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Return to Article: Bush seeks 3 percent federal pay raise for 2008

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  Private hospitals can increase 5% so easy just like that why not Federal gov't?

  Marsea Posted January 7, 2008 4:41 AM
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  To Nyer. To set the record straight, it is not FREE when you live in base housing. I give up my entire BAH to do so and could find something cheaper off base. I am not complaining, I chose to do so. With contract housing, we pay utilities, same as you. As far as the commissary and BX/PX, it is cheaper to shop elsewhere. And yes, when the member is away in a war zone, extra pay is in the check. I might add they earn it. How often have you put your life on the line for your country? I have been in the military for 22 years. My pay has increased from $350 per month to $2630. When you figure it out that is a whopping $8.64 a month. Not much is it.

  Washington State Posted January 1, 2008 7:49 PM
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  It is with disgust that I write this. I have watched our COngress give themselves 15% raises and almost nothing to our military and federal employees. I agree there should be pay parity between military and cilvilan employees. We are spending billions on the war in Irag, we have lost over 3000 of our sons and daughters trying to protect people who could care less if we are there. We should be spending the billions on our homeless problem, our housing forclousure rate, protecing our borders here at home. I could go on. The common man/women do not have a voice in government for our legislatures only listen to the lobbyist and the people who can give money for there own pliticval needs.

  Disgusted Amnerican Posted December 5, 2007 10:33 AM
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  3 percent raise is nothing compared to what things are going up. I am a single parent and simply can't afford to live in NY anymore. It is ridiculous and I work an extra job. Don't buy a house because I couldn't even afford the mortgage and taxes. To the guy that states the military should get more of a raise, when military are at war they get tax free pay, their families use the post exchange and commissary for food year round whether they are at war or not...and food is half the cost or less than the regular person pays. They also have government housing and medical expenses at hand. Civilians, even working for the military do not get any of the above benefits.

  NYer Posted December 5, 2007 10:32 AM
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  I am 78 years old. I have been retired twenty two years. I am finally coming out even with my pay. I worked 33 years in weapons & nuclear devision of the Government. I got the shaft then and for the past 22 years with the COLA's. I spent four years in the Air Force. Should have stayed in. They have it made. Congressmen don't give a DAMN about you or I.

  Hal Posted December 5, 2007 3:55 AM
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  taxpayer: What makes you think that you deserve a 8% raise and the military only a 3% raise? Have you ever left in the middle of the night not returning for 1 year? Have you ever missed your childs first steps, Christmas, because dating back to 1990 that seems to be a good day to start or finish up things. We must be careful not to hurt other countries holy days, but it is ok to rip a servicemember from his. Having served in the Military and now as a government worker I can say you are really off base. As to cutting the civilian work force, again, off base, cut the contractors who are being paid three times what a civilian servant gets paid and create those positions so the work gets done, even after that is done there will still be enough for a 4 to 6 % pay raise.

  Bubba Posted December 4, 2007 8:16 AM
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  My health insurance is scheduled to increased $60.00 per pay beginning January 2008, so even with a 3% cost of living raise, I will be making $18.74 less each pay. This doesn't include the rising cost of gasoline, food, and utilities, not to mention the increase in those co-pays for prescriptions, well visits, etc.

  Like others, I did not receive a step raise last year and only receive step raises every three years.

  So do the math...a cost of living raise, not quite.

  Toni Posted November 28, 2007 8:30 PM
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  Be happy that the rest of you will be getting a raise. air traffic controlers pay is frozen. on raise in 2007 or 2008

  tom Posted November 24, 2007 9:54 PM
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  I think the people that are giving raises on our SS Should have to shop for groceries, buy medicine and live on what us poor people live on. Many have to choose between medicine and eating. I think ss should be only for what it was meant to be. The people who worked long hard hours and paid in are done pretty ratty. let those people in Washingtion and government pay ss taxes on what they make that wuold sure help the economy.

  Dottie Posted November 24, 2007 5:11 PM
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  Lest we all forget....check your health insurance and long term care premiums and you will see the great disparity between "us" and "them" in the private sector..."portable health insurance after 5 years, what's not to like about that? Of course you have to be 62+. Also look carefully at your holidays, annual leave and sick leave. Count your blessings folks! I'm sure counting mine.

  Jerry Houchens Posted November 8, 2007 1:22 PM
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  I work for the government and do quite well. I also see what the contractors make doing the same job I do and trust me they get paid much more. People ask why do government workers accept being paid less than private workforce peers I'd like to answer that question.

  I work for the federal government because, I think the American People deserve the the very best. Yes I could go out into private industry and make more money but money is not the sole driving force in my life. I love helping people and I love my country so for me working for the government is a natural fit.

  I would like it if the government at least tried to keep our pay near equal to what folk get paid in private industry doing the same job I do. Working for the US Government in certain job classes is all about sacrifice for a greater good. The honorable motives that motivate people to enter government service is the same driving force that compel good people to fight in this nations armed forces.

  Federal Employees enter the job because, we are dedicated to helping better the lives of the american people with our contributions via our jobs. In return we just ask to be treated with economic fairness and appriciated for all we do to preserve the high quality of life americans expect, demand and deserve.

  Wolfen One Posted November 2, 2007 5:14 PM
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  I wonder how long it will take for someone to answer our concerns. I see the people in congress gave themselves another raise, more than likely it's another $5000.00 a year. That comes to $416.00 a month, and I am to be satisfied with the $300.00 a year raise I will get if they give us 3%. Lets run those in congress out and start over, they work for us don't they?

