Federal Workers being asked to sacrific to help prevent further sequestration cuts.

[rhett o rick]

From: National Active and Retired Federal Employees Association (www.narfe.org)

By December 13, the Budget Conference Committee, which Senator Murray chairs, must reach an agreement on FY14 spending. This agreement will go to the House and Senate for an up or down vote. Unfortunately, increasing retirement contributions made by federal employees is seriously being considered as an option to avoid some sequestration cuts. Senator Patty Murray as co-chair of the committee has an opportunity to prevent this bad policy from being included in the agreement.

Federal workers have given $113 billion for deficit reduction since 2011 through a three-year pay freeze and increased retirement contributions for newly hired employees. This does not count the lost salary through sequestration-related furlough days and the financial hardship and uncertainty caused by the 16-day government shutdown.
A recent Politico article described the increase in retirement contributions as a “fee increase.” This proposal is not a fee but a tax increase on federal workers – the only group of Americans on which an income tax increase would be imposed. The media has said that the increase could be anywhere from 1.2 percent, as proposed in the President’s Budget, to 5.5 percent, as proposed in Congressman Ryan’s budget. Regardless of the number, it would result in a cut in take-home pay for millions of middle-class Americans and add anywhere from $20 billion to $80 billion to the already accumulating tally. In Washington, that could result in anywhere from $49 million to $226 million in lost revenue a year.

First they came for the Federal Workers....

Senator Murray should be contacted and given this message:

· I am asking that the Senator oppose the inclusion of an increase in retirement contributions for federal employees in any budget agreement. This is a tax increase on federal workers.
· The Senator should reject the false choice between increases in employee retirement contributions and potential furloughs. Both result in a reduction of pay for middle class workers.
· As a leader in the Senate, Senator Murray must take a stand and support the millions of middle-class workers who go to work every day to protect the American people.

[luckykate54]

1. This is really bad.

Why just the federal workers?

[rhett o rick]

3. Federal Workers are an easy target and an enemy of the conservatives that want

to privatize everything.

[TheDebbieDee]

4. Federal workers are also an easy taret because they cannot go on strike!

The unions representing federal workers are now under siege because employees need to "opt in" to paying unions dues instead of "opting out". This leaves union reps without resources needed to fight to keep our benefits.

I work for the federal government and I am appalled by the denial of my co-workers about what is going on this country. They complain about the ongoing freeze on federal wages, the fact that retirees aren't being replaced, office supplies are nearly impossible to get, yet they continue to repeat the right-wing meme that government is too big and wasteful.

I just want to shake these people by the shoulders and say, "You ARE the government, you idiot! Republicans want to reduce government spending by getting rid of your job!"

[Laelth]

2. Disgusting. k&r for exposure. n/t

-Laelth

[n2doc]

5. And eventually they will just 'drop' the retirement program altogether

Just like they are trying to do with Detroit. The only government workers who will get a retirement plan will be the CONgresspeople and the military brass.

They've already screwed over the fed workers tremendously over the last decade. I guess they have no supporters left in CONgress.

[annabanana]

6. This is how they HOLLOW OUT the United States and

render it defenseless.

[KansDem]

7. Okay, let's take this one step further...

Let's ask capitalists to sacrifice and take less return on their investments to help prevent further cuts to workers' pay.

[rhett o rick]

14. That's blaspheme to a capitalist. nm

[2naSalit]

8. Let's just

NATIONALIZE THE F'ING BANKS!!! AND THE ULTILITIES...

problem solved.

[KoKo]

9. Recommend!

:kick:

[Phlem]

10. This pisses me off to no end!

Didn't the MIC just shit 8.5 trillion down the toilet.



-p

[Egalitarian Thug]

11. Doesn't this sound at all familiar to anybody else? n/t

[Initech]

12. Why are we the ones constantly being asked to sacrifice?

When are we going to start making the billionaires sacrifice??

[Ace Acme]

15. 'Cause the gazillionaires make the jobs, don't you know?

Tinkle-down theory and all that, right?

[Phlem]

13. Done.

Senator Murray should be contacted and given this message:

· I am asking that the Senator oppose the inclusion of an increase in retirement contributions for federal employees in any budget agreement. This is a tax increase on federal workers.
· The Senator should reject the false choice between increases in employee retirement contributions and potential furloughs. Both result in a reduction of pay for middle class workers.
· As a leader in the Senate, Senator Murray must take a stand and support the millions of middle-class workers who go to work every day to protect the American people.

added a few lines my self about wasteful military spending.

-p

[Myrina]

16. Are the Federal workers also known as "Congressmen" and "Senators" also sacrificing?

Their pay, perks and benefits do affect the bottom line, after all ...

[Turbineguy]

17. This creates a cycle of dependency

For the republicans to depend on their incompetence to govern.