Contact your Senator and Congressman - Federal employee pay and benefits

[FundSurfer]

If you have not contacted your Senator or Congressman about the plan to reduce the federal deficit that hits federal employees pretty hard, then there is not time like the present.

Senator's contact information at:
http://www.senate.gov/general/contact_information/senators_cfm.cfm


House of Representatives contact information at:
http://www.house.gov/representatives/


Find your district if necessary:
https://writerep.house.gov/writerep/welcome.shtml


Tell them what you think of having a two year pay freeze and then a 5% after tax increase in what you pay for your pension. (5% after tax pay cut is what it amounts to)

Tell them what you think of changing the way that pension amounts or COLAs are calculated. They are planning to change the pension basis calculation from high-3 to high-5 annual salary. They also looking to change how COLAs are calculated which effectively reduces your benefit.

There are other things that you should have heard that they are considering which you can tell them about.

It takes just a few minutes to fill out the online form. Go do it now. Don't wait.

I know many in this group will have already done this. Educate your fellow federal employee.

 

[burrocrat]

If you have not contacted your Senator or Congressman about the plan to reduce the federal deficit that hits federal employees pretty hard, then there is not time like the present.

Senator's contact information at:
http://www.senate.gov/general/contact_information/senators_cfm.cfm


House of Representatives contact information at:
http://www.house.gov/representatives/


Find your district if necessary:
https://writerep.house.gov/writerep/welcome.shtml


Tell them what you think of having a two year pay freeze and then a 5% after tax increase in what you pay for your pension. (5% after tax pay cut is what it amounts to)

Tell them what you think of changing the way that pension amounts or COLAs are calculated. They are planning to change the pension basis calculation from high-3 to high-5 annual salary. They also looking to change how COLAs are calculated which effectively reduces your benefit.

There are other things that you should have heard that they are considering which you can tell them about.

It takes just a few minutes to fill out the online form. Go do it now. Don't wait.

I know many in this group will have already done this. Educate your fellow federal employee.

No offense, to each their own. I have been contacting my representatives, to give them support and encouragement for the difficult task that lies ahead. I'd rather see a decent row boat float than ride the titanic to the bottom (the above links will work for that too). You may want to consider rebooking your accomodations, those rooms are no longer available, although the band is pretty good, I hear.

If we don't take a little haircut now we may all end up bald. Anyone watching the international markets? Or the bond markets? Or gawd forbid the international bond markets?

It's like a 20 cent shift, pair o dimes, changing. Get right, or git left.

Jus' trying to educate my fellow fed employee.

 

[James48843]

It's no haircut, Burro. With all due respect, it's an intentional decapitation. The right wants to destroy the middle class in this country, including anyone who is a government employee.

 

[KevinD]

I think it's the BANKS that own the government that wants to destroy the middle class in this country, including anyone who is a government employee.

 

[clester]

I think the TEA party has brainwashed America into thinking the government is their enemy. That means everyone here. Don't be fooled. They are out to get you. Of course we have a budget problem. The solution is where the issue lies. The folks that got us here should pay. Not us. That means wall street and big banks.

 

[burrocrat]

I think the TEA party has brainwashed America into thinking the government is their enemy. That means everyone here. Don't be fooled. They are out to get you. Of course we have a budget problem. The solution is where the issue lies. The folks that got us here should pay. Not us. That means wall street and big banks.

Oh my, I just think I figured out why people take politics so personally ... when you denigrate a politician, you are actually insulting their stupid constituents.

I agree, the folks that got us here should pay. But folks should also drive 55, and not beat the wife and kids or steal from their brothers. What should happen and what does happen rarely are the same thing down here. It's ok, there will be a reckoning, and everybody will get what they got coming in the end.

But sitting around wishing for what should happen tomorrow doesn't put porridge in the pot today. With the exception of James48843, we seem to agree where the problem lies, but that's where they got us, over a barrel so to speak, and fighting with each other for a few scraps.

Bon' apatite, you can borrow my can opener when it comes to that, I prefer the fresh food anyway.

 

[nnuut]

We must not forgot that the Gov't forced the banks into the lending practices that crashed the economy. Fannie, Freddie Dodd and Franks along with ACORN demonstrating in front of the Banks and harassing the Bank Administrators if they wouldn't make loans to unqualified people that could NOT afford to buy a home. The banks Had to comply or be put out of business, just another example of sharing the wealth gone wild. They knew where it was going and couldn't stop it. I could go on and on, Bill Clinton and George Bush all pushed this thing for Political reasons. NOT THE TEA PARTY! STOP THE SPENDING!:nuts:

 

[FundSurfer]

Don't get me wrong, I am in favor of addressing the deficit. I think that everyone deserves to do their fair share. That being said, if you look at what is going on, federal employees have been demonized. There are a bunch of potential changes on the table which if implemented together will have a huge impact on federal emplyees. To me, that is not fairness. That is attempting to balance the budget on the backs of federal employees.

If you were to ask me, the federal pay system needs a major overhaul. Right now there are some job series that are overpaid and some that are underpaid. Congress does not have the stomach to fight the unions on pay system overhaul so instead they are doing across the board actions that affect all federal employees.

