Bush Cuts Pay Raises for Federal Workers, Citing National Emergency

TBo.com ^

[Sub-Driver]

Bush Cuts Pay Raises for Federal Workers, Citing National Emergency By Jennifer Loven Associated Press Writer

CRAWFORD, Texas (AP) - Citing a state of national emergency brought on by last year's terrorist attacks, President Bush on Friday slashed the pay raises most civilian federal workers were to receive starting in January. Under a law passed in 1990, federal employees covered by the government's general schedule pay system would receive a two-part pay increase with the new year, a 3.1 percent across-the-board increase plus a pay hike based on private-sector wage changes in the areas where they work.

This law outlining federal pay kicks in because Congress has not yet passed the appropriations legislation directing a specific increase, said Amy Call, a spokeswoman for the White House's Office of Management and Budget.

The White House couldn't say exactly how many federal employees the change would impact, but said it would be almost all.

Bush's pay decision is yet another blow to federal workers, many of whom are facing big changes in job descriptions under the Bush administration.

Earlier this month, the administration announced it wants to let private companies compete for up to half of the 1.8 million federal jobs. Also, in the new Homeland Security Department, Bush won the broad powers he sought to hire, fire and move workers in the 22 agencies that will be merged.

In a letter sent Friday to congressional leaders, Bush announced he was using his authority to change workers' pay structure in times of national emergency or "serious economic conditions" and limiting raises to the 3.1 percent across-the-board boost. Military personnel will receive a 4.1 percent increase.

That means that the additional so-called locality-based payments would remain at current levels because "our national situation precludes granting larger pay increases ... at this time," Bush said.

The White House quietly released the letter to journalists via e-mail late on Friday, the middle of a long holiday weekend when most Americans were apt to be paying little attention.

Officials of unions representing federal workers could not immediately be reached Friday night for comment.

Call said the locality-based payments have rarely gone into effect since their creation in 1990, either because former President Clinton limited them or Congress prescribed other salary increases.

"The whole locality-based adjustment ... for the most part doesn't go into effect," Call said.

The White House estimated that the overall average locality-based pay increase would amount to about 18.6 percent. Bush said granting the full raises would cost about $13.6 billion in 2003, or $11.2 billion more than he proposed for the year - a cost the nation can't bear as it continues to battle the war against terror.

"A national emergency has existed since September 11, 2001," Bush wrote. "Such cost increases would threaten our efforts against terrorism or force deep cuts in discretionary spending or federal employment to stay within budget. Neither outcome is acceptable."

The president noted that the raises still amount to more than the current inflation rate of 2.1 percent.

"I do not believe this decision will materially affect our ability to continue to attract and retain a quality federal workforce," he said.

[MeekOneGOP]

Howdy, and thanks for the comment.

"The White House estimated that the overall average locality-based pay increase would amount to about 18.6 percent. Bush said granting the full raises would cost about $13.6 billion in 2003, or $11.2 billion more than he proposed for the year - a cost the nation can't bear as it continues to battle the war against terror.".....

Etc....

So, are they NOT getting a raise or are they getting a SMALLER increase than anticipated? The way the article is written is confusing to me. Note, from this article:

"A national emergency has existed since September 11, 2001," Bush wrote. "Such cost increases would threaten our efforts against terrorism or force deep cuts in discretionary spending or federal employment to stay within budget. Neither outcome is acceptable."

The president noted that the raises still amount to more than the current inflation rate of 2.1 percent.

[CaliforniaOkie]

Everyone seems to be ignoring this one. 3% is much so significant compared to that.

That is such a crock. I am retired from DOD and never received that kind of locality pay. Live in Thomas' district and we lobbied him for years before we got any locality pay. It amounted to much less that 18.5.

[tbg681]

Maybe all the government parasites -- over-paid, over-pampered, over-pensioned -- can go out into the real world and get a real job?

What? No Martin Luther King day off?? Oh, the humanity!!!

[Arthur Wildfire! March]

I don't recall Reagan slashing anyone's pay. I'd call it something major, myself. God bless Bush. I have only one major gripe: privacy infringement while our borders are left wide open for WMD.

[CaliforniaOkie]

I'm going crazy! These people don't poduce anything. Why do they get these salaries.

We can spell?

[Thommas]

Fear not, Mr. Cat!! I can still hold my own in the private world. You'd be surprised to see how our group works in comparison to the private world. I can't say the same for all of government, but I can say that we are very competitive. I've seen both sides of this business and there isn't much difference.

I have to agree on that point, most of the federal employees in my department (FAA) could and will transition easily to the private sector. Most are college graduates and/or have at least a second job skill upon which to rely. For example, I'm an attorney.

The great bolis of personnel who came into the FAA after the 1981 strike will be forced to retire in the next few years. The people to replace this mass of labor will undoubtable come from related aerospace fields, such as baggage security.

Good Luck, all...

[Arthur Wildfire! March]

Maybe we could make government jobs like being on a jury - they just call you in, give you $15 per day, and you get to make the big decisions.

Kool. Kind of like socialism.

