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Return to Article: Labor group highlights candidates' differences on federal employee issues

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  I have serious issues with Sen McCain and present GOP attack on Fed Workers. We have policy/proceedure in place and also an Employee Code of Conduct when followed by both sides works well. Its not the working man at fault. We work hard and support our families as our parents/grandparents before us. Life,Liberty the pursuit of happiness is directly tied to my Federal Job, to earn a fair wage, health care and retirement. I've earned it. PLEASE VOTE JB

  JB Batulis Jr Posted September 4, 2008 10:50 AM
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  I think it might be instructive for some folks to study economics. When you see things for what they are the idiology and the rhetoric does not always line up.

  Mike Posted September 3, 2008 1:02 PM
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  Do you think the federal governnment will let you fly if TSA employees are out on strike. I think not!

  Adam F. Kohler Posted September 2, 2008 11:41 AM
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  Rick: Trying to express a different opinion rather than whining and blaming is futile in this environment. Its always someone elses fault. Someone has or needs to take care of them. We are an independent nation made up of dependents.

  Red58 Posted August 28, 2008 6:28 AM
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  Rick-What party is the touter of deregulation? Could it be...why yes, it is the GOP, the Republicans, for those of you with a challenged memory. The mortgage crisis did not happen because of the pathetic performance of the current Congress but rather from years of the fox watching the hen house. Why didn't either party stop greedy subprime punks from making risky loans that were for 100 percent and more of the value of the houses they financed? Free market forever! And, U.S. economy be damned! Why is there no one who tries to control oil speculators--another bunch of greedy pirates? We're chasing fanatic, motley pods of terrorists around the globe but the worst terrorists are currently destroying us and getting rich on oil futures at the same time. When the second Iraq War was declared, I watched as a local gas station monopoly jumped the price of fuel by one-third that same day. There's nothing like the heady gathering of unearned profits. Only a public outcry and the local newspaper stopped that. It certainly wasn't the political machine. What was that famous old quote...I looked my enemy in the face and it is I! We put them in office, some of them, like those in congress, for life time terms. It's time to end that. It will only happen when we accept no other alternative but to limit terms.

  IBuy Posted August 27, 2008 4:24 PM
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  Rick: sorry to burst your bubble, but trying to blame the Democrats for the economic mess is a complete non-sequiter. The tell-tale signs of the mortgage meltdown were there for years, and they were caused by the Bush Administration's de-regulating the housing market. The Bush Administration ignored the warning signs because (as usual) it doesn't like to hear bad news. As for oil prices, we got what we deserved for putting an oil man into the Whitehouse. People should have known his loyalties would be to Exxon making $40 billion(!) a year in net profits. At least I voted for Kerry.

  So, if you want to blame someone for the mess we're in, put the blame right back squarely where it belongs - on the backs of the Republicans.

  DSR

  David Posted August 27, 2008 4:09 PM
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  Gee whiz, Rick, yes... let's look at that record. Over 7 years ago we had a balanced budget. While I will admit that 9/11 can in no way be laid at Shrub's door; the responses that followed can. Between the MIA WMD, the "war" (that no one is paying for except our soldiers), the "Bankruptcy Abuse Prevention and Consumer Protection Act" of three years ago (that should be renamed the "Drive More People Into Bankruptcy Act of 2005"), the profits of Skeeter's feather merchants and the oil companies, Rummy's foggy vision of our military future; well, suffice it to say this administration's policies have left us with a deteriorated dollar and a dilapidated military such that we have lost most of our influence both financially and militarily, with both friends (the few who remain) and foes alike.

  If you wish to blame all this on a bare majority congress struggling under an opposition President, then no one can stop you; but I recommend you take a short course in macro economics. It takes awhile for policies to have an effect. I think the current "flash-to-bang" time is running at about three years; hence the banking troubles follow the banking reform.

  Specifically, the current situation is the result of short term economic policies that resulted in long term major problems. These financial policies really benefit no one but the rich. The tax breaks (which I admit benefited me in the short term) and the stimulus package (which benefited Wal-Mart and their overseas suppliers) have only set us up for a major fall. The "war" machine and our global competitors are in direct competition with us for limited fuel supplies. Never before have I seen or heard of a war time economy that didn't even benefit the heavy metal industries and their workers.

  If nothing else, I most admit the current administration's treatment of most folks has been consistent. The disrespect we, CS, are shown under NSPS is also indicative of Shrub's feelings for the middle class, the poor, the military, the Constitution, and the world at large.

  Besides this financial fiasco, the next administration will also have to deal with the Constitutional versions that are the PATRIOT Act and FISA and the political fall-out among what remains of our allies.

  Tip off Posted August 27, 2008 1:55 PM
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  Politicians aren't worried about dysfunctional federal employees as much as the smart ones who won't toe the party line. That's the real reason they want to be able to fire people on a whim. They want to be able to fire people like the NASA scientist who says there's global warming. They want to be able to fire people like Valerie Plame. They want subservience and nothing more.

  Joe Posted August 27, 2008 7:54 AM
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  A little gee whiz info for you Bush bashers. The first 6 years Bush was in office the economy was fine, a little over a year ago, consumer confidence stood at a 2 1/2 year high, regular gas sold for $2.19 a gallon, unemployment rate was 4.5%. Americans were buying new cars, taking cruises, vacations living large. But American's wanted change so in 2006 they voted in a demcratic congress and yep we got change alright. Consumer confidence plummeted, gas climbed over $4 a gallon, unemployment is up 5%, Americans have seen their home equity drop by $12 trillion, 1% of American homes are in foreclosure. You wanted change you got it, now Obama claims he's going to really give us change. Just how much more change do you think you can stand? No more for me thankyou very much.

