AP Exclusive: Obama freezing some aides' salaries

[sabra]

Source: AP

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Associated Press has learned that President Barack Obama is freezing the pay of the about a hundred White House employees who make over $100,000 a year.

The freeze would hold salaries at their current levels. It is part of a presidential memorandum being issued Wednesday when Obama attends a swearing-in for staff at the White House.

In a statement, Obama said "families are tightening their belts, and so should Washington."

Aides making above $100,00 include the high-profile jobs of White House chief of staff, national security adviser and press secretary. Other aides who work in relative anonymity also fit into that cap, if Obama follows a structure similar to the one George W. Bush set up.

Read more: http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5j-fugTG4LpS54ZkqqdkfoPmNm1OAD95RMFT00

[Idealism]

1. I hope this doesn't breed resentment, because it is a noble deed n/t

[shadowknows69]

10. If people already making 100K a year are going to begrudge him this

They're already not on the same page as their boss and need to be shown the door. It's mostly a symbolic move by our new President, but I like it.

[nyc 4 Biden]

14. It's not symbolic for those who are getting a pay cut.

I'm not against the move, but I can understand some aides not being too happy about taking a pay cut.

[BonnieJW]

21. It's not a cut, it's a freeze.

If they're making over $100k per year, they will continue making that amount, but they won't get raises.

[nyc 4 Biden]

22. My fault. Thanks for correcting.

Reading is funduhmental.

[Idealism]

26. Some would argue that a freeze is a cut

due to inflation, etc.

[acmavm]

2. Good for him.

[Merlot]

3. When he puts a freeze on bank executives salaries I'll be impressed

yes, I know he can't do that directly. Someone who makes $100K and doesn't gt a COL increase isn't going to make much difference.

[nadinbrzezinski]

6. When the banks are nationalized, right after it snows in hell., then

perhaps he can do that

[Merlot]

13. Perhaps you didn't read my post?

[nadinbrzezinski]

16. I read it and I pointed out to the readying public why he can't do that

[nadinbrzezinski]

4. They took that advisse seriously

I am shocked... WOW

WELL DONE!

Tes it is symbolic and now he should freeze HIS salary too

In fact cut it by about 20%, which also would cut Shit for Brain's retirement check...

[Shiver]

12. His salary is frozen

It takes an act of Congress to increase it. This was last done by Clinton in 1999, mostly because the President's annual salary (originally $200,000, now $400,000) is traditionally the cap on all federal employees. Some positions - like judges and lifetime appointments - get a cost of living increase every year; Clinton raised it simply so the increases wouldn't violate the tradition of the President being the highest paid public employee.

[nadinbrzezinski]

17. That tradition has changed

my sis works for the Feds... and they just went through that dance and games to change that

Curiously AFTER the election

[Shiver]

19. Oh?

Explain please, if you are at liberty to do so. :)

[nadinbrzezinski]

29. They have removed this little factoid that the Pres is the highest paid

now some folks can be paid more than the president of the united states

But they had to literally cross the usual T, and dot the usual I's. Yes, I was surprised

[Dyedinthewoolliberal]

47. What job is there, in government

that pays more than the President?

[nadinbrzezinski]

49. they said consultants and some doctors

don't ask, they just removed those limits

[maddezmom]

5. Good news and it's great that he said that all those involved agreed to it

before this announcement. :)

[Donnachaidh]

7. How about Stopping the Raise Congress just gave itself?

And start reviewing all the other perks, like leased vehicles, gas allowances, etc. I'd like to see THAT reined in as well as other government employees.

[nadinbrzezinski]

8. Separation of powers, you heard of it, perhaps

The President, as much as Bush wished it was the case, is not a monarch with absolute power

He can do that in the EXECUTIVE breach, but he cannot do that in the LEGISLATIVE branch

Now if he takes a voluntary pay cut, that will put pressure on legislators

As to cars and all that... only very senior people get it, and in some cases you can say it is due to national security and succession order

Your regular congress critter does not get a car, perhaps a parking spot, but no car... only the majority. minority leaders and heads of both houses do.

[Donnachaidh]

18. so you don't think he has enough pull to shame those folks into it?

And last time I looked, it was far more than *senior* folks who were getting them. This came up about two years ago, and the list was quite long.

[nadinbrzezinski]

30. Again separation of powers

he can try the social shaming... but I am willing to bet it won't work

[Caretha]

33. President Obama

hasn't the authority to direct congress regarding pay, but what he is able to do & what he just did, is called ... Leading by example. Now that's what I want in my President!

