Return to Article: Group of senators backs federal pay freeze
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13531
I for one am very "p*****d" that those people on the top of the heap can decide what the lower level employees should or should not receive as a pay raise. How about we lower their salaries just a tad and call it even? They should try to live on our income and see if they can make it without those huge expense accounts to draw on.
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13359
Did you see Teddy's performance as Chairman of the hearings for the Big 5 oil executives? He wouldn't even allow them to be put under oath!! Nor allow a vote to be taken from board members about whether they wanted the Big 5 to be put under oath. What does that tell you? More corruption and cover-up from the GOP.
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13348
They are cutting our real pay (equals nominal minus inflation and inflation will rise 3 percent this year). They can keep their pork spending in agriculture subsidies, welfare for illegal aliens, and Alaskan roads leading to nowhere. It makes me feel real good knowing that I'm getting a pay cut so that some farmer somewhere is getting six figure salary from the government not to farm on his farmland! Why am I voting conservative when the conservatives spend like liberals.
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13306
Let me get this right. Six senators are sponsoring a bill to with hold our meager pay raise (and theirs I may add) to 3.1 percent. Civil service employees need to share the pain and sacrifice, with the hurricane victims? Of these six Senators I found that at least two are millionaires and at least one has billions. I would lean toward the others having a substantial amount of money also (the base pay for one of these self-centered people is $158,100 per year.) I on the other hand live off my present income, which is not the base pay of a senator. Just the rise in fuel cost is costing me an additional $100 to $150 a month, not counting how much everything else has gone up -- luxuries such as bread, milk, food, clothing and shelter. If I had millions I would not be concerned with a meager 3.1 percent raise either.
But excuse me. I can use the raise to help offset the rise in health insurance. All in all I am facing a net loss in my overall income. Duh, I am one of the victims, I live on the Gulf Coast. No, one came running to give my family or giving me a handout. We had to make due with our insurance and our own resourcefulness.
But New Orleans is special. It needs handouts. You do not hear of the people outside of New Orleans whining and crying about who is going to pay them to rebuild. They have dug in and are rebuilding themselves. If you choose to live here, especially if you live below sea level, you must know there are risks that you need to accept. Accept the responsibility that you must care for yourself.
Hey, senators: How about cutting the hand outs you give to other countries, stop the bridge to no-where in Alaska (that itself would make up the deficit) then look at stopping our raise. How about rolling all prices back to pre-Katrina prices!
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13299
I keep hoping for Congress to take out the bridge to nowhere in Alaska.
Actually, I can't wait for Senator Stevens to renege on his promise to quit.
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13288
I just read an interesting piece in the Washington Times (http://insider.washingtontimes.com/articles/normal.php?StoryID=20051107-122444-7728r)on how Louisiana is planning to spend our raise.
It seems they need a few special items that they couldn't afford before Katrina, but now that we have donated our raise, things look a little better.
"Louisiana will spend $45 million on sports and livestock facilities and other new projects. The list of projects also includes reservoirs, a cargo airport, sewer systems, an Audubon Institute building, a hospital, a performing-arts center, a cruise-ship terminal, a light-rail line, a gene-therapy research building, a library, an arboretum and a technology transfer center."
Makes me feel better, how about you?
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13282
I used to tell my children to apply for a position with the federal government because I'd always experienced successes and made a fairly good living for my education level. My hard work was rewarded. The last few years, not so much.
Now this slap in the face from the Administration and this "Fox Guarding the Henhouse" Watch Team. Give me a break.
I am crossing my fingers that I get out before they pass the "high 5." I am sick of hearing about the great American sacrifice we need to make, as feds. Feds aren't the only American citizens. Want someone to kick in money (which by the way we have already - don't need a watch team to twist our arms), get it from everyone. How about the big oil companies with the record profits and bleeding us at the gas pumps.
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13272
Maybe these senators should take a cut from the large raises they used to get up to 25 percent increases in years past, while the rest got leftovers of 3 percent and less. And let's not forget their retirement plans which they might not even donate to. Nor their health benefits. We put them there, and we can take them out of there.
