Obama signs order for federal worker pay raises in 2014

[Redfairen]

Source: Reuters

President Barack Obama, as signaled earlier in the year, signed an executive order on Monday setting federal civilian and military pay rates for 2014, and including the first raise for civilian workers in four years.

Military and civilian employees will get a 1 percent raise in the new year, consistent with the level laid out in Obama's earlier budget proposal.

.......

Congress could have declined to authorize the increases on at least two occasions in recent months, including when lawmakers passed a two-year budget agreement earlier this month, but chose not to intervene.

Federal civilian workers have had their pay frozen for three years. Military employees have received a salary increase each year that Obama has been in office, the White House said.


Read more: http://my.chicagotribune.com/#section/-1/article/p2p-78663059/

[MannyGoldstein]

1. Less than inflation

And a cut in pensions.

Wheeeee! Austerilicious!

[NutmegYankee]

2. Sure beats ZERO.

Which is what we had for the last three years.

[MannyGoldstein]

4. True.

But perhaps is Democrats aimed for progress, rather than slowing regress, we'd be in better shape.

[NutmegYankee]

5. Hard to do without control of the house.

Especially a house majority that's fucking insane.

[MannyGoldstein]

6. So, we have the Presidency and the Senate,

Yet things always get worse, not better. But when Bush was President, they had only the Presidency and things kept getting worse, too.

[NutmegYankee]

7. Well, unless we can get a bill passed without our fifth column having their say...

I don't see much room for improvement. GOTV this time.

[Skittles]

9. THANK YOU

[woo me with science]

10. Absurd and obscene to celebrate a lowered standard of living.

The bludgeoning will continue as long as the Orwellian justifications for it continue.

[NutmegYankee]

13. I'm not celebrating a lower standard of living.

I'm just happy that I'm finally getting increases again. The Republicans were originally seeking a five year freeze. This at least confirms that it is over.

[CountAllVotes]

11. That pension cut is 4.4%

and yes, that will hit Federal workers hard, esp. those that do not make much and yes, there are many Federal workers that fit into this category.

I did it myself for 10+ years. The most I ever made was just a bit over $17K a year and finally I managed to escape this hellish "career" or whatever it was!

I feel sorry for the Federal workers that fit into this category which is many.

[NutmegYankee]

12. It only applies to new employees hired next year.

So at least they will already know what they can expect to receive as pay. I was concerned they were going to hit people who are already living on the salary and paying bills.

[CountAllVotes]

14. still that sucks

What is good for the goose is good for the gander as the old saying goes ...

[Mojorabbit]

15. It seems a lot of veterans are really ticked about the pension cuts.

I have read a lot of anti Dem stuff on facebook about it from retirees.

[rhett o rick]

3. It's about time. The new budget hits federal workers hard. nm

[freshwest]

8. Take THAT, rethuglicans! n/t