Many Hires Needed for Budget Goals (new federal workers)

Washington Post ^ | 3/3/09 | Phillip Rucker

[Timeout]

President Obama's budget is so ambitious, with vast new spending on health care, energy independence, education and services for veterans, that experts say he probably will need to hire tens of thousands of new federal government workers to realize his goals.

The $3.6 trillion plan released last week proposes spending billions to begin initiatives and implement existing programs, and given Obama's insistence that he would scale back the use of private-sector contractors, his priorities could reverse a generational decline in the size of the government workforce.

Exactly how many new workers would be needed remains unclear -- one independent estimate was 100,000, while the conservative Heritage Foundation said it is likely to be closer to a quarter-million.

[Timeout]

Surely someone in the GOP can put this together with the fact that gov't pay now outpaces private sector pay....BEFORE the generous benefits...and get the public to finally sit up and take notice.

[Smokin' Joe]

The Federal Government already exceeds its Constuitutional bounds by a ridiculous amount. Add more?

[YellowRoseofTx]

And who is going to pay the salaries of all these people when WE the PEOPLE are standing in bread lines?

[WayneS]

I heard the figure 100,000 this morning on the radio.

I wonder if that is a new record for the first 35 days in office.

[WayneS]

Does anyone know how many total federal employees (non-military) were added to the dole, I mean roll, during the Clinton and GW Bush years?

I know the size of the government expanded a good bit during each of those administrations, but I have never seen an exact figure for either.

[Nervous Tick]

They won’t “look like America”, either, I guarantee you that. 90% will be affirmative action hires.

[Nervous Tick]

>> And who is going to pay the salaries of all these people when WE the PEOPLE are standing in bread lines?

Oh, we’ll find the money somewhere (or print it). Whatever it takes.

A larger question will be “what will their pay (or anyone’s pay) really be worth”? Though I’m sure the gubmint will build inflation “safeguards” into its minions’ salaries.

[Le Chien Rouge]

They won’t “look like America”, either, I guarantee you that. 90% will be affirmative action hires...

Affirmative action hires are like the sun rising....a given with the Obama administration

[Oldeconomybuyer]

We get to pay for 100,000 new union gubment workers who get paid days off to campaign for democrats.

[Rockiette]

I’ve heard that many govt. workers are retiring so this may be just another Scam by Obama, taking credit for something that is happening regardless.

[perez24]

There are a lot of federal employees (don’t know about state/local) who are ELIGIBLE to retire, but they are not retiring at the usual rate due to things like the stock market hitting their retirement accounts, less opportunity to come back as a contractor, kids in school, etc. Many times they are eligible at a younger age than in the private sector but need to keep at the job just like everyone else.

[Timeout]

I don’t think the projected retirements will come about either. Mostly I think they’ll want to stay now that Obama is giving them so much more power (”At last, we can do what we NEED to do to help the American people!”).

I think these will mostly be ADDED jobs. As for affirmative action, maybe. But more importantly, these will be political patronage hires (Chicago style). IOW, they’ll do to the entire federal government what they accused GWB of doing to the Justice Dept.

They will not be shy either. They’re going to adopt the in your face, audacious attitude that Obama has set. Businesses beware. You have targets on your backs now...ready to be served up to a compliant media.