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13262
People.....you know what? We are lower then the illegal aliens. You do not hear those morons on capital hill talking about cutting that $100,000,000,00 in hospital aid for the illegals so we can pay their bills. It's always the federal worker who always get the short-end of the stick. You people keep voting these same derelicts into office and we are the ones who pay for it. We need more people like you and I in Congress and the Senate, because we know what needs to be done to save this country and to put this country on the right track. None of them care about this country. They are nothing more then rich lawyers and business people who get into government so they can change the rules and regulations so they can put more money into their friends pockets and their own. It's time to wake up federal employees, because if you don't, those people in Washington will steal everything that you and I have worked for. Vote for the common folks.
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13232
Just do 3.1 percent less work next year and vote Democrat.
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13211
Like a lot of feds I don't mind sucking it in a little bit in the face of a crisis. A lot of us do this every day as it is. I would, however, like to reintroduce the concept of shared sacrifice to these schemes to balance the budget. This is something that the administration obviously can't relate to but it is only right and fair. Many of us who work for the government see the absolutely mind-boggling waste of money and resources on a daily basis. I would cough up a dollar raise if it were at least proportionally matched by reducing waste by a dollar. It does not seem that this plan does that.
It is clear that American taxpayers need a break right now, but at least federal raises get spent back in the communities where feds work. That does not apply, for example, to the billions of dollars creamed off the public and dropped into the corrupt Iraq cesspool or earmarked for roads to nowhere.
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13208
This is a great venue to vent our frustrations, but if we don't vent as vehemently to our "elected" representatives, nothing will change. In fact, as an older federal employee, Vietnam combat vet; I am sad to say, it's far too late. Politicians are all the same and it's too late turn it back. Iraq will be another RVN and the military/industrial complex -- Halliburton, Northrop, K&B etc. -- still rules. I am amazed though that there is absolutely no real reaction to anything by the public; no one is protesting, taking it to the streets. As someone said; the sheep will continue to follow along grazing on the scraps. Bah Bah Bah.
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13201
My words can not convey the sadness that I am feeling right now as I read this article. It wasn't bad enough that my husband's job had been contracted out and we now are living on one salary (GS-8) but now the people that I work for want to freeze my wages, decrease their portion of my health care benefits and not allow me to deduct my state and city taxes on my tax return. All because the head of our company (the U.S. government) wanted to start a war with Iraq. Oh what a world we live in.
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13200
I've been BRAC'd and will have to take an early retirement within the next few years. I will be taking a huge cut for age and time, but it isn't enough. Now you want to take away my last wage increase, yes I will also be NSPS'd.
Just remember, it will take the Democrats to pass all of this legislation. Just like the BRAC list. Kennedy, Salazar, Udall all voted for the BRAC to pass.
All you Democrats need to wake up. The Republicans aren't the only ones who are back-stabbing civil servants.
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13195
In the approaching elections, "D - None of the Above" has a certain ring to it.
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13193
The civil servants who walked through the "crap" in New Orleans to help people are the ones who the Republicans are proposing to cancel their cost of living raise. I am truly embarrassed by this Republican administration. It has been trying to castrate the civil service workers since it stole the office. I'll definitely vote Democrat next election if I have the gas to get to the polls!
Disgusted in GA
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13192
Blah, blah, blah. Exactly what every last one of those thieves on Capitol Hill expects, lots of talk and no action. When the calls to, "Throw the bums out" become too loud, the politicians and their "action groups" will run out something to bring all the sheep back in line. I can hear them laughing and snorting right now! Actually, I believe it is already too late for a wake up call. We are officially wage slaves - aren't you glad you voted for the guy you voted for?
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13190
There is one anonymous statement here I seriously take issue with. A drunken sailor can only spend the money he has in his very own pocket. He cannot spend other people's money. Please do not compare drunken sailors to our elected representatives. Sailors, drunk or other wise, have higher standards.
Sign me one very offended drunken sailor.
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13189
Republican Sens. John McCain, Ariz.; Sam Brownback, Kan.; Tom Coburn, Okla.; Jim DeMint, S.C.; John Ensign, Nev.; Lindsey Graham, S.C.; and John Sununu, N.H. are behind the proposal.
