Please register to participate in our discussions with 2 million other members - it's free and quick! Some forums can only be seen by registered members. After you create your account, you'll be able to customize options and access all our 15,000 new posts/day with fewer ads.
I keep reading that no one has a plan to actually shrink the federal government. How's this for an idea.
With the exception of people in the armed forces below a yet to be specified rank, all federal workers should be forced to undergo a pay cut.
Those whos annual income is less than $150,000 - 10%
Those whos annual income is greater than $150,000 - 15%
There should be no annual increases or merrit increases for two years.
There should be a hiring freeze for all federal jobs. Make the government learn how to get things done with less people.
This isn't much more than what private industry has been forced to do over the last few years and studies have shown that federal government employees already make more and have better benefits than those in comperable positions in private industry.
I'll sit back and wait for the bombs in my mail box.
This isn't much more than what private industry has been forced to do over the last few years and studies have shown that federal government employees already make more and have better benefits than those in comperable positions in private industry.
Please provide a link to these studies. Make sure that the studies are for truly comparable jobs - nurses in the federal sector vs. non-federal nurses, lawyers in the federal sector vs. non-federal lawyers, etc. Thanks.
I think their pay should be cut down to about $80,000 maximum. The 15% sounds too small. Plus it's not so much that their pay is high, but they have outrageously generous pensions as well, much better than most private sector workers that cost a lot of money as well. It's the pensions where it hurts the checkbook the most.
I never hear the Republicans calling for pay increases for government employees during the "good times" when private sector employees are paid far more. Why should government employment be a vow of poverty and paid in glorious sunsets instead of cash and a decent retirement? In this economy the governments, Federal, State and Local, should be hiring more employees instead of cutting back. A decent paying government job is a better way of supporting the economy than short term infrastructure contracts.
I think their pay should be cut down to about $80,000 maximum. The 15% sounds too small. Plus it's not so much that their pay is high, but they have outrageously generous pensions as well, much better than most private sector workers that cost a lot of money as well. It's the pensions where it hurts the checkbook the most.
Any federal employee hired after 1989 has a pension that is hardly "generous". The pension formula is 1% of the average top 3 earning year salaries, multiplied by the number of years employed. So, for example, an employee earning $80,000 annually who worked 30 years, their pension would be $800 (1% of 80,000) X 30 (years employed) = $24,000 annually or, $2000 a month before taxes.
Hardly a lot to live on these days. Albeight, there are plenty of private companies that no longer provide ANY pension at all but, is that the right thing to do?
Although I wouldn't be opposed to a 10% pay cut if it would significantly impact the budget deficit, the deficit is NOT due to federal employee's salary and benefits, it's due to irresponsible spending on military and other policies that are irresponsible. Yes, government spending could easily be reduced in all areas but, just blaming federal workers and cutting their wages is not going to solve the national debt. For many years federal employees were laughed at for making less than private industry. Now that the tables have changed, federal workers are the scapegoat.
Please provide a link to these studies. Make sure that the studies are for truly comparable jobs - nurses in the federal sector vs. non-federal nurses, lawyers in the federal sector vs. non-federal lawyers, etc. Thanks.
Oh, and by the way, This year's federal COLA 2.0% Next year's proposed 1.4%. What was Social Securities COLA for those two years? 2010 0.0% 2011 0.0%
Blogs have a purpose, I guess. However, I'll take statistical data any day of the week.
By the way, did you know that there have been many, many, many years when the Social Security increases were far greater than the Federal pay increases?
Eliminate the cap on the wage tax and the pressure will be off.
Then let the Tax Cuts expire
Please register to post and access all features of our very popular forum. It is free and quick. Over $68,000 in prizes has already been given out to active posters on our forum. Additional giveaways are planned.
Detailed information about all U.S. cities, counties, and zip codes on our site: City-data.com.