End 'pay parity' - Mr. Bush called for a bigger raise for soldiers than for civilian workers

Washington Times ^ | Nov. 19, 2004 | editorial

[Former Military Chick]

Everyone knows the Bush administration has presided over the largest expansion of federal government in a generation. What's less heralded is its concomitant drive to rationalize government by overhauling personnel management systems, especially when it comes to defense and homeland security. For one, President Bush wants to pay in-demand workers more than others — particularly when it comes to our soldiers. It's hard to imagine a more commonsensical policy than one which pays workers more for harder or more skilled work — or for more dangerous assignments. But lately, Congess has been acting to hinder just this policy and others. Maybe now, with a lame-duck session underway, it can start helping again.

It could begin by ending the "pay parity" doctrine. For about 20 years, Congress has judged federal civilian workers deserving of the same annual raise as their military counterparts. This year Mr. Bush called for a bigger raise for soldiers than for civilian workers. Congress cried foul. In September, Reps. Thomas M. Davis III, Virginia Republican, Steny H. Hoyer, Maryland Democrat, James P. Moran Jr., Virginia Democrat, and Frank R. Wolf, Virginia Republican, moved to keep pay parity intact. Meanwhile, Rep. Christopher Van Hollen, Maryland Democrat, inserted an amendment into a key spending bill calling for a 3.5 percent raise for civilians — more than double the Bush proposal — and tied it to an effective gutting of the president's "A-76" reforms for Pentagon contracting. The message was clear: Federal workers are an interest group just like any other, and can mobilize legislators just as effectively as any AARP or NRA lobby.

[Former Military Chick]

I can only hope!!

[Texas_Jarhead]

"Federal workers are an interest group just like any other, and can mobilize legislators just as effectively as any AARP or NRA lobby."

Damn right they are. Government workers should not be allowed to unionize or their unions should be barred from any political activity. As the size of fedgov grows there are more fed workers which become a larger lobby which push for more fedgov in an endless screwing of the American taxpayer.

[American Vet Repairman]

Don't forget the civilian nurses that work at federal facilities caring for those who have born the battle. It is a common practice for Directors to send back the COLA allotted money for a bonus on money saved. This is a real need since there is a nursing shortage.

[snowman1]

Scew them, the biggest burdens are being carried by our servicemen and women.

[American Vet Repairman]

"Government workers should not be allowed to unionize"

If it was not for the unions there would hardly be any medical staff working at the Veterans Hospitals. VA directors have a history of underpaying staff and the abuses of incompetent managers would go unchecked.

[Dog Gone]

Government is about the only place where you can be guaranteed a raise equal to or better than the inflation rate.

[American Vet Repairman]

Scew them, the biggest burdens are being carried by our servicemen and women

No. Screw you- you moron. Veterans take care of vets. Many of us have been to war and are going back. Unlike you- crap for brains.

[American Vet Repairman]

Government is about the only place where you can be guaranteed a raise equal to or better than the inflation rate.


That is not true. Many VA nurses are denied raises by facility directors.

[Dog Gone]

I'm sure there are exceptions.

[WildBillK]

"Damn right they are. Government workers should not be allowed to unionize or their unions should be barred from any political activity. As the size of fedgov grows there are more fed workers which become a larger lobby which push for more fedgov in an endless screwing of the American taxpayer."

Jarhead, while I agree, the AFGE merged with the AFL-CIO back in the 1980's making it the AFGE/AFL-CIO and one of the largest bargining Unions out there with more than 230,000 represented members. I am not sure now what the total is, but I can say this by personal experiance. The AFGE is politically Democrat and more than likely will remain that way. I was a member until the National Union told me to vote for a Democrat in a Presidental election. There was no way in hell I was going to do that nor have a Union tell me who to vote for. I dropped them like a hot potato. Bill

[FreedomCalls]

Government workers should not be allowed to unionize or their unions should be barred from any political activity. As the size of fedgov grows there are more fed workers which become a larger lobby which push for more fedgov in an endless screwing of the American taxpayer.

And that's yet another reason DC should never become a state.

[FreedomCalls]

Government is about the only place where you can be guaranteed a raise equal to or better than the inflation rate.

Any corporate job that requires you to serve on a board of directors tends to pay out raises higher than inflation even if you screw up your company. Case in point: Michael Ovitz, president of Disney for 14 months -- $140 million severance package. Or Chuck Conaway who ground K-Mart into mincemeat -- on the job for less than 2 years with a $9 million severance package. Others: Jill Barad left Mattel Inc. in early 2000 with more than $10 million although the stock price was down 70 percent. George Shaheen, who left online grocer Webvan a few months before its collapse last year, took a severance package that pays him $375,000 a year for life. Phil Pfeffer got $4 million in 1999 after spending five months as chief executive of Borders Group Inc. During that time Borders' stock price dropped more than 30 percent.

[jrtjrt]

Screw YOU -- Again, someone who doesn't know what they're talking about -- apparently you don't realize the number of CIVILIAN federal employees there are right now in Iraq supporting the warfighter. Think before you speak.

[Ruy Dias de Bivar]

As one of the emporers of Rome said while on his death bead,

"Always make sure the Army gets paid."

[GailA]

Even the least supply clerk in the Military should draw a better salary than a supply clerk for the department of AG. They after all put their lives on the line for all of us. Only when Republicans like Ronald Reagan and GW are in office do they get respect and decent pay raises.

The peanut farmer and the slickmeister loathed our Militay and treated them like dirt beneath their feet. hanoi john would have treated them even worse as he truly hates our Military.

[snowman1]

I have 10 friends now in Iraq with a Guard unit and also my son. They all left damn fine paying jobs, as far as myself I spent 2 yrs. in Nam when you were still probably crapping green.

[American Vet Repairman]

Then you better start taking action now against the indecencies in the VA system. Your loved ones may need the VA Medical care. With the rising costs of health care and the decline in people willing to take the call to care for others in healthcare, there is a coming crisis.
When Clinton was in, the abuses were horrific. But sadly the regime is still in there via the beurocrat. I sincerely pray for your loved ones protection and I apologize for my words said in anger. I have been on the ground with Marines and I know what it sound like to have a round come at me.The two most important people are the radio man and the person carrying IV bags. And every real combat vet knows this.