authorities conferred upon them by Congress to design and implement a modern personnel and pay system that best meets their needs," OMB officials wrote.
This statement alone shows how stupid the administration and particularly OMB are in the management of the government! You do not stop pay because an agency has authority to change its structure! If the OMB wants to exclude transportation and defense they should make those agencies get the new system in place and operating. They again propose a penalty on the employees because the managers cannot or will not get the new system defined and working. What a crock this is and what an indication of the administrations total lack of concern for its employees!
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11047
We can debate over personnel systems and the inadequacies of the federal government agencies until the cows come home. The whole darn government needs an overhaul. We in the D.C. area get ripped off every year on our COLAs because of being lumped in with low cost areas. Fairness? There is none. So, argue all that you want. The Bush Administration will do as it pleases, talking out of both sides of its ugly face. I'm thankful that I don't allow the bs to get in the way of my productivity and quality of service. It's this crap that keeps the government from attracting the best and the brightest - federal leadership that talks out of both sides of their faces.
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11045
Since the pay system doesn't take effect until 2009 in my agency (ICE), why not just do away with my COLA now because I'm going to make sooo much money with pay banding I won't need it now!!!! I investigate drugs--does anyone at OMB have the midnight munchies?
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11044
"Pay for performance" is code for pay reduction system. Just ask any FAA employee who has been screwed by the FAA's Core Compensation pay system. Positions that once were GS-13 are now comparable to GS-11. But then again, Marion thinks we are paid too much anyway!
"Cored" FAA Employee
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11043
"Any recruitment or retention problems facing the Government are limited to a few areas and occupations..." After these personnel reforms are implemented you can expand this statement to "unlimited in all areas within DOD and DHS" when those who contribute are being neglected because they don't kiss up enough or are facing age discrimination.
I figure that FERS will fail me so I'll learn to acquire a taste for Dog Food now and how to live in a cardboard box.
Or, maybe I'll get lucky enough and die before I retire.
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11042
Bush and the DHS management should give up their grand plans that they themselves would not be paid under. The pay banding and pay for perfomance has been a failure in those agencies that have it now. 10 years ago, supervisors and managers were under the GM system and after many years, it was found that a separate pay system did not work. The only ones that make out are the suck ups. Management will put so many restrictions on who can get pay raises that only a select few will get them, not the ones who deserve it. Remeber, the GS pay system came in when employees weren't getting paid properly and supervisors and managers were getting all the money. If Bush was to be paid under the pay for perfomance, Bush would have to pay the government and he would never get a raised. Mr Secretary, don't do like Ridge did, listen to your employees not the political hacks that have been appointed!!
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11040
I hope we at DoD get the 2006 pay raise that the other Gov't employees get and it KILLS NSPS. I have a good idea, how about the US Gov't quit loaning money to third world nations AND forgiving the debt. A small percentage would pay for this pay raise.
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11037
You can't have it both ways OPM, DOD and DHS - you cried like babies to get legislation to reinvent the wheel because you couldn't hire now you claim "Any recruitment or retention problems facing the Government are limited to a few areas and occupations and do not warrant such an arbitrary, across-the-board increase."
So how much of what else you testified before Congress on wasn't true?
So much for a trusted and creditable personnel system.
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