Bush official refutes appointee bonus critics

Career civil servants received more than $1.1 billion in cash awards last year, according to one senior-level Bush administration official who responded to criticism of the cash awards given to senior political appointees in 2002.

"Employees have been treated very fairly by the federal agencies," the official said Tuesday, adding that the $1.44 million awarded to political appointees last year was based on merit and recipients were required to meet high standards before getting the awards.

Political employees are eligible for cash awards based on performance ratings and other awards, including cash and time off "to recognize contributions to government economy, efficiency or effectiveness." However, during the early days of the Clinton administration, a presidential directive was issued prohibiting political appointees from receiving the awards following allegations that the first Bush administration used the award system to reward party loyalists. Despite the directive, Clinton officials continued to give out cash awards, with 364 appointees receiving them while the directive was in effect, according to the Office of Personnel Management.

In December 2002, several members of Congress got steamed after learning that White House Chief of Staff Andrew Card wrote a memo in March 2002 reinstating those cash awards for political appointees. According to White House officials, all federal workers should be rewarded for good performance and there should be no distinction between career employees and political appointees.

House Minority Whip Steny Hoyer, D-Md., who represents a district heavily populated by federal employees, asked the Office of Personnel Management to describe the awards given to political appointees last year.

After receiving the information, Hoyer questioned why it took OPM officials eight months to provide the information he requested.

"They did provide us pieces of information over the eight-month time period," Hoyer spokeswoman Stacey Farnen said Tuesday. "But during the previous administration, it was provided immediately and the question is, why did it take eight months and why did it come in pieces? Another administration was able to do it immediately and give the full picture."

Hoyer and federal employee union leaders also were critical of the administration's move to pay political appointees cash awards while simultaneously trying to reduce the annual January pay raise given to civil service employees.

On Tuesday, the administration official rebutted that claim, explaining that both career employees and political appointees were subject to performance measures and charged with achieving results.

"It is inappropriate to say we will recognize the career employees and act as though other people who happen to be noncareer don't contribute to the success of an agency," the official said.