The possibility of a 1% pay raise for federal employees in 2015 continues to work toward becoming a reality as the legislative and political process works it way to a budget, at least a temporary budget, for the next fiscal year.
A continuing resolution introduced in the House Appropriations Committee this week does not address the subject of a pay raise for federal employees next year. In effect, this makes it more likely that the 1% raise proposed by President Obama recently will become a reality. (See Obama Calls on Feds to Do Their “Fair Share” With 1% Pay Raise for 2015)
The continuing resolution would extend funding for operations for all federal agencies, programs and services until December 11, 2014. The bill provides funding for the federal government at the current annual rate of $1.012 trillion. In a press release, the House Appropriations Committee stated that “The bill does not include new controversial riders, or large changes in existing federal policy.”
In making his proposal, President Obama stated, he was able to hike pay through a law authorizing him to increase wages because of “national emergency or serious economic conditions affecting the general welfare.” He went on to note that “I view the adjustments that would otherwise take effect as inappropriate.”
In the arcane world of federal pay legislation, the fact that the House Appropriations Committee did not address the subject of a pay raise makes it more likely that the pay raise amount proposed by the president is more likely to become reality. Congress could override the president’s proposal but seems increasingly unlikely to do so.
