Posted on 08/16/2013 12:59:47 PM PDT by Kaslin
A report yesterday from Government Executive detailed how the Obama Administration's predictions of doom and gloom from sequestration has backfired. The predictions of furloughs for government workers, nearly across the board, were exaggerated.
The most significant example of furlough reductions has been the Defense Department. The Pentagon originally planned to furlough all 750,000 of its civilian employees for 22 days. It then used reprogramming to trim that number to 11 days, and more recently -- through a series of cost-cutting measures and inter-service transfer of funds -- reduced the days of unpaid leave to six. The furloughs are now estimated to affect about 650,000 Defense civilians.
The most significant example of furlough reductions has been the Defense Department. The Pentagon originally planned to furlough all 750,000 of its civilian employees for 22 days. It then used reprogramming to trim that number to 11 days, and more recently -- through a series of cost-cutting measures and inter-service transfer of funds -- reduced the days of unpaid leave to six. The furloughs are now estimated to affect about 650,000 Defense civilians.
The most significant example of furlough reductions has been the Defense Department. The Pentagon originally planned to furlough all 750,000 of its civilian employees for 22 days. It then used reprogramming to trim that number to 11 days, and more recently -- through a series of cost-cutting measures and inter-service transfer of funds -- reduced the days of unpaid leave to six. The furloughs are now estimated to affect about 650,000 Defense civilians.
The Labor Department sent out furloughs notices --with varying lengths of unpaid leave -- to 4,700 employees. The agency called the situation “fluid” and hoped to cancel furloughs, and Government Executive has confirmed several of Labor’s sub-agencies have reduced required furlough hours.
This is a little more comprehensive of a look at furlough reductions than I wrote about last month - when the Department of Defense announced furlough cuts to "six to eight" days. And it's another prediction to be put on the pile of wrong sequestration predictions.
It's important to note that this means that sequestration is not having no effect. There are tangible effects of sequestration in the short term, and in the short-term it's likely causing a small drag on the economy.
Sequestration's full effect may not be being felt yet, either. Executive agencies and government contractors may be cutting back on some of their activity, but reports have surfaced that many still expect sequestration to be repealed between now and next year, which might make the drop-off more severe in the future. For now, though, sequestration hasn't turned out to be so bad.
But that wasn't ever the point of sequestration. Sequestration was a crude yet effective way of addressing America's medium-term deficit problem, and to that end, will put the U.S. on a stronger growth track in the long-term. The Congressional Budget Office has estimated time and again that deficit reduction like what's achieved in sequestration will lower economic activity in the short term while raising it in the long term. There may be better ways of achieving these goals, but it's indisputable tha sequestration is good for the economy in the long term.
Watch the Washington Post's Jim Tankersley discuss the good and bad of sequestration, and the political prospects for replacing it, here:
I find it slightly amusing that the furloughs were “canceled” right at the end of the summer travel season. I’m guessing most federal employees were quite happy with three day weekends through the summer.
I know a person who is employed by the DOJ. Their local boss was postponing all the furlough days to be taken by his employees, to be backed off from the end of September, as he was very confident that they would be canceled by then.
The whole thing was bs anyway
I’m guessing most federal employees were quite happy with three day weekends through the summer.
I like my DoD job. It directly supports aircraft ops in Afghanistan. I lost $1500 from my pay.
Furlough for defenders of freedom.
Fully funded EBT and SNAP cards for the parasite class.
It’s an 0bamanation.
My brother was enjoying his furloughs. He visited our parents for a 3-day weekend earlier this month.
Of course the sequester isn’t as bad as predicted. The US debt hasn’t increased one penny in months.
Did you watch The Great Food Stamp Binge with Bret Baier this past Sunday?
I know a person who is employed by the DOJ. Their local boss was postponing all the furlough days to be taken by his employees, to be backed off from the end of September, as he was very confident that they would be canceled by then.
I find it slightly amusing that the furloughs were “canceled” right at the end of the summer travel season. I’m guessing most federal employees were quite happy with three day weekends through the summer.
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My husband was not “happy with 3 day weekends through the summer”. We lost $600 every 2 weeks to the furlough thank you very much. There was nothing enjoyable about that.
Maybe sequestration isn’t as bad as foretold, but parts of it still suck.
I’m going to Atlantic City next week where the big AIR SHOW will NOT be held.
As an Air Force vet who doesn’t live near any active bases, I rarely get to hear the beautiful sound of fighter jet noise anymore. The Atlantic City Air Show, where the birds roar just off the beach a few hundred yards from the Boardwalk, has been like a family reunion for me. I just sit there in a state of grace and bliss as the Thunderbirds hit afterburners and I feel it in my rib cage. Mmmmmm!
I know sequestration is only a chip when what we need is a massive chop, but I still hate the way Obummer has made people hurt by cutting painful things.
BS ... except for the reductions to our troops.
I’m losing $1320/month. That doesn’t include another $500/month to hold the room in San Diego and cell phone plans to support working in San Diego. My after tax losses are running over $2000/month due to sequestration.
I’m sure you’ve seen those comments as have I, even up to complaining about our “Cadillac health care plans” which we don’t have. The only health insurance we have is Blue Cross/Blue Shield and we pay a pretty penny for it every month.
Too many FReepers just repeat the BS about DoD people being overpaid and don’t bother to realize that many are low paid as in any other job field/company and not everyone has the things that the bigwigs in DC have.
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