Senator introduces pay parity resolution

Eighteen lawmakers have endorsed a resolution supporting a 4.1 percent pay raise for civilian federal employees, the same increase military personnel will receive this year.

On Jan. 9, Sen. Paul Sarbanes, D-Md., and 17 co-sponsors introduced S.Con.Res 1, a "sense of the Congress" resolution asking for military-civilian pay parity.

Though military and civilian pay increases have been the same for 14 of the last 17 years, the Bush administration did not believe that the two raises should be automatically linked and, in its fiscal 2003 budget, proposed a 4.1 percent military pay raise for 2003, and a 2.6 percent raise for civilian employees.

According to Office of Management and Budget Director Mitch Daniels, military personnel deserved a higher raise because their jobs were riskier than those of civilian federal employees. On Nov. 30, Bush gave civil service employees a 3.1 percent across-the-board increase, but no locality pay raise in 2003. The larger pay increase for civilian employees would jeopardize homeland security efforts, the president said.

Sarbanes defended civilian employees in a news release.

"During this unprecedented time in our nation's history, both members of the armed services and civilian federal employees are fighting the war on terrorism and making remarkable contributions to the safety of this country and citizens," Sarbanes said. "In this difficult time, the dedication and commitment of both the armed services and our civilian employees demonstrate the greatness of our nation. The contribution of both should be recognized."

A group of lawmakers have pushed for a larger civilian pay raise in the months since the Bush budget proposal. In March, House legislators introduced a military-civilian pay parity concurrent resolution and Rep. Jim Moran, D-Va., offered an amendment to the fiscal 2003 budget resolution asking for equal pay raises for civilian and military employees this year. House members were successful in passing a 4.1 civilian pay raise included in the fiscal 2003 Treasury-Postal Appropriations bill, but the Senate adjourned without passing the spending measure.

The government is operating under a continuing resolution that expires on Jan. 31, with tentative plans to then pass an omnibus bill encompassing all the remaining appropriations bills. A group of legislators is trying to get a retroactive 4.1 percent average pay increase added to the omnibus bill. A spokesman for Sarbanes said he was discussing the retroactive pay increase with members of the Senate Appropriations Committee.