Federal Worker Pay Increase Proposed By White House

WASHINGTON — An Obama administration official says the White House is proposing a 0.5 percent raise for civilian federal employees in its 2013 budget.

If Congress approves the measure, it would mark the first pay increase for federal workers since the two-year freeze President Barack Obama ordered in 2010.

Republican lawmakers have suggested extending the freeze for federal workers as one way to pay for a full-year extension of payroll tax cuts. A short-term, two-month extension of the tax cut is due to expire at the end of February.

The official says the White House notified agencies of the proposal Friday. The official spoke on the condition of anonymity because a formal announcement has not been made.

The White House proposal was first reported by The Washington Post.

Comments

[Pea Eater]

05:00 PM on 01/08/2012

Sorry for the redundancy, but I thought it beared repeating! No raises for government workers until the economy improves for ALL Americans!

[Pea Eater]

04:21 PM on 01/08/2012

In the same year that we had to hear the President plead for Congress to raise the debt ceiling because unless they did so, he could not guarantee that seniors would receive their Social Security checks or military families would receive their combat pay, the government would have to shut down, America would lose it's AAA credit rating and be unable to meet it's obligations, so Congress agrees, and now they decide they can afford to give Federal workers a raise. The same year that American workers were told we were "lazy" and needed to "eat our peas," the same year that most Americans were forced to accept pay cuts just to keep their jobs, or worse, a pink slip, Mr. Obama thinks it's "unacceptable" to keep paying Federal workers only 30% more on average than the private sector. Federal workers are still eligible for promotional, merit, and longevity raises. As such, I think that Federal workers and Congress should "eat their peas" until the economy improves and the deficit shrinks. If they want a raise, they will just have to do what the rest of us have had to do -- tighten their belts and WORK for it!

[Pea Eater]

03:46 PM on 01/08/2012

I think it is shameful that in the same year that we heard the President threaten Social Security by stating that if Congress did not raise the debt ceiling, we would not be able to pay our seniors, that government would have to shut down, that America would not be able to meet it's obligations, that America would lose it's AAA credit rating, etc., so Congress agrees to raise the debt ceiling, then decides it has enough money to give Federal workers a raise! Social Security recipients did not receive a COLA for two years, and are still constantly being targeted for cuts. Most working Americans have either taken cuts in pay or have forgone raises just to keep their jobs. And unemployed Americans are either dropping out of the job market, or taking positions far below their ability and customary pay levels just to feed thier families. Mr. Obama says that failure to raise Federal workers pay is "unacceptable," and granted, one half of one percent is a pitiful raise, but I think it is unacceptable for the American people to keep taking cuts ("eating our peas" he calls it) while the Federal government rewards itself for driving us into an economic abyss. Federal workers are still eligible for merit, promotional, and longevity raises. As such, I think they should just "eat their peas" until the economy improves and the deficit starts shrinking. If they want a raise, they can try something drastic -- like WORK for it.

[CherCher]

11:02 PM on 01/06/2012

He is trying to buy the election. Why announce that next year, fed workers will get 1/2 a percent raise. Shameful to play with people who are having a hard time making ends meet.

[Texanna33]

12:36 AM on 01/07/2012

If you can buy an election for a one half of one percent raise, the other side really must not have much to offer the country. I don't know too many people that will throw their country under the bus for an average of $7 a week.

[Jenny59]

01:29 AM on 01/07/2012

And that is $7 a week gross. It would take much more than that to buy me off, so if I would vote for him it would be in spite of the 1/2 percent insult. It would be because the other side is awful.

[CherCher]

04:26 PM on 01/07/2012

You again? Maybe you are not paying much attention. People kill for $1.

[elsliveshere]

06:43 PM on 01/06/2012

Wow, the amount of comments on here from the sorely misinformed scares me...

Maybe during the Superbowl there can be a commercial explaining the difference between a "Federal Employee" and an "Elected Official", as well as, how truly different entry-level positions are between the public and private sectors. Oh, AND, a few bar graphs showing the difference between salaries for public vs private persons in similar jobs so the American populace can see how the federal worker isn't living the fat life so many apparently envision...

