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Obama proposes pay freeze for federal workers

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Deuce

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Obama proposes pay freeze for federal workers | Reuters

(Reuters) - President Barack Obama on Monday will propose a two-year freeze on the pay of federal workers, as he seeks to show he is committed to reining in the ballooning U.S. budget deficit.

The freeze would save $2 billion in the current 2011 fiscal year, $28 billion over the next five years, and more than $60 billion over 10 years, according to the White House. It would apply only to civilian workers.
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Well, it's a start. It's a little dent in the deficit, but it's something. Maybe next we can talk about something significant? :p

I wish they'd put in an exemption for air traffic control, though. I'm writing a research paper on the subject right now, and the staffing situation there is already critical. The FAA can't afford to push any more experienced controllers out the door.
 
This is nothing. Government workers make on average more than twice and in some cases 3 times what the equivalent private sector works make, plus a benefit package that out strips almost all private sector jobs.

The main thing I think is the Unions which should be outlawed will object and Obama will cave. He owes the 08 election to Unions ACORN and others.
 
I have no doubt that Democrats and liberals in general will say how wonderful this idea is, and thank Obama for putting it forth....

One 'tiny little problem though'...
Obama's Federal Worker Pay Freeze Was Blasted By Democrats Months Ago | TPMDC
The proposal was originally put forward by Republicans in recent months -- and slammed by Democrats...

In recent months, Democrats have attacked Republicans for proposing federal pay and hiring freezes, and experts have derided the idea of attacking massive budget deficits with small-fry initiatives like this one...
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McCain also proposed this as part of a larger spending freeze during the election... and was blasted by Obama. Shoe's on the other foot now, huh.
 
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Whovian said:
I have no doubt that Democrats and liberals in general will say how wonderful this idea is, and thank Obama for putting it forth....

One 'tiny little problem though'...
Obama's Federal Worker Pay Freeze Was Blasted By Democrats Months Ago | TPMDC


McCain also proposed this as part of a larger spending freeze during the election... and was blasted by Obama. Shoe's on the other foot now, huh.
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There's a word for what's happening here. Com...compro.... gah, can't think of it.
 
well good. now can we talk about reductions in the federal workforce and perhaps even reductions in their compensation?

then let's take the Bowles-Simpson commissions' preliminary report

then we'll get to fixing entitlements.

then we will ride unicorns off to never-never land where magic pixies will hand-feed us barbque and cupcakes, which we will be able to eat never-ending amounts of while never gaining a pound.
 
from cpwill

then let's take the Bowles-Simpson commissions' preliminary report
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I could finish that sentence... but will refrain.

Somehow if a Republican president had taken this step I have a feeling the conservatives here would be pattinghim on the back and offering their hosannas.
 
Councilman said:
This is nothing. Government workers make on average more than twice and in some cases 3 times what the equivalent private sector works make, plus a benefit package that out strips almost all private sector jobs.

The main thing I think is the Unions which should be outlawed will object and Obama will cave. He owes the 08 election to Unions ACORN and others.
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I wish you could show me what jobs those are.
 
don't get me wrong, it's a great baby step.

but it's about on par with the Republicans banning earmarks. it's mostly symbolic; we want to see meat.
 
I know if I had to give up two years of scheduled raises I would indeed consider it a whole lot more than symbolic. I could buy a whole bunch of symbolic stuff with that extra few symbolic thousand dollars.
 
Councilman said:
This is nothing. Government workers make on average more than twice and in some cases 3 times what the equivalent private sector works make, plus a benefit package that out strips almost all private sector jobs.
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I'm sure you CAN prove this, but let's see it just for fun :)
 
Councilman said:
This is nothing. Government workers make on average more than twice and in some cases 3 times what the equivalent private sector works make, plus a benefit package that out strips almost all private sector jobs.

The main thing I think is the Unions which should be outlawed will object and Obama will cave. He owes the 08 election to Unions ACORN and others.
Click to expand...

Excuse me, but we're talking about federal government workers, not private sector factory workers. How do unions fit into a pay freeze on federal employees?

Regardless, as usual, no matter what this man does the pundits will never be satisfied.
 
Whovian said:
I have no doubt that Democrats and liberals in general will say how wonderful this idea is, and thank Obama for putting it forth....

One 'tiny little problem though'...
Obama's Federal Worker Pay Freeze Was Blasted By Democrats Months Ago | TPMDC


McCain also proposed this as part of a larger spending freeze during the election... and was blasted by Obama. Shoe's on the other foot now, huh.
Click to expand...

Alright, so now that he has had a difference of opinion it means he has caved to public pressure? Or was it a bad idea to disregard a federal pay freeze then but a good idea to do so now? Kinda like how the Republicans now have a different take on the individual health insurance. It was fine back when it was HillaryCare but now that it's ObamaCare they've suddenly come down with a new point of view on the matter.

