Training Manager Department of Defense Thu Nov 15, 2007 9:12 AM
How about pay for performance for Congress? Maybe they would start doing their jobs and wokring for the people and not the advancement of their careers!
Re: Have Congress Earn Their Pay
Employee DoN Thu Nov 15, 2007 10:07 AM
They do have pay for performance---it's called "voting." If they don't do their job, vote them out!
Re: Have Congress Earn Their Pay
Programmer TSO Thu Nov 15, 2007 10:59 AM
DoN, that sounds good on the surface.. but reality is voting them out won't do much good because the only people who this political system allows to be in position to be voted in instead will act the same way.
Re: Have Congress Earn Their Pay
Atss DOT Thu Nov 15, 2007 11:51 AM
Yeah, but sometimes the vote doesn't always work. Too many uneducated voters!
How about having a maximum number of sessions that can be missed? How many of them get paid to campaign anyway?
How about giving Mitt Romney a chance at turning THIS deficit around.....the Massachusetts democrats said he wouldn't be able to close a 3 billion defecit without raising taxes and he DID! along with adding 60,000 jobs from the low point of the recession......HMMMM!
Re: Have Congress Earn Their Pay
Financial Analy$t USAF Thu Nov 15, 2007 3:50 PM
Its called your vote. Don't like your member, vote them out.
Re: Have Congress Earn Their Pay
IT Spec dod Thu Nov 15, 2007 4:47 PM
Considering that "your member" will have to be replaced by another politician (and don't kid yourself, they all put their careers first), the idea to "vote them out" may make you feel better but it doesn't solve the problem.
DoD
Auditor DoD Thu Nov 15, 2007 9:27 AM
Although a Gov Shutdown is unlikely, since the DoD budget has already been passed, would DoD workers be exempt from any shutdown that may occur?
Government Shutdown
Just About Retired USMC Thu Nov 15, 2007 10:05 AM
I can only wish; however, I came to my own realization that it is all just monopoly money anyway. Another good reason to retire.
Government Shutdown
Health Technician VA Thu Nov 15, 2007 10:09 AM
I survived the 1995 Government Shutdown. I hope the Government is never dumb enough to do that again!! Cost millions of dollars and was one of the worst things they have ever done. Congress made sure they were getting paid while the average government worker was not. Then it cost millions of dollars in overtime for all the "non-essential" employees to get their work done. They ended up getting paid for time off, did not have to use leave, and overtime for catching up. 1+1=5 in that case.
Re: Government Shutdown
average joe Any Thu Nov 15, 2007 12:24 PM
I was in a position that was considered essential. I had the privilege of WORKING while eveyone else was furloughed. In addition to being paid for the time off, the furloughed employees had their use or lose annual leave restored - because they were in furlough status and not allowed to use their leave.
What a joke !! Now that I have been promoted to a position that is non-essential, I would welcome a furlough (unplanned vacation is what it turned out to be).
Re: Government Shutdown
HR Specialist SSA Mon Nov 19, 2007 9:40 AM
I remember the 95 shut-down too...I was considered non-essential & remember worrying whether or not we would be retroactively paid - that was back in the days of living from pay check to pay check as a GS-5 in California. I do remember that some people (mostly supervisory and IT folks) were deemed to be "essential" and had to work. While those of us who were non-essential were retroactively paid - those essential folks received awards for their service during the shut-down. In any case...it was an ultimate waste of money for a political show-down that didn't do the average taxpayer a bit of good. Let's hope it doesn't go that far this year...but I have a sneaking suspicion that it might be a close thing...
Much ado about nothing
HR Specialist DoD Thu Nov 15, 2007 11:44 AM
From what I remember, the Air Foprce's position was that national defense is essential, so all their employees were essential. This made us feel good because we kept working while some of our non-defense contemporaries downtown were complaining about being laid off. However, the complaints shifted to our side when they ended up being paid for not working--essentially getting more paid leave time. And whether our raise is 2.5 or 3.5 percent, we will all still be able to pay our bills. We always come out all right, and better than most, so why worry about it.
Federal Budget Etc.
Program Manager USDA Thu Nov 15, 2007 12:42 PM
The Republicans would have some credibility if the same earmark problems and excessive spending had not occured during the first six years of this administration. To be having a big fit now is just laughable. Both parties need to examine the extra spending in bills and be responsible, however I have no hope of that happening because they are beholden to donors and special interest groups. Congress is syphoning off billions of dollars that could be used to improve infrastructure, maintain our national parks and forests, encourage energy conservation, assist with education and worker training programs, etc. Instead billions go to un-needed projects that benefit a few people. By the way, the Dept of Ag did not shut down in 1995 - we were one of two Departments that had a budget passed.
