House Votes to Keep Pay Freezes for Federal Workers in Place USATODAY | 02/01/ 2012 WASHINGTON (AP) Republicans have pushed through the House a bill that would freeze the wages of federal workers for a third year and bar members of Congress from giving themselves a pay raise. Republican sponsors said their measure, which would freeze federal worker wages through 2013, would save taxpayers $26 billion. It would not apply to military personnel. Many Democrats objected to the freeze, arguing that federal workers already had done their part in reducing budget deficits. President Obama is expected to propose a 0.5% hike in federal employee wages in this 2013 budget proposal. But some Democrats were also reluctant to cast an election-year vote Wednesday that would suggest they support giving themselves a pay raise. The salaries of rank-and-file members of Congress has remained at $174,000 since 2009. http://www.usatoday.com/news/washin...federal-worker-congress-pay-freeze/52922820/1 . I think the freeze should be discarded and a cut in the Congresss $174,000 salary should be implimented ASAP. After all their screams about no more spending, a pay raise is uncalled for, and to do THEIR duty to bring down spending they should feel duty bound to cut their salary by $74,000 to better illustrate the austerity they are promoting for the rest of us. They should also cut the number of their staffs by 50% and do the work themselves to illustrate the austerity they are promoting for the rest of us. They should trim the perks, deductions, in their own IRS returns to pay their fair share of taxes. Also they should outlaw any more pork from the outrageous pork spending that the republicans engaged in, in 2010. That is money awarded to their consecutive states as lard to ensure the legislators re-election. Also they should bring to an immediate vote a bill that makes it illegal for any legislator to receive funds, perks, from a lobbyist, or any entity that causes the lobbyist to offer said funds. That no lobbyist should under penalty of law come within 1,000 feet of any Congressman or White House occupant.
AND convert ALL federal workers "pensions" to 401(k)'s. They'd be a lot more attentive to the economy then.
The right to lobby is an extension of the Constitutional mandated right to petition. There are thousands of lobbyists operating in Washington, DC on every conceivable issue. Lobbyists are all highly paid representatives of commercial interests. Fact: a significant number of lobbyist are modestly paid or pro bono representatives for social issues. Lobbying is not necessary. Fact: in a representative democracy of 300 million people, without professional efforts of intermediaries and direct activists, the power of the people to influence government policy would be limited primarily to the ballot box. Lost would be the ability to convey direct viewpoints to seated politicians and agency personnel when the need was immediate. The dialogue of the election process is a slow one indeed. A lobbyist (another way of saying representative or activist) can convey exact positions to policy makers, press the issues consistently over time, and track results. Lobbyists are covert. F act: recent laws have significantly cleaned up lobbying abuse by requiring formal registration, limits on proportional spending by organizations, limits on gratuities and other inducements, and much more. Lobbying is public process. Politicians do not like lobbyists. Fact: political office holders rely heavily on representatives of the nations vast number of issues and causes to supply them with information and advice. They constitute a huge resource. No politician wants to see the process abused, but few do not appreciate its importance. It is difficult to become a lobbyist. Fact: it is easy. The registration process has been simplified and the requirements are modest in order to insure that all public issues can be represented - not just those of the rich and powerful. Lobbying is confined to politicians. Fact: in todays Washington the media is a partner in the processes of government. Influencing the policy decisions of major media is often easier and more effective than direct approaches to officials. The media is not just the eyes and ears of the public, it is also the spokesperson. It does and must reflect what the people want by electing to pursue the issues the people want covered.
Like big labor unions? What ever happened to this? How big is Pinocchio's nose now? Now we hear excuse after excuse. It's a sad day in America when any guy can BS his way into the White House and not be run out on a rail when Pinocchio's nose is over a foot long.
They would be considered a bad lobbying group but not all lobbiests are bad and cutting them all out, as i've shown, is not good for the country. You can't seperate the good from the bad and still remain within the confines of the Constitutional right to petition.
or, they could cut $26 billion in personnel and distribute the largesse to those who reman. In a country with the true unemployment number being over 10% and most barely hanging on, the gubment workers should be thanking their lucky stars they are employed
I wonder what this has to do with Obama running his mouth about cutting the pay of some federal workers.Because don't forget he both RAISED the wages of most Government employees,even above the comparable in the private sector and offered quite a few promotions. Who's he foolin.If he did cut the wage of the average Federal worker it probably would only be a nick off what he awarded them in a pay hike the last couple years.
If this is like the last "Freeze" nothing at all changes. People who work for the Federal Government will get pay increases. All they have to do is go up one pay grade and there you have it a pay raise! This is really a smoke screen to the average Joe saying they are trying to keep costs in line, but it is nothing more than a huge scam! One more reason to throw them all out!
Granny says, "Dat's right - fire dey's butts if dey work fer the gubmint an' aint payin' dey's taxes... House committee votes to fire federal workers who owe back taxes March 21, 2013 - Federal workers with tax liens may be fired under legislation approved by a House committee Wednesday.
I'd rather see them garnish their wages 35% till they pay off what they owe as well as seizing all their vacation time pay and any bonuses.
Granny says, "Dat's right - he's makin' gubmint smaller... Trump Orders Hiring Freeze for Some Federal Workers Jan 23, 2017 | WASHINGTON -- President Donald Trump is signing a memorandum that freezes hiring for some federal government workers.
