Posted on 08/31/2009 7:28:53 PM PDT by Free ThinkerNY
President Barack Obama is cutting federal employees’ pay increases next year because of the budget deficit.
In an Aug. 31 letter to House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.), Obama said he would use his power to reduce the federal employee pay raise set for January 2010 from 2.4 percent to 2.0 percent.
“The growth in federal requirements is straining the federal budget,” wrote Obama. His letter said a 2.4 percent increase would cost $19.9 billion more than the 2 percent increase he proposed in his 2010 budget.
The Congressional Budget Office last week set the fiscal year deficit at $1.6 trillion, the highest deficit ever in the post-World War II era. The Office of Management and Budget estimated the 10-year deficit to 2019 had expanded from $7 trillion to $9 trillion.
Republicans have hammered Obama and congressional Democrats over the size of the budget deficit, and have used it to argue the national cannot afford healthcare reform. Democrats say their healthcare legislation will reduce costs and improve the country’s fiscal health in the long run.
The president can impose a new pay plan if he views the raises that would otherwise take place as being inappropriate because of a national emergency or serious economic conditions affecting the general welfare.”
Obama noted the 9.5 percent unemployment rate in June, and wrote that, “few would disagree that our country is facing serious economic conditions affecting the general welfare.”
(Excerpt) Read more at hillnews.com ...
This is window-dressing ~ totally meaningless pablem for the masses.
I know I’m preaching to the choir.
Here’s an idea. How about the flunctuation matches the private sector wage decreases?
He shouldn’t be cutting their raises, he should be cutting their salaries. By 20%.
Cut their pay.
He could impress me if he cut their pay 15% and cut 10% of the federal workforce. (As a start)
Those that are cut will just join ‘ACORN and co.’ and STILL bee paid for by our $$$$$. Simple. /s
Why are they getting any pay raise? I thought we were experiencing deflation? [Not that I believe that, but its the story the economists are trying to sell us.]
1/6 less RAISE. Whatta penny pincher!
I'm just sayin.'
When did Bammie start worrying about the budget deficit? I thought he was going to start spreading the wealth around like he is doing with his ACORNs and his union buddies.
Disband entire departments, or pare them back by 50 percent. Start with the IRS.
Social Security recipients are getting no COL for the next TWO years. That should make Obie popular with the geezer crowd.
This happens practically every year, regardless who is in office.
Uh oh, he’s toast now. No SS increase and now the powerful fedgov workers aren’t getting a raise! I think the shark is going to jump into his lap.
Should read "Postal Workers Union..."
Why are they getting any raise at all? We haven’t seen a raise since 2007 at my company.
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