Citing deficit, Obama to freeze federal worker pay - AP

[Tierra_y_Libertad]

Does that include the military??

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20101129/ap_on_bi_ge/us_obama_pay_freeze

WASHINGTON – President Barack Obama will announce a two-year pay freeze for federal employees that the White House says is necessary to put the country on sound fiscal footing.

The White House said Monday that the freeze would apply to all civilian federal employees, including those working at the Department of Defense, but would not affect military personnel. The freeze will save $2 billion during fiscal year 2011, according to the White House.

Obama is expected to announce the pay freeze at the White House later Monday.

The chairman of Obama's bipartisan deficit commission has proposed a three-year freeze in pay for most federal employees as part of its plan to reduce the nation's growing deficit. The commission's final report is due to be released later this week.

Shortly after taking office in January 2009, Obama froze salaries of top White House. He extended that freeze to political appointees across the government in last year's budget, and also eliminated bonuses for political appointees.

[Warren Stupidity]

1. As always: make working people pay for the sins and excesses of the rich.

I completely give up. I have no representation in this administration.

[Jeffersons Ghost]

6. K&R +1

[laughingliberal]

8. +1 nt

[Taitertots]

2. We save $2 billion suffocating our government workers

Everyone accept the military. No increases for the people who do constructive work, but pay increases for people who do destructive work. It is almost like the government is trying to be as unproductive as possible.

[BolivarianHero]

17. Disgusting...

Cut 2 billion from the fucking Pentagon, not from the civil servants.

[BolivarianHero]

18. He's not a real Democrat.

A real Democrat would cut that money from the fucking Pentagon.

[Desertrose]

3. Just raise taxes on the top 1%. How hard is that?

They've got the money...the rest of us...not so much. Cutting what little we have? Makes no damn sense.

[MadHound]

4. Well, we've got to pay for the extension of tax cuts for the rich somehow n/t

[Catherina]

Citing deficit lol. rec'd n/t

[Catherina]

5. Citing deficit lol. rec'd n/t

[cali]

7. I have far less of a problem with this

than I do with the COLA freeze for SS recipients.

[gratuitous]

9. Problem solved!

And no messy tax hikes on the wealthy. Can you imagine how onerous it must be to face the prospect of an additional three cents' tax on every dollar you "earn" past the first quarter million? That's over $20,000 extra on your first million! Weep, Weep! for the prospective plight of the affluent. Much better that every federal employee take a pay freeze than Paris Hilton have to quit creating jobs for underlings, sycophants and hangers-on. Dog groomers need jobs, too!

Besides, those lazy federal employees would probably just spend any raise they get on food, clothing and shelter. And that's sooooo boring!

[GSLevel9]

10. this hurts... personally. nt

[nadinbrzezinski]

11. No, it does not

They'll be next I suspect

These are modern-day austerity measures, and you know who sgould hav the it pay frozen, even cut? Congress.

[jsamuel]

12. Just to be clear, as a state employee, I have BEEN on a pay freeze for 3 YEARS already!

This is exactly the kind of move that hurts the economy. It takes money away from the people who will spend it.

[WizardLeft62]

13. Yes-Great Point Workers Scapegoated Again

My mother worked for the state. The Republicans always sacapegoated state workers as if they were not "people" and did not "work hard." It's okay for the private sector to rip people off. To bad there is not as much anger at the private sector the way it's saved for public employees. Yet, per usual, workers are again used as scapegoats during this latest "budget deficit" time.

This time it's Federal rather than State Workers who being Scapegoated!!!!!!!! It is either federal and state workers whom are scapegoated in times of "budget deficits" which are brought on by private sector greed.

Whether it's unions or teachers, those who do hard work every day are scapegoated to take pay cuts and pay freezes. Yet, when it comes to the banksters, they are bailed out without conditions. Where is the justice for those who lost their homes to forec;osure? What conditions were ever placed on the banks?

[Dappleganger]

14. You're lucky yours was only frozen.

Many of us are either unemployed or seriously under-employed, or had to take wage and benefit reductions. This isn't a slam against you personally, just bringing up the point that we are all hurting out here.

[jsamuel]

16. I understand that.

I would rather not talk about my job. However, as a general policy point on the economy, I think my point still stands.

[budkin]

15. What a bunch of Horse shit. FEDERAL employees are the ones to shoulder the burden!?