Reader responses to Ned on Feds - Outrageous Tidbits

DAILY BRIEFING

Reader responses to Ned on Feds - Outrageous Tidbits

Here are the responses we have received to the July 10 Ned on Feds column, "Outrageous Tidbits "

Your July 17th comments about civil service raises which exceed the employment cost increases demonstrate a lack of understanding, or any historical perspective. The raises which exceed the president's recommendation and the employment cost index are intended by Congress to provide some minimal "catch up" to make up for the past pay freezes, 1% and 2% raises, and pay raises that sometimes were half the rate of inflation. Congress has for years used the budget deficit as a reason to under compensate civil servants. Recent surpluses provide an opportunity and even an obligation to pay us back for our service during the war on inflation and on the deficit.

Pay raises should not be judged only by looking at the past 2 or 3 years. I suggest you chart civil service pay raises against inflation over the past 25 years to get a better appreciation of the sacrifices that have been made by civil servants. Then publish your findings and conclusions after proper reflection upon the facts.

-Dan Horine