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A House Government Reform subcommittee Wednesday approved a bill aimed at reducing "compression" in federal pay scales for administrative law judges and other senior employees.

The measure (H.R. 3737) -- which passed the Civil Service subcommittee by voice vote -- addresses situations where higher paid workers stop getting raises because of a pay cap, resulting in a compression of the overall pay scale.

"Pay compression is a serious problem affecting the federal government, especially in high-cost areas, where many senior managers do not receive full pay raises because they are already at the pay cap," said Subcommittee Chairman Jo Ann Davis of Virginia. "Pay compression hinders the government's ability to hire and retain our most experienced and skilled employees."

Davis said the bill would raise the pay cap (base pay plus locality pay) for affected groups "from Executive Level III [of the federal executive pay scale] to Executive Level II. In current dollars, that is an increase from $145,600 to $158,100 -- enough to make a real difference to those affected by the cap."

Originally the bill applied only to administrative law judges, but a substitute by Davis -- which generated no opposition -- added contract appeals board members, as well as senior, scientific and professional employees.

The subcommittee also approved by voice vote, an amendment by Rep. Danny K. Davis, D-Ill., to determine the impact of the salary increases on other high-level government officials including federal judges, and whether "Congress needs to consider pay raises for other senior positions in government."

COMMENTS

• Who in government is worth that much money? No one! I see who's enjoying the pay raises now. I haven't had one in years, since George came to town, and these guys are crying because they have to deal with a cap!! I tell you what I'll do, I'll do the work and take only 65% and we can call it outsourcing. dw adams Posted October 9, 2004 7:49 AM
• I feel that pay compression should be eliminated too, but it's against the rights of the "workers" at the lower levels not to be included. This is just another sign of our country being run by people that have helped to rid this country of the middle class citizen. We are now the rich and the poor, no in-between. GovExec.com reader Posted March 29, 2004 1:22 PM
• The writer who points out that the dead-ended people have the same problem (or one close enough that it makes no difference) is absolutely right. I am glad to see those in high places suffering. Since we are left with nothing but to spin our wheels, let the big wheels spin, too. Hey, they're in those positions because they're more deserving anyway, aren't they? GovExec.com reader Posted March 24, 2004 10:58 AM