President Obama on Monday reiterated that he will limit the across-the board pay increase for federal employees to 2 percent in 2010.
Obama originally issued the 2 percent recommendation in August. Under federal law, the president has until the end of November to propose an alternative to pay levels set under procedures laid out in the 1990 Federal Employees Pay Comparability Act. Under that law, employees would be due a 2.4 percent base pay raise in 2010, plus locality pay increases averaging 16.5 percent. That total pay increase would cost about $22.6 billion in fiscal 2010 alone, Obama wrote.
The president has cited a national emergency since Sept. 11, 2001, as well as the sluggish economy and high unemployment as his basis for overriding FEPCA and proposing the lower-than-average 2 percent figure.
"As I said in August, I do not believe this decision will materially affect our ability to continue to attract and retain a quality federal workforce," Obama wrote in a letter to House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Vice President Joe Biden. "Since any pay raise above the amount proposed in this alternative plan would likely be unfunded, agencies would have to absorb the additional cost and could have to reduce hiring to pay the higher rates."
The 2 percent figure has angered some lawmakers and federal employee groups, many of which have pushed for pay parity between civilian workers and military service members. Members of the military are slated to receive a 3.4 percent raise. Congress could still override the president's plan, however. The Senate's version of the fiscal 2010 financial services appropriations bill includes a 2.9 percent civilian raise for 2010, while the House bill follows Obama's request for a 2 percent raise. The House passed its version of the financial services bill in July, but the full Senate has yet to vote on the measure.
COMMENTS
I agree with Ms. Tammera Fowler. I am a GS-09. By the time the high cost of health insurance is deducted, homeowners and auto insurances; high gas prices; city taxes; waste taxes for the city; merchandise taxes and grocery taxes, I only had $2.00 left. The President should have considered more carefully, to place a pay cap over Gs-13's and above, who do not feel the burden of poverty. They could care less, because it does not really affect them. Then some GS-13 and 14's need to be down graded, because they work maybe two hours out of a day and then sit down and talk the rest of the day. Yes, Yes!!
Cookie
Cookie 04/21/10 04:43 pm ET
I think it's extremely premature of him without considering that most GS-9 or below are already living right at the poverty line and their annual pay increase is offset by the rising costs of health insurance and by the annual rising of cost of living. It's unfortunate he did not make a better decision to place a cap on pay raises for employees above the GS-13 level. His decision deems much more research and a specific determination. I will vote for him again considering the alternative but, I'm highly disappointed in his inaccurate decision.
Tammera Fowler 04/20/10 12:28 pm ET
To the comment below yes you average 55 hours a week but you should be getting OT. I have worked the private sector and not only did I not get a raise in 3 years but I also was promised a certain amount got paid that amount for 4 months and got it cut by 2 dollars not a good feeling when you have children to raise and feed. I am now working federal and it is not easy. You may want to try our shoes first before putting it down. Most people deserve a raise when they are doing exceptional work. And yes in the government we are underpaid than the private sector and time is getting hard for everyone. Maybe it is time you ask your boss for a raise especially if you know you have been handling business. But I guess we have to get what we can get but it is unfair.
Misty 01/18/10 09:43 pm ET
Federal employees are grossly overpaid when you also consider vacation, sick leave and retirement, it's a pretty darn good deal for putting up with a little beaucracy. And boo-ho to the previous poster, I haven't recieved a pay raise in five years and I average 55 hours per week.
Reid 12/30/09 04:00 pm ET
Indeed, it is unfair to the hard working federal employees whose salary are already 30% less than those in private sector with similar education and degree. We have a lot of work every day. We are asked for working on so many different projects, but we get 30% less pay. I almost wok all weekends. I will not vote for him next time.
Alice 12/21/09 07:10 pm ET
All federal employees should accept a 10% pay cut like the rest of America. I live in Michigan and you are considered lucky if you still have a job with a 10% pay cut, increased medical and reduced vacation. Get real, the bank is broke and you guys expect me to send you more? If you need more money, get a second job like most Americans.
JOE BABIASZ 12/17/09 12:56 pm ET
Hurray! As a federal governement employee, I applaud a president who has the fortitude to make hard decisions. I am absolutely in favor of considering all Americans, not just those of us fortunate enough to be employed in these economic hard times.
ML 12/14/09 01:18 pm ET
I totally agree with one of the other person, if the government can bail out the banks and the auto industry then I too think that is a slap in the face of all federal workers and retirees to be offered a lousy 2% pay increase. Yes I do believe that the president and my congressional and senate representative have lost my vote also and I will encourage others to do the same.
robert 12/05/09 07:21 pm ET
I concur with Ms Cusimano. He has lost my vote and all of my family members.
roger white 12/02/09 09:46 am ET
I have a job. I have health insurance. I have stablility. I am slated to get some kind of increase this year. I won't complain when it is not as high as those special few who are laying their lives on the line in foreign lands. I won't complain because I see others without all of this largesse in my own community, with limited prospects for improvement this year. I won't complain, I will be thankful.
George O. Allen 12/02/09 09:38 am ET
He has lost my vote too.
Jeff Damis 12/02/09 09:35 am ET
You can bail out the auto companies (and even BUY one with government money), bail out banks and brokerages, and bail out the housing industry with continuing bribes to get people to buy houses or assuming their bad debt, but you can't help out the federal workers who health insurance rates just went up an average of 20% ? Right, mortgage our childrens and grandchildrens future with debt, but not if the debt is to help out the very people who are making your government work. I guess you're saying that all the work and sacrifice that goes into giving the military the ability to do what they do (by civilian workers) is not quite as important. And you were going to look out for the common man... Yeah, sure.
Rich 12/02/09 07:52 am ET
I feel that the union should be all up in arms over this 2%raise, as are money was used to help elect him. The Government sector is behind on wages compared to the private sector and what happened to the military/civilian pay raise parity? This President should not be given a free ride. If the government would retool the country instead of paving the roads maybe more jobs would be created.
Ger 12/02/09 06:46 am ET
I would like to say that as much money as Congress, Senate and the House is already making they should not receive a raise for the next four years until they can clean up the financial situation. They are not even doing their job why should they receive a raise. I do however believe our men and women in service should receive a pay raise.
Roxanne Morgan 12/01/09 07:51 pm ET
If all the President is going to approve a 2% for 2010 he has lost my vote for next time around. This is very unfair to the hard working government employees, this raise will not even cover the cost of the rates for Health Insurance going up. This is a slap in face for all of us, but I bet Congress and their raise will be alot more than 2%. He took our money and bailed out Wall Street and they just used the money for partys etc. This President is becoming a worse president than Jimmy Carter. I hope he is not elected next time around, I know I won't vote for him again.What a joke, he was the person who was going to make the big change the country needed. HA! HA!
Marilee Cusimano 12/01/09 12:30 pm ET