President Barack Obama will announce a two-year pay freeze for federal employees
 

WASHINGTON — President Barack Obama will announce a two-year pay freeze for federal employees Monday, a move White House officials say is the first of many difficult decisions that must be made to reduce the nation’s mounting deficit.


The White House said Monday that the freeze would apply to all civilian federal employees, including those working at the Department of Defense, but would not affect military personnel. The freeze is expected to result in more than $5 billion in savings over two years, according to Jeffrey Zients, a deputy director at the Office of Management and Budget.

That would make only a small dent in the $1 trillion-plus budget deficit. But with voters voicing their anger over Washington’s spending during the midterm elections, even a symbolic gesture would show the White House got the message.

Zients said that while the freeze is necessary in order to put the country on sound fiscal footing, the president recognizes the impact it will have on federal employees.

"The president is clearly asking them to make a sacrifice," he said. "We believe it is the first of many difficult steps ahead."

Obama is expected to announce the pay freeze at the White House later Monday.

The chairman of Obama’s bipartisan deficit commission has proposed a three-year freeze in pay for most federal employees as part of its plan to reduce the nation’s growing deficit. The commission’s final report is due to be released later this week.

Its only fair, if people on Social Security don't get a COLA, then fed employees shouldn't get a pay raise. They had one last year, and I didn't.

A clip of Sarah Palin defending her daughter, Willow's, use of the word "fagg*t" by flat out lying about someone calling "her little brother Trig" mean names on Facebook:

http://www.shewired.com/Article.cfm?...+Antigay+Slurs

If the repugs don't play idiot by voting down H.R. 5987, everyone will get a one-time check for $250, just like last year.

Perhaps we can all hope for runaway inflation and skyrocketing prices in the coming year so that there can be a hefty COLA increase in 2012.

What would you tie it to?

I would create a 'necessities' index. That index wouldn't have things like new or used car prices or clothing. People on a fixed income aren't buying cars every year, and certainly not new ones, and there are any number of alternatives to purchasing new clothing at retail price. The index would be comprised of only those items that impact the majority of people on a fixed income - health care, transportation (gas and public transit), utilities, and food. Pretty much everything else folks can figure out a way around or do without, but health care, food on the table, heat coming out of the furnace, and being able to get around seem like the necessary basics.

Since health care costs are critical to you, I assume that you vote a democratic ticket and are lobbying your representatives for universal health care.

*high fives Corkey*

Di and I have been talking about it for awhile now, too. It just kinda makes sense.

The problem is that if all of the reasonable people head north, the nut jobs who are left behind will have control of all the nuclear weapons.

Well, if they let me have control of the nukes, then I'll stay. I think that's a fair trade.