Please listen to our Illinois Rep. Dennis Hastert! He said he thinks New Orleans need not to rebuilt due to below sea level! Where is the common sense? One city versus federal government civilian workers spread out all over the United States. Not all federal government civilians are living in New Orleans! Therefore, honorable Mr. Hastert is right on the money!
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13188
Enough is enough!!!!!!!!! Everyone needs to write his or her representative. Looks like they are putting our raise on freeze just to eliminate it when NSPS is passed. Our elected officials will come up with some excuse (fabrication) so they won't have to pay it at all. If you freeze one group of people do it for all DOD workers including military, police, etc. What happens to all the money that has been donated so far?
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13187
Looks like someone touched a nerve here. Probably because federal employees are worried about the economy and are squeezed on fixed incomes. Folks we need to get the government spending under control and be fiscally responsible. I respect and admire some of these senators. I also have no problem with making necessary and required sacrifices to obtain our national goals and objectives, if equitably applied across the entire population.
However, having said that, federal employees should not be denied wage increases unless, and until, Congress has eliminated, or addressed, high health care costs, high (and going higher) fuel costs, high grocery costs, unnecessary "pork barrel" projects, wasteful spending on useless programs. And until Congress has: reformed campaign finance and social security; controlled illegal immigration; created an intelligence agency that actually works; limited increasing State and local taxes; fixed the nation's educational system; developed a useful energy policy, and stopped the loss of jobs to overseas nations.
It would be great, if while you were at it, you could win the war on terrorism, reform the tax system, and do something about the incompetence that is running rampart in our institutions both public and private.
One suggestion might be to hire and promote some skilled and competent people in leadership positions. Maybe a civil service merit system could work. Doing this kind of succession planning, instead of putting "political hacks" and "affirmative action/diversity" candidates in these leadership slots whether they are competent or not, could be helpful. You might get government executives capable of managing to obtain efficiency and results, and stay within budgets. It's about competency and accountability folks. I don't care what "color" or "gender" the boss is as long as he or she is intelligent, competent and gets the job done.
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13186
In times of need federal employees are the first group to give over the call of duty and are always the first to take the brunt of the negative impact. It is a novel idea regarding a pay freeze but please add that all political office holders, whether they be senators, congressmen or the President -- either past or present -- give concessions of 3 percent of their yearly salary back to the United States as a gesture of goodwill and good faith. Thank you for allowing me to provide my opinion.
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13185
The Defense Department is the process of converting to the performance-based National Security Personnel System, which is based upon the premise that raises will be linked to performance and all monies set aside for within grade increases and COLA raises will be put into a pay pool pot to reward high performing employees. This sort of arbitrary slashing of scheduled raises will destroy the already tentative employee confidence in this system.
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13184
What I don't understand is, the rebuilding of the Gulf Coast. I thought the government was giving out low cost loans to people to rebuild, not just rebuilding the gulf coast at taxpayers' expense. If the above is true, then why all the scrambling to find money to rebuild the coast unless it is for the initial loans?
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13183
Well if there is a freeze then the plan to move NSPS into pay bands is nixed since there won't be any additional appropriations to fund the banding. As I understand it there are no guarantees the funds would be provided anyway.
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13181
Why not do away with the tax cuts that helped to put us in this position in the first place and spread the cost around to everyone, and not just the most convenient? $125 million is just a drop in the bucket compared to the overall deficit. Of course, increasing taxes is not the politically correct solution I agree with cutting the pork, too, but again the politicians want to be re-elected.
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13180
The war in Iraq, natural disasters, pork barrel spending such as that great bridge in Alaska and all these investigations of political wrong doing are where these guys need to start looking for ways to save money rather than on the backs of the government workers. Workers who must rely on the President , Senate and Congress to look out for them because they have given up their rights as a workforce for the greater good of the country. It's about time our elected officials start upholding their end of the agreement and really take care of the government employees, employees who work everyday to keep this country safe and the greatest place to live on earth. For some reason many in Washington think it's okay to spend millions/billions around the world, but when it comes to doing the right things like taking care of their own employees, they fall short and expect the workers to just keep sucking it up again and again. It makes you wonder why they took the job and who do they really care about. It's time to put America first.
