Obama Gives Biden, Congress a Raise

[SalesianSDB]

As the nation nears the fiscal cliff, President Barack Obama has ended the pay freeze on federal employees — giving workers, ranging from Vice President Joe Biden to members of Congress and the Supreme Court, a raise.

Obama signed the executive order on Thursday, The Weekly Standard reports. The increases take effect in late March. “The pay raise will generally be about 1/2 of 1 percent," the order says.

newsmax.com/Newsfront/obama-gives-raises-biden/2012/12/28/id/469363

This picture describes my reaction perfectly
https://sphotos-b.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash4/307193_393453914076005_84398506_n.png

 

[7armyrugrats]

This isn’t at all surprising, just terribly wrong.

 

[BlueEyedLady]

Obama didn’t exactly lift the pay freeze, it was set to expire January 1, 2013 and he is extending it until March 27th. Nice news spin though.

But it will increase the pay of civilian contractors, postal workers, etc in addition to elected officials.

 

[CatholicTrekkie]

I wonder what the world would be like if everyone could give themselves a raise like Congress does…

Your reaction perfectly matches mine, Salesian.

 

[Dale_M]

A little context might be useful. President Obama is allowing a pay increase which Congress authorized, but which Obama froze two years ago.

Federal workers have been laboring under a two-year pay freeze ordered by Obama in Dec. 2010 to try to reduce spending. Congress has not seen a pay increase since 2009.

thehill.com/blogs/on-the-money/appropriations/274781-congress-federal-workers-to-get-pay-increase

 

[Holly3278]

Why is he doing this? This is totally idiotic. We are facing a fiscal cliff. These people get paid with taxpayer dollars don’t they?

 

[Tigg]

Well, Happy New Year, Congress!

While Obama’s order made no mention of merit for such a raise, HuffPost’s Amanda Terkel reported on Friday that the 112th Congress is set to end the session as the most unproductive since the 1940s, with only 219 bills passed by the body becoming law.

huffingtonpost.com/2012/12/28/obama-pay-raise-congress_n_2377714.html

 

[SVP]

Well, Happy New Year, Congress!
**
While Obama’s order made no mention of merit for such a raise, HuffPost’s Amanda Terkel reported on Friday that the 112th Congress is set to end the session as the most unproductive since the 1940s, with only 219 bills passed by the body becoming law.**

huffingtonpost.com/2012/1…n_2377714.html

Better in this case to have had an unproductive congress than the utterly over-legislative and destructive congress that gave us Obama care and a ONE TRILLION $ tax hike coming in two days. The fiscal cliff is simple distraction style political theatre from what is really happening, the largest TAX INCREASE in U.S. history.

 

[ProVobis]

Better in this case to have had an unproductive congress than the utterly over-legislative

Then we should figure out a way to abolish their positions IMO.

 

[rlg94086]

Then we should figure out a way to abolish their positions IMO.

Are you saying we need to replace the Constitution and/or Republic?

 

[faithfully]

Obama didn’t exactly lift the pay freeze, it was set to expire January 1, 2013 and he is extending it until March 27th. Nice news spin though.

But it will increase the pay of civilian contractors, postal workers, etc in addition to elected officials.

So what you’re saying is he could easily have continued the freeze for another 2 years or so until Congress figures out a way to cut the wild, out of control spending.

We ALL could use a raise.

Postal workers are no more important than your other average employee who is going to take a tax hit on their very next pay check.

 

[rlg94086]

So what you’re saying is he could easily have continued the freeze for another 2 years or so until Congress figures out a way to cut the wild, out of control spending.

We ALL could use a raise.

Postal workers are no more important than your other average employee who is going to take a tax hit on their very next pay check.

Exactly. Somehow, government workers are entitled to raises, while the private sector workers continue to languish.

 

[GaryTaylor]

A raise why of course, why would we expect any less? First a vacation then a raise, when does the work and results come?