I like the idea of simply abolishing do-nothing agencies, in some cases consolidating them into others, such as the Department of Energy, that whined it's in charge of nuclear power plant security. Why not transfer those vital branches to Secret Services, and send the rest packing? Department of Education? Cut it down to the level needed for school choice and kick the others out the door. IRS? Convert to national sales tax and eliminate the need for 80% of the employees. National Endowment of the Arts? Complete slash. EPA? Put the states in charge of it collectively [including the budget] and tell the EPA to leave DC. ATF? Goodbye. Alchohol regulation, being an outdated law, should become completely neutered, IMHO. As far as guns and tobacco go, leave enforcement up to each state. The FDA should quit being pro-active. Note how few problems herbal 'medicine' have. If something is documented as addictive and/or a parlor drug that is very dangerous, such as crack, LSD, angel dust, oxycontent, etc: sure make it illeal. But this prescription trash for EVERYTHING is completely absurd. People should be allowed to buy blood thinners, allegra, estrogen, whatever without the doctor reaching into their pockets and not even letting them have much choice in the matter so the doc can get his payoff.

[bimbo]

Our Government is filled with over-paid, under-worked, whiners for whom a 3.1% increase is a pay cut. I'll bet there are many Freepers who would LOVE to get a 3.1% raise this year.

[FreeReign]

Who will NOT protect us:

Department of Education EEOC HUD DOT Treasury IRS Forest Service Post Office

that's a short list.

Thanks for give me a list of 7 out of 8 departments that saw their budgets decrease less than the rate of inflation and population growth in Bush's first discretionary budget.

And you are right, it is THE short list. I can give you the long list of such.

[maui_hawaii]

What is your reasoning behind saying it will increase the size of government? Don't just say it, back it up and tell why.

My reasoning is if you have 10 agencies with 100 people in each, then you put them into one agency...that is still 1000 employees.

Now based on what I know about organizations, companies, etc etc... there is an overhead management cost for each consecutive agency. But that is just part of it. Its far more than that. Most of the waste comes from the low man on the totem pole not giving a rats ass about what happens.

There has to be real (financial) management, and individual accountability and responsibility. Its Business Management 101. How they plan to accomplish that has yet to be explained. Its not a done deal, but its possible. If anything this is going to be a talking point for Bush's 2nd term.

In the end I think it matters more who the manager is and how they run the show, not alaways the size of the organization. Elephants can dance, its hard but possible, especially when you only have to teach one elephant. Secondly in this case we have to realize that the elephant is not really an elephant. If we get the ants to do what we want, the elephant goes where we want it to. How they reorganize IMO should be everyone under one roof, but loose enough to have people do their jobs.

Go to the bookstore and read the book "Its Your Ship" in the business section.

[FreeReign]

Is government growing or shrinking during the Bush administration?

Not including the costs of Medicade, Medicare and Social Security, the answer to YOUR question is no. If you factor those items then the answer is yes. Now, the above stated exceptions are currently required by law. So a more OBJECTIVE question that should be asked is -- is the government growing or shrinking during a time period where the D's are in some form of control of government?

[katze]

But, do you know that retirees get a lower CoL increase? I think it was 2.3% last year; this will be likely the same this year, and my health benefits contribution goes up by 10%, which BTW is a retirement benefit.

[FreeReign]

Is government growing or shrinking during the Bush administration?

Not including the costs of Medicade, Medicare and Social Security, the answer is that government is shrinking. If you factor those above items, then the answer is that government is growing. Now, the above stated exceptions are currently required by law. So a more OBJECTIVE question that should be asked is -- is the government growing or shrinking during a time period where the D's are in some form of control of government?

[Moomah]

Now the Congress should follow the President's lead and reverse the raise they voted for themselves recently. Yeah, like that'll ever happen ... but it's would be the right and decent thing to do.

[FreeReign]

Now the Congress should follow the President's lead and reverse the raise they voted for themselves recently. Yeah, like that'll ever happen ... but it's would be the right and decent thing to do.

What is the average salary of a congressman? How much has this salary gone up over the last few years?

You must know this given your above stated opinion.

[reg45]

offering the postal service to UPS and FedEx

Unfortunately, the USPS unlike the DeptEd is actually mandated in the Constitution.

[katze]

IIRC, the max sick leave was 2 weeks, and I think I was at the 6 week annual leave threshold--been awhile, and I really don't remember. I guess you know Colonels (O-6) are a dime-a-dozen in DC, too, and that isn't meant to be demeaning, there are just that many.

Bottom line is, I do recognize I was well-paid, good benefits, but working conditions were not always the best. A good example, we didn't get computers until 1987, and the end product of my job was a lengthy report, as many as 20 typed pages for a very complex proposal (incl a boatload of spreadsheets, in some cases), handwritten in draft for supervisory review, and thank goodness a secretary or word processing empl typed it. Then, since most of our major contractors were within a radious of about 150 mi, I had to get out in all kinds of weather, bad weather incl; had to deal with p.o'd contractors who bristled if you legitimately questioned the cost; and often had to take up the slack for an employee who couldn't do the job, in addition to my own workload. It was no picnic, but I liked what I did, and yes, the security meant a lot.

[reg45]

the Democrat-machine AFSCME stooges

Fact check: I don't think AFSCME represents any Federal workers. If I am wrong, please let me know.