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13178
Notice this "Fiscal Watch Team" doesn't propose to cut its own pay, or roll back the tax cuts lawmakers gave themselves, or reinstate the estate tax. No -- gotta take it out of the hides of the working folks. I hope that workers remember these names at their next election.
Unhappy fed
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13177
Our leaders would like to blame this huge deficit on natural disasters. Do they think the American people are so stupid they don't realize the Iraq war is responsible also. The place where Bush said all those weapons of mass destruction were. Oh it wouldn't be politically correct to mention Bush's war as a mistake and the reason we have a huge deficit. I'd like to know why only government employees are responsible and always have to shoulder the load. One reason is our leaders can get in our pockets easier. Young people who are considering government employment, are you listening? This is what you will be facing with a career in government.
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13176
A pay freeze will not be a freeze, but a reduction in pay. With NSPS, we may not get a COLA anyway. Then there is the increase in FEHB contributions, and our income tax may have to be increased to pay for all of the disasters (natural and otherwise). I'd say this group of costs could take at least $100 a month from each federal employee. The only good thing about our yearly COLA is that it usually pays for the additional charges (FEHB) that we have to bear. Three years to retirement. Thank, God!
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13172
Why don't these same senators require our FEHB companies to freeze rates also? My health insurance premiums are increasing 18 percent in 2006, after three consecutive years of double digit increases, including 22 percent last year. Freezing our pay in the face of these excessive cost increases is unacceptable and creates hardships for the federal work force.
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13171
If I were a member of the millionaire's club that is the U.S. Congress, perhaps I too would be willing to forego a pay raise. But I'm not - I'm a GS-11 supporting a family. My health insurance is going up, its going to cost 30 percent to 50 percent more to heat my house, food is more expensive, gasoline is more expensive. Maybe the millionaires should concentrate on reducing pork and corporate welfare, and give us living people a break.
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13170
In my opinion it is reprehensible that in a time that Congress is squandering the taxpayers' money by spending it on wasteful pet projects such as in the behemoth, $295 billion transportation bill (remember the infamous $200 million "bridge to nowhere" that would connect Ketchikan, Alaska, to an offshore island where only 50 people live?), and at the same time spending the country into record deficits, that the Republicans would even consider placing the responsibility of paying for the hurricane relief on the backs of the very same federal employees that deployed to the devastated areas to assist those in need.
I have never seen such a constant and deliberate attack on federal employees in all of my 20 years of federal service, as I have from the Republicans during the Bush Administration. I was once a proud Republican, but after seeing five years of union busting, outsourcing, contracting out, threats of reducing retirement benefits and health benefits, and the abandoning of the GS pay system for a so called "performance-based" system, I have had enough.
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13169
Did the federal employees cause these natural disasters? I think not. This is yet another ridiculous idea from the Republicans. President Bush probably proposed it to Senator McCain, who has been acting very strange lately! Let's hope the American people get smarter for the next presidential election than they have for the last two and vote this pathetic Republican party out in 2008.
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13167
Ya gotta love their name, "Fiscal Watch." Where were they when the Republicans were spending us into oblivion?
Vote the idiots out!
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13165
We need to uphold the laws set forth in the U.S. Constitution, take back the printing press, get rid of the Federal Reserve and start issuing our own currency.
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13164
Do I have "stupid" printed across my forehead, Senators? What's with this nonsense of trying to fix everything by screwing the civil servants? Have you ever thought of growing a backbone, going to your fat-cat oil lobby friends, and demanding that they return to every American consumer all the excess profits they have gouged out of us?
Have you ever thought of fixing the price of gasoline at say $0.759 per gallon? Or a price that allows for minimum profit; not the billions made this year? Do not give me this hog-slop that no one will want to run a refinery at those prices. There are people who will work for a decent living and not gouge "H" out of us; let them run the refinery, after you get our President to play Teddy Roosevelt. Looking at what you folks in Congress have come up with shows me that only the stupid and incompetent voted in your states. Otherwise, how did you get there? Disgusted with all seven of you, Jungle Jon
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13163
I think any one going into paybanding should be exempt as it will be our last pay raise we may ever see.
