Lieberman, Collins target federal pay, pensions

[Enrique]

http://blogs.federaltimes.com/federal-times-blog/2011/10/14/lieberman-collins-freeze-pay-for-third-year/

Sens. Joe Lieberman, I-Conn., and Susan Collins, R-Maine, today called for extending federal employees’ pay freeze — currently scheduled to last two years — into a third year.

In a letter to the so-called super committee tasked with reducing the deficit, Lieberman and Collins said “federal employees, including members of Congress and our staffs, must sacrifice as part of an urgent need to curtail the cost of the federal government and reduce the national debt.”

As a strong supporter of our federal workforce, we say this with regret, because we are asking many dedicated, hard-working and patriotic public servants to pay a price for fiscal and economic conditions for which they are not responsible. But people across the country are struggling, most especially those who are suffering from historic levels of unemployment, and all Americans, including those of us in the public sector, must help get our country out of the hole we are in.

A third year in which pay scales are frozen would save $32 billion, they said. They did not propose halting step increases, but they did say the freeze should be extended to legislative branch employees.

They also endorsed President Obama’s plan to phase in a 1.2 percent increase to the amount federal employees contribute to their pension plans. But they said the proposal should also cover legislative and judicial branch employees, not just executive branch employees. And they said the super committee should consider repealing a 2009 change allowing Federal Employees Retirement System employees to count their unused sick leave towards their retirement, which will cost an estimated $561 million over 10 years.


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[JaneQPublic]

1. How about they forego their own pay and pensions? (nt)

[Chan790]

2. I'll begrudgingly support a federal pay freeze...

if they take social entitlements off the table and Congress approves a temporary pay-cut for themselves. Hell, they should throw one in for the President.

Shared sacrifice is shared, my friends. You haven't been sharing in the pain, federal elected officials.

[Mimosa]

4. ^ makes sense ^

The majority of Americans employed in the creative fields in this country have lost 40% (!) of incomes over past 15 years. And have no hope of fulltime steady jobs. Look it up. Start at link below:

http://www.salon.com/2011/10/01/creative_class_is_a_lie/singleton/

[Major Nikon]

3. Pretty much an asshole statement that you'd expect from Lieberman

All Americans didn't get us into "the hole we are in". It was caused by giving a huge windfall to the 1% while two wars were going on that Lieberman championed. Not one working class person should be asked to pay for Lieberman's fuckups until the rich start to pony up their share of our war bill.