[goairforce]

04:07 PM on 01/06/2012

What a joke. Keep that pathetic .05 percent. I'm already in the hole -- my taxes went up and so did utilities, groceries, gas, etc. Why freeze hiring and pay, only to turn around and offer that *(&$?
I'll make the sacrifice. Thanks anyway. [Fe]

[westphalen]

01:19 PM on 01/08/2012

Thank you, that is generous of you, I know you are grateful to have a job. Millions do not.

[LTTR136]

03:56 PM on 01/06/2012

Step right up and sell your soul for a 0.5% raise. That's almost as much as I'm getting on a CD lately.

[CherCher]

11:05 PM on 01/06/2012

Well look how he shamefull brags about the $40 he get the republicans to sign over to us. That can't even take a family of 4 to the movies and he is bragging about it. At least Bush gave us $1,000 to $1,500. Some people just want to give us the crumbs from their table.

[LTTR136]

12:23 AM on 01/07/2012

Don't forget that we all are supposed to be so darn grateful we will vote for them.

[rotinfx16]

02:35 PM on 01/06/2012

We have plenty of money, of course we should give non merit increases to the least productive in our society. After all, did Obama not stop starving seniors just in time for his re election. What a guy!

[itzfatcat]

02:29 PM on 01/06/2012

Oh yes it is election year - got to back Federal unions and its members - you know please the voting bloc. But look at what else he is doing. It would appear that Obama is prepared to share U.S. missile defense secrets with Russia. He said “ While my administration intends to keep the Congress fully informed of the status of U.S. efforts to cooperate with the Russian Federation on ballistic missile defense, my administration will also interpret and implement section 1244 in a manner that does not interfere with the president’s constitutional authority to conduct foreign affairs and avoids the undue disclosure of sensitive diplomatic communications,”, incorrectly identifying the section of the law containing the restrictions.

[IndyFem]

02:14 PM on 01/06/2012

Wait a minute....didn't he drop the ball on raising the Minimum Wage across the board?

[Diggiti]

02:12 PM on 01/06/2012

ALL of them should get a 25% PAY CUT Across the Board.. POTUS, Congress, Senate included Then do the Same to the Budget Until the Deficit is Cleared .

[nicnack74]

02:26 PM on 01/06/2012

Not all Federal employees are elected officials. I cannot affor a 25% decrease. I have a Masters degree and I still make less than those who are in private industry. Do not conflate Elected Officials with those who are in the business of keeping government running.

[CherCher]

11:09 PM on 01/06/2012

But what ever you gave up in salary by working for the government, in gain in pension and benefits (health, sick and vacation and holiday time), plus overtime pay.

[Don Upham]

12:50 AM on 01/07/2012

I have masters degree also plus 3 additional years of graduate work and cannot get a job public or private. The last private job I quit paid less than 1/4 of the public job I had until a job related disability forced me out of it. The private sector does not pay anywhere near what the Feds pay including at the entry level. If you think the private sector pays so much better than maybe you should quit your job and try to find one in the private sector.

[emmanuel kalu]

02:34 PM on 01/06/2012

he is not offering a raise to the elected official. we all know that those elected official could use a pay decrease. this is for federal workers.

[Diggiti]

03:09 PM on 01/06/2012

@NickNack74 if your Master Degree can get you more, then Go Get it.
But I doubt you will because you're very comfortable.

@emmanuel kalu
All Government workers ! especially those making $100,000 a year pushing paper.

When ANY business is going down the either cut jobs, or cut salaries to say afloat. and until the Deficit is cleared, All government should be cut. Across the Board

Im not saying Forever... but to say NONE of them should feel the pressure like the rest of the country is Blasphemy.

[johnvilvens]

01:45 PM on 01/06/2012

Federal workers should have a raise. But do not confuse federal employees with state employees. It is time to cut federal related jobs and put them back to the states. Police, school teachers, firefighters and many others are state and local employees. Time to end many federal programs and departments and put them back at the state and local levels. It is time to stop paying people for not doing thier jobs and watching porn and playing on the internet. No more adding more bureaus to make up for ones not doing thier jobs.

[nicnack74]

02:28 PM on 01/06/2012

The only people who can watch porn are those who have the security credentials to get past an agency firewall. Centers for Medicare and Medicaid services and Social Security adnmistration are not agencies that can be kicked to states. Do not conflate the abuses of minor Fed employees with those who have the power and access to surf the internet without constraints or restraint.