  Sarge Posted November 2, 2007 2:30 PM
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  I am a federal civilian employee. I feel very fortunate to be able to live decently, but I also feel that what comes out of my check is ridiculous. Granted, if I didn't make the money I do, I wouldn't be able to afford the deductions, but DARN, it's a crying shame to look like I'm well off when I tell people my gross salary and then to bring home only enough to live paycheck to paycheck. I'm sweating saving enough for retirement. It shouldn't have to be like that. Our tax system is out of hand.

  Linda Cochran Posted October 31, 2007 10:28 AM
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  I wonder where the number are coming when I hear that federal workers are behind thier civilian counterparts. That is so not true and in fact considering the benefits, (retirement plans, health insurance, paid holidays) federal employees are living a lot better than most civilians employees. And if the pay is that bad a the other side, one must wonder why do federal workers on the job for so long. Let the true be told, federal worker are well above the average income for areas in the United state and record clearly shown that.

  Darryl Posted October 26, 2007 7:04 PM
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  Step increase????? Well, not all gov't workers are covered under the same plan. I have worked in the military and now in the federal gov't and both deserve more. I would love to see an actaul pay for performance system that is actually used the way it should be. There are way to many ROAD (retired on active duty) employess in the federal gov't. I would also like to have the same options that the folks who make the laws have. As many of you know, they give themselves raises almost anytime they want (even when their approval rating is at an all time low) and do not pay into Social Security. The raises aside, why should I have to pay into SS if the ones who make the rules do not have to? That in itself should tell everyone, not only federal employess, how useless SS will likely be in the next few years.

  B Posted October 23, 2007 11:04 AM
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  Of course 3% is no where near what we should be getting. At last check we were somewhere 30 - 35% behind the private sector. When the FEPCA was "Originally started back in the early to mid 80's we were also at the 33- 35% category (BEHIND) the private sector. The Republicans have always try to give us the least amount for raises. They try to say that they really can't afford to but end up doing. They (members of Congress then always vote themselves a HEFTY raise when they really don't deserve one.You can not look at private vs federal jobs and say this is what we should be paying. Most federal jobs don't have a private sector counterpart. Also why should the Military get the same pay increase when they in fact get almost everything "provided" The married military person gets a housing allowance and a food allowance. The single military person gets a place to stay, meals to eat, and (most) activities for "FREE" The federal civilian work force has to provided for their everything. Yes we need a big pay increase. Maybe we'll start getting a bigger percent raise when the Democrat take office in 2008.

  Give us a descent raise.

  Shadoe Posted October 21, 2007 4:30 AM
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  Obviously your are not part of the new National Security Personnel System (NSPS). Thos happy "automatic" days are LONG gone!!

  Lon Posted October 3, 2007 1:02 PM
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  stop whining. the 3% increase is above locality pay adjustments which incorporate inflation.

  For those of us that enjoy WORKING in the federal government and have worked in the private sector know that it is a blessing to receive automatic raises (don't forget your step will increase).

  So you get a step increase, locality pay increase, and 3% pay raise....and you all are whining???

  WOW.

  Aaron Matthew Arnwine Posted September 30, 2007 8:24 AM
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  What disgusts me the most is the lack of "pay-parity" between the federal employees/military and civilian contractors.... My agency received a 1.8% raise for 2007 while contractors continue to be awarded no-bid contracts. It disgusts and demoralizes when a contractor is paid 6 figures+ for a job a military man or federal employee does for a fraction of that.....

  Mike Posted September 15, 2007 10:46 PM
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  Why is Yuma, AZ on the Rest of the US pay scale when the cost of living is so much higher than say Fort Hood in Texas. The housing cost are twice as much as in Killeen, TX where Fort Hood is. The cost of gas, food, car tags, etc etc are higher here also. There is also State Tax here where there is none in Texas. Yuma should be on a higher locality pay scale by far!

  Cliff Reeves Posted September 11, 2007 10:00 AM
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  A 3% pay hike is not sufficient! In 2006 the inflation rate was 3.24 and our agency got 1.81%. In 2005 the inflation rate was 3.39% and we received 2.83%.

  This is not to mention the fact that Federal Employees are not even coming close to pay parity with the private sector. President Clinton signed this bill into Law and the current adminstration refuses to adhere to it.

  Jim Posted August 14, 2007 6:08 PM
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  Have the federal locality pay areas changed and if so where can I find the change to my area? I live in Blaine washington whatcom county, and I have been told that we are now in the same pay area as seattle, is this true?

  Jerry Emory Posted May 21, 2007 11:22 AM
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  And who do you suppose gets the 8%? I'm willing to bet it'll go to give the politicians a nice fat raise.

  GovExec.com reader Posted February 7, 2007 8:35 AM
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  "I'm pleased to know we won't have to spend the next six months fighting for pay parity on behalf of federal employees," (Tom of Northern Virginia) Davis said."

  That is great Tom, now you will have time to fight against the Bush proposal to reduce the proportion of health care premiums paid for by the government for its employees! Do you even remember robbing Peter to pay Paul! Increasing salaries by 3% and reducing government paid premiums on health care by 3% amounts to a zero raise for federal workers any way you cut it or spin it! This is your President - do you all think we are that stupid?

  Northern Virginian Posted February 6, 2007 7:05 AM
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  You cannot see the forrest for the Bushes. He should cut the employment force of civil service by 20% and provide those left with an 8% raise. Military should get a 3% raise.

  taxpayer Posted February 6, 2007 6:19 AM