Obama to Freeze Pay for Most Federal Workers (for 2 Years)

NYT ^ | 11-29-10 | Peter Baker

[pillut48]

WASHINGTON -- President Obama plans to announce a two-year pay freeze for civilian federal workers later Monday morning, according to an administration official, the latest White House move intended to demonstrate concern over sky-high deficit spending.

[pillut48]

Oh, dear. And just in time for the Christmas Winter holidays!!

Key phrase: "...to demonstrate concern..." In other words: phony 'proposal' intended to gin up brownie points for the WH to deflect truth about crazy, out of control spending from the current regime!

Do y'all think there will be rioting in the streets like the recent ones in France and Greece over this proposal? Personally, I doubt it will happen, but then again...this whole bizarro current regime is capable of anything! But I think this will be twisted in some way that turns out bad not only for gubmint workers, but ALL of us. *sigh*

[pillut48]

Hey, I originally saw this on Twitter and posted their title, then found the NYT one-for some reason I couldn’t get the edit on the title to go through, can you change it to this real one from NYT?

Obama to Freeze Pay for Most Federal Workers for 2 Years

Thanks!

[Ann Archy]

STOP THE PENSIONS!!! ROLL BACK PAYROLL!!

[pillut48]

D’oh. Ignore #2, when the article went through it had my original title, but when I wrote to admin mod, and sent it through the title had changed—durn gremlins! :-[

[Gaffer]

Kinda sounds like Nixon’s 90 day wage and price freeze. I was in the military at the time and my pay was locked. Eventually it was ruled unconstitutional.

[Soothesayer]

These must be those low wage federal workers who need to be punished for voting Republican.

[pieceofthepuzzle]

Translation: “I’ve already increased the federal payroll extravagantly, so I can afford to freeze it for two years until after the next election.”

[Sybeck1]

Furloughs???

[JudyinCanada]

Freeze the pay AFTER BRINGING IT IN LINE TO PRIVATE SECTOR RATES and you’re talking business. Freezing the current rates guarantees they will be grossly overpaid for the next two years.

[SMARTY]

Right. This is just more 'Kabuki Presidency' BS. If it flies... it will put him a little further from winning in the next national election but it WILL help the country.

Personally, I don't think it WILL fly and I don't think it is MEANT to.

Just more ‘O’ slapstick politics.

[kabar]

While a pay freeze will make only a small dent in the federal deficit, it represents a symbolic gesture toward public anger over unemployment, the anemic economic recovery and rising national debt. By announcing it on Monday, the president effectively will preempt Republicans who have been talking about making such a move once they take over the House and assume more seats in the Senate in January.

[dawn53]

In our local gov’t they have not only instituted hiring and pay freezes, but everybody’s pay got cut from the mayor on down (except for the unionized fire and police departments.)

[pillut48]

I’m going to scope out the DUmp and see what their reaction to this news is- < dons super duper FR hazmat suit >

LOL. So far, the only response over there is “Does that include congress?” ;-)

[rockvillem]

This part from the article tells you all you need to know about how out of control it has been:

Since 2000, federal pay and benefits have increased 3 percent annually above inflation, compared with 0.8 percent for private sector workers, according to data cited by the newspaper.

3 percent real annual growth compounded over 10 years. Sick.

[EGPWS]

Translation: “I’ve already increased the federal payroll extravagantly, so I can afford to freeze it for two years until after the next election.”

Bingo!

[LibsRJerks]

“will freeze pay for MOST federal workers ...” Meanwhile, certain federal workers, like Congressmembers, will continue to receive annual raises.

[Zakeet]

Obama to Freeze Pay for Most Non-SEIU Federal Workers for 2 Years

More accurate headline

[stefanbatory]

Quick! slam the barn door and lock it! never mind the horses, cattle, and sheep destroying the garden...

[Buffalo Head]

"Kinda sounds like Nixon’s 90 day wage and price freeze. Eventually it was ruled unconstitutional."

I do not remember the 'unconstitutional' ruling. Can you provide a link or other source for that information? Thank you.

[Non-Sequitur]

By announcing it on Monday, the president effectively will preempt Republicans who have been talking about making such a move once they take over the House and assume more seats in the Senate in January.

The Republican Congress can always extend the pay freeze to themselves and their staffs. What are the chances of that happening?