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13162
I notice that you're quoting Colleen Kelley as she sings a new verse of the National Treasury Employees Union Theme song, "Give me Money." I wonder how many of the federal employees who contributed to disaster recovery operations were members of the NTEU. CNN showed us a lot of military uniforms and lots of folks from DHS but I didn't get the impression that there were to many Treasury folks wading around in the flood waters.
The Colleen Kelley/NTEU quote that I'm waiting for is the acknowledgement that the 20 percent increase in the POV mileage rates granted when gas prices spiked immediately after Katrina and Rita should be rolled back now that gas prices have fallen most of the way back to their pre-hurricane levels.
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13161
Federal employees have already shouldered their fair share of balancing the budget hence the huge percentage we lose every year. See FEPCA calculator - interesting how the nation's largest body of employees has to suffer because 50 people can't figure out a way to balance their books and plan for the future. Time for a flat tax so that Congress can see what it is like to work within a real budget.
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13159
Okay, we are planning on tightening our belts with a COLA freeze on the same year that the phase 2 implementation of performance pay keeps in for the majority of the DOD.
You can't get a performance pay increase on the first year so we aren't getting squat next year, are we?
All this so "he" (King George) can say he keep reduced taxes.
Yep, I will be speaking my mind with my vote.
Tip Out.
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13158
Why is it always the federal workers who seem to be the ones getting the cut in pay increase? Are we really the ones at the bottom of the barrel? With all of the increase in costs affecting our nation on a consumer level, we too need and depend on our yearly pay increase just like the military. I am a loyal federal employee, as well as a 10-year veteran. Please treat me as such, and don't assume for me what is a need or just a want. Thank you.
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13157
Nice of Congress to grant its own pay raise, then offer ours up!
Based on DOL employment figures, if we tax all U.S. workers $1.00, it would generate $142 billion. Tax only the fed workers and it would cost each fed about $6.50 to generate the same $142 billion. Of course this includes all feds: military, law enforcement and Congress! Tell you what Senate; I'm donating an extra $26 to CFC this year to cover my share. Grant the pay raise, and come up with the rest yourself!
Alternatively: Force all politicians to cough up all their campaign contributions for this year!
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13156
Here we go again. You'll have to remind me, how are the two tied together again? If Congress wants to really fix the spending gap, all it has to do is rescind the tax cuts for the top half of 1 percent of all tax payers. And then make sure they actually pay at least some taxes. My husband will be the first to complain about losing his "tax cut" but, trust me, as federal retirees we don't come anywhere near the top of the top that got the biggest tax cuts from W.
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13155
I retired from federal service with 34 years. Every year that I worked; the budget deficit was made up by cutting programs for the elderly, freezing/cutting increases in pay of loyal federal workers (the peons) and infrastructure works.(levees) I have yet to see cuts to other countries by $1. Charity begins at home!!! It is time the people of the United States write their representatives in Washington to let them know how they feel.
I do not mind helping other countries but not at the expense of taking from the citizens of the United States. The number of people living below the poverty line in the United States is disgraceful. Giving immigrants benefits that our own citizens do not receive is unforgivable. I note that the so-called "Watch Team" is all Republican. My mother always said "when the Republicans were in control, the country starved; the Democrats at least 'wondered' if the people had enough to eat." I believe the other countries of the world should be helped; after the people at home are fed and have a place to sleep. Do not cut programs for the elderly. They don't get any respect.
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13154
For the benefit of our country, I would gladly forgo a pay raise if my taxes would not go up. Unfortunately that will not happen because real estate prices have gone through the ceiling causing the real estate taxes to increase.
The American public has already suffered at the gas pumps and has been warned of high heating cost, electric, for the winter because of the supposedly fuel shortage caused by the hurricanes in the Gulf. Yet the gas companies have the highest profit for the entire year in their last quarter! These profits show how the gas companies have gouged the American public and fooled Congress.
There have been limits set on what percent phone companies are allowed to pass the cost to their customers, and percent limits on rent increase, etc. Why aren't there percent limits for increase on the fuel and electric companies? How many people will do without food or medicine to pay for their heat this winter? How many people will die from lack of food, medicine, and heat this winter? I would not want these numbers on my conscience.
