77,000 feds paid more than governors

The Washington Times ^ | 6/1/2011 | Stephen Dinan

[libertycause13]

"More than 77,000 federal government employees throughout the country — including computer operators, more than 5,000 air traffic controllers, 22 librarians and one interior designer — earned more than the governors of the states in which they work.

The findings, from a Congressional Research Service report requested by Sen. Tom Coburn, Oklahoma Republican, were released at a time when public workers’ salaries and benefits are under scrutiny across the country as governments try to streamline...."

[scooby321]

The question is whether who can Obama beat in 2012.

By 2012 it will be who can Obama beat.

[muawiyah]

(as if this were a meaningful comparison) I would definitely jump in there and whack those air traffic controllers and medical doctors who earn more than the governor of the state where they are stationed.

Do that right away!~

Just do it do it Just do it

[sauropod]

"A congressional study revealed that 7,283 federal employees in Maryland made more than Gov. Martin O'Malley's $150,000 salary in 2009."

Actually, I'm ok with that. OweMalley isn't worth what he's paid.

[Repeal The 17th]

“...whether who can Obama beat...” is a question that few can answer (or understand).

[screaminsunshine]

50 state secession is the answer. Washington is a goner.

[digger48]

Indiana has around a thousand people, mostly at IU and Purdue, making from $150K to $600,000/yr in State paychecks

[Domandred]

I just applied for a Federal job today that pays $80,000 a year and those cushie Fed benefits.

Private sector for the same job in the same geographic area? $55,000 a year.

[Domandred]

So it’s not just fed employees making more than State Governors, it’s overpay at all levels.

[Paperdoll]

oh law, now the bovernors will demand a raise!

[hattend]

...and one interior designer.

[kcvl]

The Federal government pays an interior designer for what?

[EGPWS]

I say we MAKE them take a cut in pay and govern for a living!

Oh, wait a minute...

[EGPWS]

The Federal government pays an interior designer for what?

To make some people feel good just to get their votes.

[americanophile]

It's an odd comparison in one sense, since states set their chief executives’ pay, and the federal government, a separate sovereign, sets its employees pay, but the larger point about the relative levels of responsibility and bloated federal salaries is duly noted.

[WOBBLY BOB]

With 1.9 million civilian workers (including DOD civilians) and 1.4 million uniformed personnel, the federal
government is the largest single employer in the United States (Source: White House 2008 budget numbers and OSD).

http://www.1105govinfo.com/pdfs/advertise/Federal_Employees_Almanac.pdf

In the debate over public sector compensation, it’s often noted that - in addition to generous salaries and better fringe benefits - federal employees have far greater job security than private sector workers. While a private sector worker has an approximately 20 percent chance of being fired or laid off in a given year, for federal employees it’s only 6 percent.

http://www.publicsectorinc.com/psi_articles/2011/01/valuing-job-security-as-a-public-employee-benefit.html

For 30-35 years, the private sector has addressed its structural problems (lack of profits, low productivity, losing market share, etc. etc.) with downsizing and innovation. In this same period, government (federal, state and local) has grown like crazy; largely unionized the workforce; never considered downsizing; ignored intelligent investments in technology to make their workforce efficient; expanded the bureaucracy (always the first priority of the bureaucracy is to preserve, protect and expand); and now has heeped on unrealistic compensation as well as benefits to add to the lard.

I don’t think anyone could present a rational case that federal employment and bureaucracy can’t be reduced 2-3% per year (I’m being kind — 5% per year would be a better target) along with reductions of 2-3% per year (again being kind) to overall average compensation and benefits levels to bring the government sector into alignment with the private sector and reducing the government’s footprint and cost. You could do the above just with attrition.

Federal Employees are almost impossible to fire unless they are guilty of gross misconducr(read criminal activity) That is why the number of dismissals for cause is way under even 1% of the workforce,and for those that just show up, there is no accountability. No government employee can be terminated for failure to reach minimum objective performance goals, most don’t have any.

[PittsburghAfterDark]

In all fairness to this argument...

How can entities like the CIA, NSA, FBI or DoD get anyone remotely at the top of their field vs. private security, defense contractors, Google, Apple, MS etc. if they don’t pay an above average salary.

Old argument at NSA was most of their best brains could make more money making the new Halo or Madden than doing national security work.

Now of course we will probably agree with that sentiment. However you can’t tell me SS, Agriculture, Education,HHS, Energy, Interior etc. aren’t completely filled with useless bodies.

[americanophile]

They can’t, they have to pay a competitive wage. Especially when you’re talking about doctors, lawyers, scientists, and national security specialists. The problem is all the unionized bureaucrats - there’s over a million unionized federal workers, and we all know what that means.

[hosepipe]

Federal gov’t Unions MUST BE OUTLAWED.. even criminalized..

Reduced the size and scope of the federal government and the deficit would be non existent.. maybe even surplus..

Very Few things should be “an entitlement”..

[StAnDeliver]

Decaying Rome! Mandarin China!

We should strive to be different in every respect...