Reply #27: Fed worker here and,

[benld74]

the raise that Congress had in the books was 3.5%, with a % of that going to locality pay. I DO NOT KNOW where the 12.5 % is coming from in the article, except the law cited is that Bush 1 decided to do a pay study to see how much Fed workers are paid compared to private sector. When the results came out, HE SHIT big time, and never did fulfill his promise of matching salaries(does it suprise ya?) Since then they run the same game with the new years numbers and come up with a new percentage. Presidents use that percentage to cite they can't pay that much, BUT the real story is that he COULD have sided with Congress at 3.5%, but decided to be the prick he is and only provide 2.5%. Hell my families health insurance has gone up 25% in the last 2 years, so I am losing money, BUT the work is steady.