Our country is facing many trials with the greedy and dishonest CEOs, false stock reports, the war in Iraq, flooding in New England, the devastation of the hurricanes and rebuilding the Gulf area and New Orleans. We need to pull together, help others, and forget about me!
A Voting American Citizen
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13153
Well, what did you expect? It's not like they could rescind tax cuts for the wealthy (themselves)! Now, how much are these new personnel systems costing? The ones that have been ruled illegal already. Counting the legal fees to pursue the cases? But of course they can't get rid of a pet project of the President, even if it's a waste of money and an insult to the nation. When did this administration suddenly realize it's not a good idea to spend money like a drunken sailor?
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13152
This is the price that the civil servants pay for not supporting the unions. We are the door mats for every cheap politician in D.C.
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13150
In my opinion about the pay raise for us (federal employees) is minor compared to all the hard work that we do. What bothers me the most is our senators who keep trying not to give us a raise, yet will burn the midnight oil and pass pay raises for themselves. When our senators have higher incomes than the president and other federal employees, why should they be trusted with our future.
As a federal employee I work hard for the money I receive, yet our income is below the average living expense necessary to survive. So when our high price senators complained that we are getting paid too much, let's review their living expenses and compare.
I feel so much mistrust with politicians, they will only help the average citizen, if and only if it will make them look good to the public and mostly during an election year. So when a millionaire states a federal employee does not need a raise, that makes me ponder.
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13149
The House wants to divert $2 million in the Navy's fiscal 2006 operations accounts to boost a rapidly growing Michigan environmental technology firm that markets itself as the "world leader for waterfree urinals."
Just one example of many ways the government wastes money. People of fixed incomes do not need to be penalized to make up for budget shortfalls. Nor do the people who struggle from year to year to try to provide a living for their family. Cost of living raises are necessary to allow the workforce to be able to keep paying its bills. Unlike the leaders of this country, we must balance our checkbooks and see what we can afford to buy at the grocery store, or how many "dollars worth" of gas we can pump in our gas tank to try to get to payday. I am sick of the lawmakers in this country continuing to be the "fat cats" who do not have a clue what the real day to day struggles are for the working class of people.
They can just go buy their second or third home. Drive a gas guzzler, wine and dine at the most exclusive restaurants, travel all over the world, and dress for one night in clothes that cost more than I make in two weeks. We have now become a country with two social/economic classes of people. The wealthy and the people who have no choices to make regarding how they spend their money. It takes every penny. No wonder so many people choose to fall into the poverty level so they can be provided assistance with housing, food, childcare, education, etc. Most have more discretionary income than I and I have worked for 30 years, continuously.
Message to the decision makers of this country!!! Find some other way to pay for all of your miserable budgetary mistakes. Remember, if you squeeze the turnip until there is no more blood, then the government will have to pick up the full tab through all of its lucrative programs for the poor.
Ahhhhh I feel so much better now.
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13148
Yes it is time to do the hard things, like throw this entire 536 bunch of representatives out of office. Maybe we should start with not just giving a raise for the Senate this year, but how about a 15 percent reduction, including their staffs. To make up for the lost income, they should be required to use TRICARE/Medicare, and no special treatment, in there with the rest of us.
I agree with helping the refugees from Katrina and Rita -- and it is time to cut them off the government spigot -- but I do not want one penny of my tax dollars rebuilding New Orleans. The entire area should be filled in and made a barrier island. How about cutting the foreign aid we give to our enemies? When they manage to cut the pork out of all the spending bills, like interstate highway to a gambling casino, Boston's Big Dig, favored Alaskan company selection in contracting, change contracting rules to best value -- best price, regardless of business size, and all the other pet projects this gang of elected people manage to get funded -- and anonymously at that so the rest of us can't see who is spending our tax collars on their pet projects, then maybe this should be considered, but not until then.
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13145
Hmmm, how about the senators not voting themselves a raise as they always do. I'd bet there would be so much more money saved there. Gee, what are the odds that will happen?
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13143
I've got a much better idea. How about these senators set up a lemonade stand in front of the Capitol to raise quarters for saving federal government entitlement programs.
After you freeze salaries and make government employment so unpalatable that you have a real serious recruitment and retention problem, I hope these good senators will have the decency to give the federal civil service the proper burial we all deserve.