  Rick Posted August 27, 2008 3:24 AM
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  Dear CDS, sorry to say it but if you don't like NSPS then McCain is not your man. Life is all about choices. You decide to support who you will, then you will reap the pain/rewards. Does McCain really represent you? I know that he represents the Iraqi War Contractor machine.

  Joe Clammer Posted August 26, 2008 8:08 PM
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  I hope "m" isn't a government accountant. 4.1 MIL? Really? Would someone please explain to "m" that $53.4 million divided by 13 million voters is $4.11 per voter.

  Irene Posted August 26, 2008 3:53 PM
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  Quite obvious the direction and communication of this article. Funny how journalism is to reflect the facts with truth and without bias. Definitely not demonstrated here! When they talk about support for federal workers, concern should also be extended for lack of concern from Senator Obama and the Governor of Illinois toward retiring military members and a simple request to fly a U.S. Flag in their honor over the state capital and then endorse a certificate with the date/time flown. The request was denied in fear their name would be used inappropriately. They now ask of my support????? The majority of Federal Employees are hard working and have great ethics. McCain is correct in the need to make it easier to fire dysfunctional employees. Your tax dollars are spent on employee salaries not performing to expectation. We do need to clean the house.....If the Unions were supporting the personnel, NSPS would have been dissolved by this date. It is time for America to face the facts. Federal Service employees are not happy with NSPS. When your pay raise is decided by a panel of personnel not having knowledge of your job or impact on the mission, this is wrong! When you are "Management Reassigned" from a non-supervisory to supervisory with 15-20 personnel and you can only attain a maximum of a 5% pay raise, this is wrong! Personnel are leaving Federal Service in high numbers since a true promotion can only be attained 2 or 3 times in a career. If the unions were really watching after the Federal Service employees, this would not be happening. How comfortable do you feel about your tax dollars now? If you worked over 30 years to attain a GS-14 and have entry level personnel of GS-9 working with you, the creation of NSPS has now placed you in the same pay band. As a GS-14, your grade indicated your knowledge, experience and position. Now that you are in the same Pay band with a GS-9, your recognized grade level experience is not recognized; thereby reducing your sense of self-worth and extended benefits by Grade.

  CDS Posted August 26, 2008 2:39 PM
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  I haven't heard either of them say much about it .... and you can't believe everything they say anyway.

  RE: "AFL-CIO unions voted to spend $53.4 million on a political campaign that aims to influence 510 federal- and state-level races and to turn out 13 million union voters on Election Day."....... Do you see that is 4.1 Mil for Each Voter? Seems like a lot of money for the union to be spending. Maybe they could just give each voter a Mil then they wouldn't need a job and the union could Save some monies.

  m Posted August 26, 2008 12:45 PM
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  If you are a Federal Govt. employee and voted for Bush then you are to blame for this mess. If you vote for McCain then you will have voted yourself right out of a job.

  Heavy D Posted August 26, 2008 11:12 AM
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  Preventing competition for commercial work performed by Feds has long been on the union's agenda. What is new is their corresponding reach for mandates requiring the conversion of work to in-house performance, such as provided at Section 324 of the National Defense Authorization Act for FY 2008 (P.L. 110-181). This new insourcing quota requires that DoD "consider" the cost of using DoD civilian employees to perform all new work and all currently contracted work - an administrative mandate that dwarfs anything ever proposed under Competitive Sourcing! Its not just the beginning of the end for Competitive Sourcing that we need to think about in this election.

  DC Fed Posted August 26, 2008 10:39 AM
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  RATC wrote "The Bush administration has awakened a sleeping giant and it will show at the polls in Nov."

  From the sounds of it approximately 30% of HRC's supporters are not going to vote for Obama, so the "sleeping giant" might just decide to hit the snooze button!

  Tom Posted August 26, 2008 10:19 AM
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  So the head of political operations for a Union that donates millions to the Democrat party puts out talking points and this nonpartisan magazine prints them as a lead article. This sure looks like an "in kind" contribution from Government Executive Magazine to the Democratic Party. Please cancel my subscription.

  cwm Posted August 26, 2008 7:49 AM
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  Would love to hear either canidate support government employees at all agencies. I hope that one or the other will define their position at these upcoming conventions. A proactive plank on their floor would be a boost to getting out the union vote. I feel that so many of us, union workers, now are disenfranchiesed and disheartened by both parties. We have heard rhetoric long enough now is the time that union officals need to bear down on these canidiates and have them be clear as a bell on their positions if they truly want the White House.

  Nick Posted August 26, 2008 7:38 AM
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  For a presidential candidate to state that his goal is to shrink the Federal workforce and curb employee unions shows disregard for the services government workers provide to the public and is a blatant, outrageous declaration of war on the rights of working class America. Working people need to get out there and VOTE against this candidate!

  Robin Johnson Posted August 26, 2008 6:32 AM
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  The Bush administration has awakened a sleeping giant and it will show at the polls in Nov.

  Retired Air Traffic Controller Posted August 25, 2008 8:55 PM
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  "The presumptive Republican nominee also has said since 2007 that he would use the upcoming federal retirement wave to shrink the size of the workforce and curb employee unions." The size of the federal workforce is already smaller than it was in the 1960s, but government spending is at a record high. The difference being made up by the hidden and mostly unaccountable contract workforce. Apparently, McCain intends to continue the policies of the past 7 and a half years and expand on them.

  Jim Jones Posted August 25, 2008 5:55 PM