Look, a pay freeze is good move. It's better than mass layoffs. Besides, if the economy continues to improve, the pay freeze won't matter much as long as we don't hit an inflationary period.
 
Objective Voice said:
Look, a pay freeze is good move. It's better than mass layoffs. Besides, if the economy continues to improve, the pay freeze won't matter much as long as we don't hit an inflationary period.
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I didn't say it was a bad idea. I was for it when McCain proposed it, and when the GOP proposed it, and I am STILL for it now that Obama is proposing it. I'm simply pointing out his flip-floppiness on the issue.
 
Right lesson, wrong time. After the economy recovers, sure, by all means freeze federal pay for a few years. But doing it now is just crazy. We want people to spend MORE, not less, in order to get the economy to recover. Why is it that we have been running massive deficits for a decade, and people suddenly start caring about it at the worst possible moment, when unemployment is over 9%?

Anyway, I agree with those who say that it's a drop in the bucket. It's not going to put much of a dent in the deficit. I'm more concerned about the short-term consequences of this.
 
Whovian said:
I didn't say it was a bad idea. I was for it when McCain proposed it, and when the GOP proposed it, and I am STILL for it now that Obama is proposing it. I'm simply pointing out his flip-floppiness on the issue.
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So you think he should stick to his own ideas and not try to implement some things Republicans have suggested?
 
Deuce said:
Obama proposes pay freeze for federal workers | Reuters



Well, it's a start. It's a little dent in the deficit, but it's something. Maybe next we can talk about something significant? :p

I wish they'd put in an exemption for air traffic control, though. I'm writing a research paper on the subject right now, and the staffing situation there is already critical. The FAA can't afford to push any more experienced controllers out the door.
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As a federal employee Im fine with this. It doesnt impact bonuses or step raises and its not like we were killing it with COLA increases. My only problem is that like every other 'increase' all this does is enables the fed to spend more money. Im still waiting to see the plan to actually reduce the debt...hell...to announce an annual budget without a deficit. Until then...its..."wee....look at me...I'm doing something important!"
 
American said:
I wish you could show me what jobs those are.
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Its called "talking out of ones ass." He heard that somewhere...so it must be true.

Before anyone applauds any of this...can ANYONE point to the part where government is required now to spend 5 billion dollars (the amount they expect to 'save') less and guarantee we dont have an annual budget deficit next year?
 
Deuce said:
There's a word for what's happening here. Com...compro.... gah, can't think of it.
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Actually, the word is, "desperation". Obama's desperate to appear that he's doing something about deficit spending. If he really cared about compromise, or even about deficit spending, he would have never authorized over a trillion dollars to be spent on useless stimulus gimmics.
 
No one ever provided the detail on which they based the news story that fed employees make two or three times as much as private counterparts. Does anyone really believe that such a claim could possibly be true? Two to three times, and we're only finding out now? And no one questions it, they just run around saying govt employees make galactically large salaries. Civil servant pay is a highly managed systems, not like California city councilmen.
 
American said:
No one ever provided the detail on which they based the news story that fed employees make two or three times as much as private counterparts. Does anyone really believe that such a claim could possibly be true? Two to three times, and we're only finding out now? And no one questions it, they just run around saying govt employees make galactically large salaries. Civil servant pay is a highly managed systems, not like California city councilmen.
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I find that odd as well. I'm sure I saw a piece where they said private employees in the same type position as federal employees make 2-3 times as much.
 
As a retired federal employee I support this proposal. Hopefully Congress just won't spend away the savings and apply the reduction to the deficit.

I do challenge the broad general statement that feds get up to three times that of the private sector. For the most part its an apple to orange comparison, except for some specific jobs, especially in the natural resource area. How many private companies manage forests for multiple use? How many private companies manage parks like Yellowstone?
Even when comparing one State salaries to another for the same type job there is a wide spread of pay. IMO, State jobs come closer to matching the types of jobs the feds carryout.
 
Deuce said:
Obama proposes pay freeze for federal workers | Reuters



Well, it's a start. It's a little dent in the deficit, but it's something. Maybe next we can talk about something significant? :p

I wish they'd put in an exemption for air traffic control, though. I'm writing a research paper on the subject right now, and the staffing situation there is already critical. The FAA can't afford to push any more experienced controllers out the door.
Click to expand...

I do not know if this has been said before but hopefully this also includes the politicians pay too.
 
Objective Voice said:
Excuse me, but we're talking about federal government workers, not private sector factory workers. How do unions fit into a pay freeze on federal employees?

Regardless, as usual, no matter what this man does the pundits will never be satisfied.
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Government workers are generally unionized. I know that shipyard workers, at the Navy SYs are all in a union and they are government workers (not talking about contractors). It is quite possible that the unions will get upset with this.

I am all for it. Now they need to work a little faster and harder on getting a lot more things done like this to change how much the government spends, inefficient spending, and wasteful spending.
 
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