It is shameful to cut programs and salaries and make permanent tax cuts for the very wealthy in this country. And now they talk about additional tax cuts-- shame, shame, shame. We need to raise revenue and raise it now. Might I suggest an American government garage sale if Congress doesn't want to have Americans pay their fair share of taxes for services. We can always sell off our children's and grandchildren's assets like we are doing today -- it is called Republican fiscal prudence!
I am afraid that someday historians will look back at these years as the very low point in American democracy and governance. If we go much lower, there won't be much left of either.
HR Specialist
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13142
I have a better idea. How about the good congressmen and senators cancel their own raises, their franking privileges, and all their staffers and other employees' pay raises, as well as ceasing all trips (including those for sitting presidents, vice presidents, and White House staff) away from Washington, D.C., except for those back to their own residences? I suspect that would save even more money than this parroting of what Mr. Bush has been trying to do for his entire administration. While they're at it, they might even cancel the ill-advised tax cuts that Mr. Bush et al. pushed through that ruined our economy for three years.
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13141
Wonderful message to the workers! We, the government, are implementing a pay for performance plan to reward the hard workers, and by the way, we're taking your last pay raise of the old system and ditching it because we don't want to cut real pork out of the budget for our districts. After taxes, the 3.1 percent pay raise will not come close to covering the escalating costs of heating and gasoline, nor will it cover the increased cost of materials and food that is resulting from the Katrina disruptions much less the increase in local and state taxes that are constant and repressive as the result of decreased federal funding which leaves more federal money for pork projects. Why don't the Republicans just rename the federal workforce the New WPA and have us live in barracks where we work and they feed us. After all, what more could our families ever need than that? If the Republicans keep this up, I'm going to vote Democrat in the next election.
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13140
Tell Congress to pay the federal workers and stop sending money to Iraq! Why does the Congress think it has to take care of the world but not its own country? Vote these bums out of office. They do not know who they represent!
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13139
I love it! Why is it that instead of raising taxes to pay for damage caused by Katrina, government employees alone are expected to pay for the damage. So, we are suppose to deal with higher gas prices and 14 percent increase in medical this coming year, and at the same time the prospect of no pay raise. Therefore, my take home will be less this next year based on this proposal. Do these senators honestly think they will be voted back in office with this type of proposal?
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13138
If people vote to not give federal employees a raise, then every government employee should vote against these people.
Federal workers are underpaid as it is. Why should they continue to suffer low wages because Congress refuses to curtail their spending on pork barrel projects? How do they explain keeping a quarter of a billion dollar bridge for 50 people while being happy to cut pay raises for federal employees?
They never want to offset spending billions ($300 billion) for waste, fraud and abuse in Iraq. I guess Halliburton, KBR, Bechtel and Fluor are more important to keep wealthy than they think the people doing the job everyday for the American people deserve a pay raise.
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13137
I will go along with this if the Senate and Congress agree to take a standard government retirement and pay the same cost for health benefits as other government employees. Show us how much you are willing to give up!
Flaming Globes of Sigmond
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13136
Another attempt by the Republicans to attain the funds needed to pay for all their spending in Iraq and other pork projects. Let's cut all the add-ons to legitimate bills and that alone would reduce the budget. It's not fair and not right to always put the burden on the federal worker.
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13135
If this is the case, then no one should get a raise. I am tired of seeing everything being put on the back of the workers. This war in Iraq is and will be a great source of taxpayer spending. Then we have these natural disasters that are no fault of our own. But then again we are going to have all kinds of pork barrel spending such as that great bridge in Alaska where the senator was going to resign if he did not get this money, let him resign. It's bad enough that they want to put up our jobs for competition to take care of their buddies such as Halliburton over charging the American taxpayer with all of these no bid contracts. These so called Senators could save a lot of money: Quit taking care of your buddies and putting it on our backs.
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13133
Seven Republican senators calling themselves the "Fiscal Watch Team."
Not a Democrat among them.
Federal employees, are you paying attention? Did you get those names?
I don't mind doing my part when needed. But this is not the way, and I'll remember those names come election time. Its time to mobilize in force to defeat these guys.
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13132
And we need to vote them out.
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