Bush Raises Fed Workers Pay

[catgirl]

Sorry if this is a dup. Just saw this AP news item.


CRAWFORD, Texas - President Bush (news - web sites) spelled out in greater detail Thursday the pay raise that takes effect Jan. 1 for federal workers, members of Congress, judges — even Vice President Dick Cheney (news - web sites).

 

Congress passed the pay raises earlier this year, but Bush was required to sign an executive order detailing the pay hikes before the end of the year. He did so Thursday.


The president's annual salary of $400,000 is not affected by the legislation.


The cost-of-living raise lifts salaries for members of the House and Senate from $158,000 this year to $162,100 in 2005.


The measure provides civil servants with 3.5 percent raises — the same that nilitary personnel will receive next year. Under a complicated formula, that translates to 2.5 percent for members of Congress.


The 2.5 percent pay hike also applies to the vice president — who is president of the Senate — congressional leaders and Supreme Court justices.


Cheney, House Speaker Dennis Hastert and Chief Justice William Rehnquist (news - web sites) will go from $203,000 to $208,100. Associate justices move from $194,300 to $199,200 and House and Senate party leaders go up from $175,700 to $180,100.

[Worst Username Ever]

1. Bush increasing money for people close to him?

Wha? He has never done this before! /sarcasm

[tridim]

2. Hey Bush

I'm just an average underemployed IT worker, and I'd really like to be able to afford FUCKING HEALTH INSURANCE. My pay rate has also decreased by about 65% since you took office.

Do you even wonder why I hate you?

[catgirl]

3. Funny how he waited until the last minute.

[MercutioATC]

10. Actually, it got done EARLY this year.

The past two years Congress hasn't passed a budget on time so the cost of living increases (which traditionally go into effect in January) didn't happen until months later.

This year, they're on time.

[annabanana]

4. Bush has nothing to do with it...

It's just a COLA raise, built-in, so giving B*sh any praise or blame is silly. It happens under all administrations and takes an act of congress to alter.

[catgirl]

6. Doesn't he ultimately sign for it?

[MercutioATC]

9. More than that...Congress DETERMINES the increase.

They set it at 3.5%.

Bush actually reduced it to 2.5% for civilian federal employees.

[Rose Siding]

5. here's a link

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=102&topic_id=1110932&mesg_id=1110932

[catgirl]

7. Oops! Sorry for the duplicate

[MercutioATC]

8. Congress voted the raise (it's the yearly cost of living increase)

They set it at 3.5% for military and civilian government employees.

Bush lowered the civilian increases to 2.5%.

[wolfgirl]

11. Trust me...

this 2.5% COLA does nothing to offset the avg of 7-10% increase in our health benefits, besides having to put up with the CRAP issued from our headquarters. We are told to do more with less and our big bosses get all kinds of lovely bonuses, while we are given pats on the head.

I refuse to put up any of the pixs of Bush or Cheney in my office (so far, no grousing from my boss) that headquarters sent (a bunch in various sizes - I almost barfed)!

[MercutioATC]

12. Hey! I'm a federal employee too. You don't have to convince me.

:hi:

[The Zanti Regent]

13. More crumbs from the plantation master.

Wow a 2.5% raise.

Just got the note that my rent is going up 9% effective in February!

Yes, I hear the same shit from the bigwigs to do more with less. It's the same shit I hear every year. They tell us to be thrifty, well, I can pay less for health insurance this year since I had to take my only child off of my insurance.

Bush killed him in Iraq.

[Moderator]

14. locking

duplicate

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=102&topic_id=1110932&mesg_id=1110932