Although it does not affect me, I think it is a bad move to remove the federal pension from the benefits of new feds. This will eliminate the incentive for long term federal service. I probably would have left long ago for greener pastures; however, I stayed for the job security, benefits, and pension. The pension is golden handcuffs. You have to stay with the federal government for an extended period to get the pension. If you reduce the benefits, remove the pension, and reduce job security, how will that affect the ranks of federal employees. From my view point, those best and brightest federal employees will spen a few years employed as feds and then move on to more lucrative positions. Who stays? The truely dedicated and those that can't move on to greener pastures. That is a dumb move in my opinion.

There is more than one way to sink a boat....

 

[FundSurfer]

We must not forgot that the Gov't forced the banks into the lending practices that crashed the economy. Fannie, Freddie Dodd and Franks along with ACORN demonstrating in front of the Banks and harassing the Bank Administrators if they wouldn't make loans to unqualified people that could NOT afford to buy a home. The banks Had to comply or be put out of business, just another example of sharing the wealth gone wild. They knew where it was going and couldn't stop it. I could go on and on, Bill Clinton and George Bush all pushed this thing for Political reasons....

What the heck? What on earth have you been smoking? I've definitely got opinions on this too, but this forum ain't the place.

 

[burrocrat]

It's no haircut, Burro. With all due respect, it's an intentional decapitation. The right wants to destroy the middle class in this country, including anyone who is a government employee.

You are so adamant about chasing that political boogeyman, but you're good at it so carry on, gotta have a hobby, besides it makes for great entertainment, and it's free (that's about to become a big issue here right quick).

When you are sitting on the curb head in hands mumbling to yourself about what you used to have don't worry, I won't shun you or laugh at your predicament. Nor will I say I told you so (although I'm human so I'll probably be thinking it pretty loud), I'll just share my bread brother, so we can both stand on our feet.

 

[nnuut]

Yes as always they are using Federal Employees as a scapegoat because they can, they have done it before and will do it again. We all know that someone has to be doing the real work that many of us do, and are expected to do it perfectly, while our government continues to push us in the wrong direction. I'm talking about the workers not the bureaucrats that sit on their bunns all day and get over paid for it, many of them deserve what they are getting but not the rank and file. I could have made a lot more money working in private industry, but stuck it out for the Benefits, which at the time were a notch lower than the big companies on the outside were giving. At least we won the Cold War and we were part of that.

 

[alevin]

FERS was designed to be portable out of gov service-aka your TSP and SS. they designed purposefully with expectation people would want to move in-and out, and not make a life-career out of gov service. somehow they thought that portability would be an incentive to younger people to join up. maybe, maybe not. some jobs are less portable than others, some types of responsibilities bring out the dedication to longterm, others don't.

 

[James48843]

My problem Burro isn't the "haircut". I would be happy to make a SHARED SACRIFICE contribution to the issue.

So far, I've already made some of that shared sacrifice. I've given up two years of pay increases so far- that's about 5% of my pay. And they are asking for 5% more for retirement. Ok- fine. Are they happy yet? No? How about sick leave sacrifice. Only carry over half of what you earn. Is that enough? My retirement age is already boosted from 65 to 67 for social security purposes. Is that enough yet? Now Ryan wants to boost that to age 70. And medicare too. Is that enough yet?

But lord help us if those who make six figures or more have to make an itty bitty increase from 35% to 39%. Oh no- you can't do that!

 

[jkenjohnson]

I did it and I hope everyone else does. I am tired of being constantly bashed because I am a federal employee. Congress and the Senate are nothing but a bunch of self serving hipocritical jerks.

 

[alevin]

problem isn't so much the private sector people that are taxed at some level or nother, problem is all the people who aren't employed enough to pay taxes. way too many not employed or underemployed. business $ going either to overpay execs or being held overseas to avoid taxes here, or going to pay taxes instead of investing here now. none of that helps create private-sector taxpayer jobs here.

 

[burrocrat]

But lord help us if those who make six figures or more have to make an itty bitty increase from 35% to 39%. Oh no- you can't do that!

That sounds like what many advanced pay scale feds are saying right now... me, me, me, "I followed the potatoe plan so how dare you take my gravy".

I think the solution is more of a we, we, we deal. And if that don't work there's always "wheeee, wheeee, wheeeeeeeee".

Hell, let it burn it's a messed up and unsustainable obligation anyway, buckle up buttercup, wheeeeee are in for a ride.

 

[burrocrat]

problem is all the people who aren't employed enough to pay taxes.

oohhh, yum, more birch spam .

 

[FAB1]

Get rid of the SES overpaid bunch of incompetants. Note the cuts are directed at the general schedule. Those in high places are insulating themseleves. I would do any of their jobs for half the pay. Get rid of SES and save billion$.

 

[Mapper]

I'll say it again...How is this pay cut different from increasing taxes?

I'm just glad the people are being protected. When Grover Norquist posits that letting Bush era tax cuts expire is not really a tax increase but closing corporate loopholes is, you know he's watching out for the hardworking American people.

 

[tsptalk]

A sensitive subject that never seems to end well. I will appreciate if we can keep it civil.