 

[BlueEyedLady]

So what you’re saying is he could easily have continued the freeze for another 2 years or so until Congress figures out a way to cut the wild, out of control spending.

We ALL could use a raise.

Postal workers are no more important than your other average employee who is going to take a tax hit on their very next pay check.

Most people get a yearly raise to at least keep up with inflation, if not reward them for their work in the last year. The thousands of contractors who work with the military, in prisons, on infrastructure, etc deserve the same. Their pay should not be frozen indefinitely because the government is blowing money primarily on our outrageous military spending. Our federal workers are by and large middle class people who deserve to support their families too.

Their pay is just a drop in the ocean, and freezing it is the wrong way to save. (And let’s face it, the money that would be saved is like a family living on 60k a year being excited about finding a nickel in the couch.)

 

[rlg94086]

Most people get a yearly raise to at least keep up with inflation, if not reward them for their work in the last year. The thousands of contractors who work with the military, in prisons, on infrastructure, etc deserve the same. Their pay should not be frozen indefinitely because the government is blowing money primarily on our outrageous military spending. Our federal workers are by and large middle class people who deserve to support their families too.

After they cut back government as severely as the private sector businesses have been cut back, they can look at giving raises to those who remain. To continue to grow the federal government during an abysmal economy and then claim an entitlement to raises, as well, is fiscally irresponsible and giving the middle finger to the taxpayers.

 

[BlueEyedLady]

After they cut back government as severely as the private sector businesses have been cut back, they can look at giving raises to those who remain. To continue to grow the federal government during an abysmal economy and then claim an entitlement to raises, as well, is fiscally irresponsible and giving the middle finger to the taxpayers.

It won’t make a difference in the budget and these federal workers are taxpayers too. They also do very difficult and sometimes dangerous jobs. Do you want to be a federal prison guard or work in boarder patrol for example?

 

[rlg94086]

It won’t make a difference in the budget and these federal workers are taxpayers too. They also do very difficult and sometimes dangerous jobs. Do you want to be a federal prison guard or work in boarder patrol for example?

Yes, I understand…any budget cut liberals oppose “won’t make a difference.” And, what does my personal work preference have to do with federal pay increases in a down economy? Do you have no compelling arguments?

 

[BlueEyedLady]

Yes, I understand…any budget cut liberals oppose “won’t make a difference.” And, what does my personal work preference have to do with federal pay increases in a down economy? Do you have no compelling arguments?

Because inflation is going up and most other people get raises. In not giving the people who do very hard jobs small raises to keep up with inflation or the rest of the country we are doing a disservice to those who work hard to keep our country going. It really isn’t right to do that.

If you want to make meaningful changes on the budget start with the military. But don’t make middle class workers your starting point.

 

[rlg94086]

Because inflation is going up and most other people get raises. In not giving the people who do very hard jobs small raises to keep up with inflation or the rest of the country we are doing a disservice to those who work hard to keep our country going. It really isn’t right to do that.

If you want to make meaningful changes on the budget start with the military. But don’t make middle class workers your starting point.

:yawn:

Poor, suffering federal workers…I hear the tiny violins…

I’m still making less than I did in 2008. I guess I should let my boss know he has to give me a significant raise because “most other people” (unsubstantiated claim) have gotten one.

 

[jilly4ski]

Because inflation is going up and most other people get raises. In not giving the people who do very hard jobs small raises to keep up with inflation or the rest of the country we are doing a disservice to those who work hard to keep our country going. It really isn’t right to do that.

If you want to make meaningful changes on the budget start with the military. But don’t make middle class workers your starting point.

Except that most other people are not getting raises. In times of plenty yes. But we are not in times of plenty. I know many private sector employees (with unions) who have not received a raise in a few years. More that have lost their jobs due to lay offs/budget cuts. Many are still experiencing furloughs day and weeks. In fact in the private sector payroll (and benefits) are a companies largest liquid liability. (You can’t do much about your fixtures, overhead, and prices of goods, but you can reduce your payroll).