[Jenny59]

01:39 AM on 01/07/2012

I do not know what branch of the Federal Government you are familiar with but there is no ability to watch porn or play on the internet where I work and people who do not do their jobs are fired.

[acatlett6]

01:31 PM on 01/06/2012

I have rubbed my eyes too much. I know a .50 is 50% but maybe the article got it wrong, is it .05 which is 5 % raise? Either way is shocking because while he is proposing this, he is cutting back and stripping benefits from our military men/women.

[Dad24]

02:04 PM on 01/06/2012

0.5% or one half of 1 percent. So, if you made $20/hour, you'd get a HUGE raise to $20.10

[Pea Eater]

04:53 PM on 01/08/2012

My roommate makes $8.50 an hour after more than three years on the job -- his wages were cut from $10.00 just to keep his job, and there is still no guarantee that he will not receive a pink slip. At this point, 10 cents sounds pretty good, but even if he were given back his former pay rate, his raise would only be 5 cents. Yes, .05% is pathetic, so imagine how pathetic .025% is, then imagine not getting that, then imagine getting a cut to barely more than minimum wage. Welcome to OUR world!

[emmanuel kalu]

02:16 PM on 01/06/2012

defense budget is almost 5% of our GDP. it is over 3 times bigger than the next ten countries put together. yet people like you want us to continue to spend more. spend more to nation build in other countries, while our own country is crumbling. spend more protecting the rest of the world, while china grabs business from place we cleaned up. right now the only country that has a navy to protect the shipping lane in the middle east is us. while we don't get that much oil from them.
federal workers deserve a little raise. giving them a raise like most of us, is different from making govt more effective and effecient. cutting workers or stagnat wages is the answer to our economy right now. moreover the cuts the president is calling for is for weapons, over price projects and all the useless defense contracts out there.

[acatlett6]

02:52 PM on 01/06/2012

I don't know what you've been reading but it is surely blocking you to believe the facts. Obama is cutting Medical benefits for our troops and veterans and instead spending it on weapons. Here ya go...

http://rt.com/usa/news/obama-panetta-pentagon-strategy-251/

Also, we need to cut back since we're getting ready for war with Iran, hence the troops he is sending to Israel. But Shhhhh. it's a black out news item for Obamapologist and election for 2012. http://www.presstv.ir/detail/219346.html

So much for my wasted vote. I was fooled and won't be fooled again as so many ppl are finally opening up their eyes. Rocky Anderson 2012

If you're an Obamapologist, then you won't get it.

[AMCD]

01:30 PM on 01/06/2012

What about a minimum wage hike? Federal workers are not choosing between rent and medicine.

[emmanuel kalu]

02:36 PM on 01/06/2012

right now, we really don't need federal min wage, because a lot of the progressive states are increasing their way ahead of the federal standard. only those backward states and if you notice states run by republicans are not increasing it.

[Mary Shay]

11:23 PM on 01/08/2012

Minimum wage isn't all that matters. Think cost of living.
Your democrats? Vermont has a minimum wage of about $8.50. It'll cost you around $800 for the average one-bedroom hole-in-the-wall.
I just moved to historically-red South Carolina. Minimum wage, about $7.25. Rent? $360 for our well-cared-for two-bedroom.
Backwards, yeah. Pfah.

[capn moose]

01:16 PM on 01/06/2012

While I am not in favor pay freezes, I do support refusing to fill any position that becomes vacant until and unless a review is made of the position's value and more important, strong evaluation of the person being put in the position. When Gore was vice president he made a big deal of cutting federal paperwork, I hope it did happen. Now is a good time to revive that program and start reviewing each and every department and every position in each department. I know good and bad workers in every level of business and government. We need to clear the dead wood and plant better seeds so that government itself does not grow, but efficiency and effectiveness do.

[nicnack74]

02:32 PM on 01/06/2012

They are not back filling. However the work is being done by contractors which costs more.

[Texanna33]

01:00 AM on 01/07/2012

They have been phasing out the contractors and not replacing them, just doubling up on responsibilty for those still working. At least that is what they have been doing for about the last 3 years where my husband works. My husband used to be one of three in his area of expertise, he is now the only one. The 2 that are no longer there were contractors.