Bachmann pleased with Obama pay-freeze plan

Oh! Thank god. Because just this morning I woke up thinking to myself “I wonder what Bachmann thinks about the pay-freeze plan. I mean, it does seem somewhat vindictive in nature, but certainly not enough to get the attention of the daughter of Satan herself, does it? But maybe there’s something that Her Darkness sees that I can’t. Oh well, such is the greatness of Bachmann.”

What Bachmann fails to say – or makes sure she doesn’t say – is that the tax cuts have been in place for almost 10 years, but Bush has the LOWEST job growth of any President and left Obama with a mess. The unemployment rate was rising rapidly before Obama was sworn in. Where were the job creators then?

Demand creates jobs. And demand comes from spending. Whose going to spend money? The middle and lower classes that don’t make enough money to save. Millionaires and billionaires can’t spend all that money they make, so they stock it away in savings and investments. So those tax breaks reflect money that is taken OUT of the economy.

Why would ANYONE hire someone if they didn’t actually need the additional labor? When you weight the economic cost of additional employees against the tax effect, it’s cheaper NOT to hire. “Hire an employee for $50k a year or pay 35% of that $50k in taxes.” What would YOU do?

Tax the rich!

Wages and benefits vary greatly in the public sector as they do in the private sector.
Some public sector workers earn only minimum wage. If it is such a valid argument to reduce or limit the income of middles class workers who (on paper/on average) earn more than other middle class workers, why is it not valid to limit the income (by raising taxes) of the people whose earnings are well above the middle class? They are not job creators, they are simply creating wealth for themselves.

Wy is it that the only ones ever asked to sacrifice more are workers, and those asked to sacrifice less are the ones who have the most? Maybe it’s a Christian ethic of Bchmann’s to protect those with the most and punish those with the least? Is that what her Jesus told her?

The proposed federal pay freeze is indiscriminant and politically expedient. I am a CONSERVATIVE and I’ve served the public for the past 8 years as an employee of the Forest Service (part of the United States Department of Agriculture). Prior to working for the government I had 8 years experience in business and marketing. I have a bachelor of science in business, a master of science in environmental science, and I’ve invested many additional hours and dollars in additional graduate-level coursework. I currently earn $61,000, however, with my education and experience, I could be earning upwards of $80,000 in the private sector. I accept the lower pay to work for the Forest Service because I am passionate about my work – it is a calling to me and not just a job.

My work is essential to restoring the health of our national forests, protecting communities from wildfires, and helping to provide jobs to Americans. We are sometimes slow to accomplish work on the ground because in many cases the Forest Service is understaffed and the paperwork is tedious. Still, I am proud of what we accomplish when the work is completed on the ground.

There are very FEW employees in the Forest Service that earn over $100,000 – those that do are either high-level managers or scientists with doctoral degrees.
The civilian employee of the Federal government does not enjoy many of the benefits of employees in corporate America. I know because I’ve worked for both. In corporate America, it is common business practice to expense lunches and dinners (free meal for the employee) for meetings. The government does not cover these kinds of meals unless you are traveling. The government does not provide coffee or other refreshments during meetings or parties but a typical business in corporate America does.

Times are lean but I’ve seen evidence of wasteful government spending all around. I’ve seen people on unemployment (my tax money) buying new $1,000 barbeques and other non-essentials. I see people using food stamps/EBT cards and, yet, having money to go to Hawaii on vacation or buying expensive, organic pet food.

We paid $413 billion in interest on our national debt in 2010. I’m willing to do my part to help reduce our debt but I do ask that the President, Congress freeze their pay as well and that we open for debate other areas where we can tighten our belts.

Outsource Bachmann!!

To provide for a temporary freeze on the pay of civilian employees of the Federal Government.

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. PAY FREEZE.

(a) In General- Notwithstanding any other provision of law, for purposes of computing compensation for service performed during fiscal year 2011 and the first quarter of fiscal year 2012, the rate of salary or basic pay for any office or position within the civil service, as defined by section 2101 of title 5, United States Code, shall be deemed to be equal to the rate of salary or basic pay payable for such office or position as of September 30, 2010.

(b) Rule for New Positions- For purposes of subsection (a), the rate of salary or basic pay payable as of September 30, 2010, for any office or position which was not in existence on such date shall be deemed to be the rate of salary or basic pay payable to individuals in comparable offices or positions on such date.

(c) Rule of Construction- Nothing in this section shall be considered to apply with respect to any office or position within the uniformed services, as defined by section 2101 of title 5, United States Code.
http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/query/z?c111:H.R.5382:

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(1) the “civil service” consists of all appointive positions in the executive, judicial, and legislative branches of the Government of the United States, except positions in the uniformed services;
http://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/5/usc_sec_05_00002101—-000-.html

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I could not find a reliable definition for “appointive position”. Most references, like the Plum Book, are about political appointees – with the vast majority being career or elective positions. Then there are a few references like this that imply more than political appointees.

1) There is nothing in this language that “would freeze not only members of Congress salary but also the salary of all of the federal employees” as Bachmann claims.

It would affect the low-paid staffers and interns, but not the office budgets they are paid out of – so no actual savings there.

2) “Notwithstanding any other provision of law” sounds a lot like “violate union contracts”.

3) The bill schedules the freeze to end just in time for public sector wages to be used in the 2012 election. At this point, it would only last a year, probably cost as much to implement as it would save, and be an excuse for political divisiveness.

Her bill is too simplistic, partisan, and short-term to be worth the precious time of the current Congress, and would be worthless in the next Congress. We need a two-year freeze that is intelligently designed and does not violate the sanctity of the contract.

I got a call from the Bachmann’s group asking if I would make a donation. I was planning on making a donation…until I read this article. As a retired federal employee, I will not support anyone…financially or otherwise who recommends a freeze on the pay for Federal workers.