1995 government shutdown
Social Scientist IRS Thu Nov 15, 2007 12:46 PM
Having 28 years with the Feds, I have seen a lot. Carter trying to buy our votes with a huge pay rise right before the 1980 election. Reagan firing the air traffic controllers as he said he would. Bush Sr. cracking up over the "read my lips, no new taxes" quip. But one of the best times I ever had was the 1995 government shutdown. I had FUN! Every morning I got to get up and it was like Saturday morning, except the streets were not crowded. I hit the movie theatre in the afternoon, I went hunting for the day, and I read the paper down at the donut shop. So this is what retirement is like. The only down side was having to explain to some coworkers that "Yes you would be paid for this time off". I didn't even mind explaining to my non-federal friends that I was getting paid for doing nothing. I didn't care in the least being classified as nonessential. I wish we could do it again!
1995 Furlough
Nameless, Faceless Nobody DOD Fri Nov 16, 2007 10:37 AM
Several of us "non-essential" personnel were temporarily replaced with military while furloughed. We were smart enough to leave them our phone numbers. It was a tough recovery when we got back, but it helped that the more confusing aspects of what we did daily got "talked through" with us by our military counterparts over the phone. Just the boxes of paper that waited for our return were depressing. I hope the government is a lot smarter this time and doesn't go this far.
Finances
Examiner IRS Fri Nov 30, 2007 9:41 AM
I have an idea that would help solve the financial problem.
First get out of IRAQ with the Deomcrats plan. We were lied to when the administration said we are going in there due to nuclear weapons etc. None of this was found and the intelligence agencies did not support this assertion. This is not to say that Hussein was good, but the US does not invade a country just because the leader is bad. Also a great deal of money would be saved.
I agree that we should raise taxes on the wealthy. They got permanent (through 2010) tax decreases such as rate reductions, reduction in capital gains and dividend tax reductions. The middle class got less or nil rate reductions, child tax credit (through age 16), college credit (not permanent). In addition the middle class must deal with the alt mini tax.
I propose that the higher marginal rates be set at 40% for tax. Income over 400000 and 45% for taxable income over 750000. I propose the exemption for the alt mini tax be 150000.
Shutdown essential
Project Manager Air Force Fri Nov 30, 2007 3:33 PM
I know I was considered as an essential body. It was rather nice to come to work and find parking places near the building not filled by everyone, or the traffic in and out was even better than holiday weekends around here.
There are certainly pros and cons to shutting down. The biggest danger being the sense and loyalty that politicians will loose from governent workers by playing with their lives to the point of a shut down. I recall a tremendous anger from employees over their representatives back at the last shutdown. I think that is why those representatives "paid" the non-essential employees while they were off, to buy back their favor.
I say, quit playing games. Quit trying to stash pork barrel spending in bills that don't deal with the bill in question. I also say, LINE ITEM VETO power to filter out the BS that is inserted into these bills, and use wise discretion to filter out the crab polititians try to sneak in. It's the sneaking that is causing much the mess
2008
Unit Coordinator Department of Veteran Affairs Sat Dec 1, 2007 8:01 AM
I think we Federal Government retirees are the ones who are suffering the most. Our pay raise should be more than the employees because we are already cheated out of receiving our full Social Security because of that GPO law.
Re: 2008
Admin DOS Mon Dec 3, 2007 9:49 AM
Can't understand why the folks under the old retirment system complain about be shorted on Social Security. They didn't pay into it so why should they get payments from it. I am under FERS and 90 percent of my retirement contributions go into Social Security and 10 percent into FERS. If I retire at 55 I can't draw SS until I turn 62 even though I have paid into it for 25 years. Instead I get a SS suplement that is about 70 percent of what I would get at 62 when I am eligible for SS. Then after 62 the supplement stops and SS kicks in. At 30 years the maximum I can get is far less than CSRS employees including the TSP.
Have Congress Earn Their Pay
Department of Defense
Thu Nov 15, 2007 9:12 AM
How about pay for performance for Congress? Maybe they would start doing their jobs and wokring for the people and not the advancement of their careers!
Re: Have Congress Earn Their Pay
DoN
Thu Nov 15, 2007 10:07 AM
Re: Have Congress Earn Their Pay
TSO
Thu Nov 15, 2007 10:59 AM
Re: Have Congress Earn Their Pay
DOT
Thu Nov 15, 2007 11:51 AM
How about having a maximum number of sessions that can be missed? How many of them get paid to campaign anyway?
How about giving Mitt Romney a chance at turning THIS deficit around.....the Massachusetts democrats said he wouldn't be able to close a 3 billion defecit without raising taxes and he DID! along with adding 60,000 jobs from the low point of the recession......HMMMM!
Re: Have Congress Earn Their Pay
USAF
Thu Nov 15, 2007 3:50 PM
Re: Have Congress Earn Their Pay
dod
Thu Nov 15, 2007 4:47 PM
DoD
DoD
Thu Nov 15, 2007 9:27 AM
Although a Gov Shutdown is unlikely, since the DoD budget has already been passed, would DoD workers be exempt from any shutdown that may occur?
Government Shutdown
USMC
Thu Nov 15, 2007 10:05 AM
I can only wish; however, I came to my own realization that it is all just monopoly money anyway. Another good reason to retire.