[Obamanaut]

28. Some say that HR members can get a car, most lease big ones

http://wcbstv.com/seenon/car.lease.us.2.713776.html

<snip>Little-Known But Exploited Loophole Allows Politicians To Drive, Maintain Expensive Cars, SUVs On Taxpayer Money

<snip>

Congressman Charles Rangel was recently seen getting out of his Cadillac DeVille, which he leases for $774 per month. Then there was Congressman Jose Serrano, getting out of his Buick LaCrosse, which he leases for $317 per month. And how about this one: Congressman Gregory Meeks was recently seen waiting for Congressman John Conyers to step out of Meeks' Lexus LS460, which Meeks leases for $998 per month.

All those leases are picked up by taxpayers through a little-known program available only to members of the House of Representatives.
<more at link>

[xchrom]

9. he can't do anything about the private sector --

but this is a good move.

[nyc 4 Biden]

15. He can when the gov't starts bailing out companies left and right. n/t

[xchrom]

46. he can complain -- or with hold in the future

but their paychecks are their pay checks -- and we don't make laws regarding those -- and we're not going to.

[bdamomma]

11. damn straight.

In a statement, Obama said "families are tightening their belts, and so should Washington."

[tridim]

20. I suppose eventually he'll do something wrong

But apparently that won't happen today.

I really do hope that congress follows his lead on this one. You just know the repukes will scream bloody murder if their pay is frozen or cut.

[LisaM]

23. IIRC, Bush changed the salary structure to (of course) create bigger gaps

between the highest and lowest paid, which was different from the more egalitarian Clinton model.

I'm surprised Obama wouldn't go back to the Clinton model.

[WriteDown]

24. To be honest though...

You aren't doing that well if you make 100K in DC.

[noiretextatique]

34. you are doing a lot better than someone making 30k eom

[WriteDown]

35. If you're making 30K and living in DC...

you are living under a bridge. You wouldn't even be able to rent at apt.

[noiretextatique]

37. there are people making 30k...even in DC eom

[WriteDown]

38. With 10 roommates....

maybe.

[noiretextatique]

39. same here in san francisco bay area

and yes, people who make 30k actually exist here. they are everywhere.

[WriteDown]

40. And freezing people salaries at 100K helps you how? nt

[noiretextatique]

41. what exactly is your problem?

obama made it clear that everyone needed to sacrifice, obviously including government employees. i don't make 30k a year, so i don't see how it will help me. however, i do think he's sending a message that it won't be business as usual where people who do make 30k a year are expected to take a bigger hit than people making 200k a year.
and the other thing is: you didn't seem to know that people who make less than 100k live in DC.

[WriteDown]

43. I am all for sacrifice, but sacrifice w/o purpose is nonsense...

I would much rather he ask his staff to contribute 10 hrs a week of their time for community service then take money away from them considering the high cost of living there. B has a house and everything is 100% covered, so he won't be the one making less than 100K trying to raise a family in DC.

I'm all for people who make 30K a year to not take a hit, but I also don't want to see people in DC take that kind of hit either.

For the record. My sister lives in San Fran and makes about 200K a year. She lives in a 1 bedroom apartment, but loves it. Go figure.

[demoborn47]

44. been around DC much?

10 roommates? Have you ever lived here or paid bills in your life? It IS expensive in DC and people do have roommates but anyone making 100k is this city is doing fine and they sure as hell don't have roommates. I have friends who make under 70, 60, even 50 and own their own condos in this area. Does anyone have credit or know how to budget? I could make 100k go so far you wouldn't believe it.

100k isn't that much, wtf....

[WriteDown]

45. 10 roommates was an exagerration...

but if you're making 50K and own a condo in DC, you are overextended. At least if you are anywhere that is not a demilitarized zone. I grew up in Manhattan.

[Regret My New Name]

50. Aye?

http://washingtondc.craigslist.org/apa/

[demoborn47]

42. 100k isn't that good?

I can understand that 100k isn't as much as it used to be but I definitely disagree. I'm not sure where you live or how much you make but six figures is still nothing to shake a stick at. I live in DC and make way less than that I'm doing just fine thank you very much.

[SlowDownFast]

25. Congress needs to follow suit.

Take a pay CUT, even.

Didn't they just vote themselves a pay raise recently?

[alcibiades_mystery]

27. I believe Congressional pay raises are voted for with ALL federal employee pay raises

[depakid]

48. It it would be an EXCELLENT symbolic gesture to vote in a rollback

to 2007 pay levels.

[Generator]

31. What a bad ass!

I love it.

[TEXASYANKEE]

32. Once again,

Obama signals that he knows what it's like for the rest of us. My company announced that it's not giving raises this year. So why not Government as well?

[LostinVA]

36. The Metro DC area is VERY expensive to live in and around

Rent is insane, even out past Vienna and into Warrenton and Leesburg. 100K is really doesn't go very far there.