The Week in Comments: SES perks, pay during furloughs and union busting
The best in reader reaction to recent articles.
A roundup of some of the comments received this week in the GovExec.com Mailbag. All comments are presented in their original, unedited form.
On Bill would fire feds who have serious tax delinquencies
I'm curious. What was the percentage of delinquency among Capitol Hill staffers? How do feds compare in delinquency with the general population and corporations?
The article states that this would apply to Capital Hill staffers, as well as government employees. What about the members of Congress themselves? If I remember the statistics, Members of Congress also owe the IRS money. Will they be fired as well?
There is one thing that I do not understand. If all of these people work for the Federal government, why doesn't the government garnish their wages to pay back their delinquencies? I know that the IRS is not afraid to garnish wages of other citizens in the provate sector. Also, garnish the wages of the high and mighty Congress and Supreme Court as well!
On Administration says it will expand opportunities for senior executives
Wonderful. More perks for the perk-ladened royalty. And what about the rest of us great unwashed retched bottom-feeders? Let them eat cake.
I predict the rotational opportunities selection process will continue to be as transparent as the College of Cardinals.
On Legislation would give troops flexible spending accounts
Funny, the military always wants the same as civilians except when it comes to raises. Are you kidding me?
Military should get FSA's just like civilians? Military should have access WHEN their pay is frozen just like the DOD civilains are who support the military. The military couldn't exist or begin to do their mission without DOD civilians.
On Wisconsin governor says he won't compromise with unions
Unions have become a tool of the DEMocratic party and have become too political. Every decision is based on race, sex, and will it benefit our cause to bankrupt city, state, and federal govts. The pensions and health care costs are staggering and will be what bankrupts cities in the next 2-3 years. The dominos begin falling soon. Unions have already bankrupted the airlines and auto industries. They are now anti-American and pro-globalization. Time to bust them up. No public employee needs a union. They have too many politcal allies as it is. Go Walker, dont back down. Now only if DC would wake up.
The GOP wants a return to the 1890s when the companies owned their workers - say hello to the end of the middle class.
I'm proud to say that I'm from Wisconsin and a "badger graduate." Wisconsin has some of the best teachers and schools in the country. That being said, unions are killing this country. I know that in other countries where teachers are not unionized, teachers make extremely low salaries with few if any benefits. The question is how to pay people what they're worth without governments being taken to the cleaners. There is no easy answer.
On House spending bill's deep cuts to EPA set negotiating point with Senate
Great news! It's about time the House of Representatives started acting responsibly.
The GOP don't support clean air or clean water. Why would anyone with any sense vote for these people?
On Pay is no guarantee for furloughed employees
What if you pay vendors like paying them for goods and services? I think that is very important and essential. Otherwise you see lawsuits everyday.
What? I thought all of us Goverment employees were over paid so how can there be any that live paycheck to paycheck? Truth be told, most of the non supervisory positions I know do just that, live paycheck to paycheck. What kind of an impact does this have on a GS04, GS05, GS06, should it happen? Devastating, that's what it is!! Last I knew, we bottom end workers were not responsible for this delemma but in the end, we are paying the price, more so than many. This sadly effects every Government worker and as a voter, I elect officials who look out for my best interest. Not getting paid IS NOT one of them!
If federal workers are not paid I think the same treatment should apply to our inneffective lawmakers who obviously cannot act like responsible adults and meet necessary deadlines.
The American people did not elect this new Congress so they could wreck havoc on the financial health of employees of the Federal Gov - the largest emmployer in the the country. For many Feds, an unreimbused furlough could mean financial disaster including defaulting on mortgages and other bills. This is not a remedy for the current fiscal problems and will only create more indebtedness for the country. Feds are not allowed to hold second jobs, and our paycheck is our only source of income. This Congress was elected to help the American people and find ways to get out of this financial hole -- not dig it deeper.
I get furloughed, I file for unemployment. How's that going to look for the new congress, watching unemployment claims go up and consumer spending go down on their watch.
Why would you file for unemployment compensation if the government shuts down? Wouldn't those checks quit going out during the furlough?
If you are going to shut down Govt. then shut it ALL down and lets see who does the crying then. NO SS checks, no mail, no air traffic control etc. The Republicans will be begging to negoitiate then.
Thats okay. Just don't be shocked when I sit on my hands at my desk for the same number of days I'm not getting paid. You see, I do work hard and to punish me for your ineptitude is catamount to jailing a manager because his business got robbed.
I'll give any liberal $10 to research how a spending bill is created and then passed/vetoed and then rationally explain how a shut down at this point is the fault of the House.
Anyone?
On Agencies close-lipped on personnel policy planning for shutdown
If the government shuts down then it does. In return as voters we should remember at election everyone that is in office now, top to bottom. In this article I find the comment by Mark Saunders of the USPS very commical. When they want money or they are in need they come to the taxpayers. Now that there is a pending shut down he wants to go on record as not be supported by taxpayers. I wish they would totally privitize the postal service (sell it to private investors, fexex or someone) and get them out of our hair once and for all!!!!!
Close lipped does not describe this - how about silent. Personnel: you need to discuss this with your employees, or don't you give a hoot? WHERE IS THE UNION??
On Federal workers rally against Wisconsin governor
I sure hope those Federal Workers are not violating work rules by participating in a political action when they should be at work. Funny how the left busing in protestors gets no response from the press but pro-governor supporters driving in gets a major response as something devious.
It is amazing what one phone call will do. It is all about breaking the unions and nothing more. He never had me fooled. I cannot thank Gov. Walker enough. He has done what the AFL CIO has been trying to do for years.... unite Labor.
Sounds like Hatch Act violations to me. I wonder how many of them were on sick leave.
Sad to say but if there was " solidarity" back in 1981 when the air controllers went on strike , this "union busting" would not be happening today.
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