Government Shutdown
VA
Thu Nov 15, 2007 10:09 AM
I survived the 1995 Government Shutdown. I hope the Government is never dumb enough to do that again!! Cost millions of dollars and was one of the worst things they have ever done. Congress made sure they were getting paid while the average government worker was not. Then it cost millions of dollars in overtime for all the "non-essential" employees to get their work done. They ended up getting paid for time off, did not have to use leave, and overtime for catching up. 1+1=5 in that case.
Re: Government Shutdown
Any
Thu Nov 15, 2007 12:24 PM
What a joke !! Now that I have been promoted to a position that is non-essential, I would welcome a furlough (unplanned vacation is what it turned out to be).
Re: Government Shutdown
SSA
Mon Nov 19, 2007 9:40 AM
Much ado about nothing
DoD
Thu Nov 15, 2007 11:44 AM
From what I remember, the Air Foprce's position was that national defense is essential, so all their employees were essential. This made us feel good because we kept working while some of our non-defense contemporaries downtown were complaining about being laid off. However, the complaints shifted to our side when they ended up being paid for not working--essentially getting more paid leave time. And whether our raise is 2.5 or 3.5 percent, we will all still be able to pay our bills. We always come out all right, and better than most, so why worry about it.
Federal Budget Etc.
USDA
Thu Nov 15, 2007 12:42 PM
The Republicans would have some credibility if the same earmark problems and excessive spending had not occured during the first six years of this administration. To be having a big fit now is just laughable. Both parties need to examine the extra spending in bills and be responsible, however I have no hope of that happening because they are beholden to donors and special interest groups. Congress is syphoning off billions of dollars that could be used to improve infrastructure, maintain our national parks and forests, encourage energy conservation, assist with education and worker training programs, etc. Instead billions go to un-needed projects that benefit a few people. By the way, the Dept of Ag did not shut down in 1995 - we were one of two Departments that had a budget passed.
1995 government shutdown
IRS
Thu Nov 15, 2007 12:46 PM
Having 28 years with the Feds, I have seen a lot. Carter trying to buy our votes with a huge pay rise right before the 1980 election. Reagan firing the air traffic controllers as he said he would. Bush Sr. cracking up over the "read my lips, no new taxes" quip. But one of the best times I ever had was the 1995 government shutdown. I had FUN! Every morning I got to get up and it was like Saturday morning, except the streets were not crowded. I hit the movie theatre in the afternoon, I went hunting for the day, and I read the paper down at the donut shop. So this is what retirement is like. The only down side was having to explain to some coworkers that "Yes you would be paid for this time off". I didn't even mind explaining to my non-federal friends that I was getting paid for doing nothing. I didn't care in the least being classified as nonessential. I wish we could do it again!
1995 Furlough
DOD
Fri Nov 16, 2007 10:37 AM
Several of us "non-essential" personnel were temporarily replaced with military while furloughed. We were smart enough to leave them our phone numbers. It was a tough recovery when we got back, but it helped that the more confusing aspects of what we did daily got "talked through" with us by our military counterparts over the phone. Just the boxes of paper that waited for our return were depressing. I hope the government is a lot smarter this time and doesn't go this far.
Finances
IRS
Fri Nov 30, 2007 9:41 AM
I have an idea that would help solve the financial problem.
First get out of IRAQ with the Deomcrats plan. We were lied to when the administration said we are going in there due to nuclear weapons etc. None of this was found and the intelligence agencies did not support this assertion. This is not to say that Hussein was good, but the US does not invade a country just because the leader is bad. Also a great deal of money would be saved.
I agree that we should raise taxes on the wealthy. They got permanent (through 2010) tax decreases such as rate reductions, reduction in capital gains and dividend tax reductions. The middle class got less or nil rate reductions, child tax credit (through age 16), college credit (not permanent). In addition the middle class must deal with the alt mini tax.
I propose that the higher marginal rates be set at 40% for tax. Income over 400000 and 45% for taxable income over 750000. I propose the exemption for the alt mini tax be 150000.
Shutdown essential
Air Force
Fri Nov 30, 2007 3:33 PM
I know I was considered as an essential body. It was rather nice to come to work and find parking places near the building not filled by everyone, or the traffic in and out was even better than holiday weekends around here.
There are certainly pros and cons to shutting down. The biggest danger being the sense and loyalty that politicians will loose from governent workers by playing with their lives to the point of a shut down. I recall a tremendous anger from employees over their representatives back at the last shutdown. I think that is why those representatives "paid" the non-essential employees while they were off, to buy back their favor.
I say, quit playing games. Quit trying to stash pork barrel spending in bills that don't deal with the bill in question. I also say, LINE ITEM VETO power to filter out the BS that is inserted into these bills, and use wise discretion to filter out the crab polititians try to sneak in. It's the sneaking that is causing much the mess
2008
Department of Veteran Affairs
Sat Dec 1, 2007 8:01 AM
I think we Federal Government retirees are the ones who are suffering the most. Our pay raise should be more than the employees because we are already cheated out of receiving our full Social Security because of that GPO law.
Re: 2008
DOS
Mon Dec 3, 2007 9:49 AM