Congressman Mike Coffman of Colorado introduced his deficit-reducing plan last week that would subject federal civilian employees to a two-week furlough and reduce Congressional members’ salaries by 10 percent. The measure is expected to save taxpayers some $5.5 billion. “Furloughs are becoming commonplace for state and local governments, and it’s only reasonable for the federal government to follow suit,” Coffman said.
“I want to make the U.S. government as cost conscious as the states,” Coffman said. “At least 24 states have enacted similar budget-cutting measures, while the federal government continues to grow and rack up debt.”
Coffman’s bill, H.R. 270, would require federal civilian employees to take a non-consecutive, two week furlough in 2012. The measure would also reduce Congressional office budgets, as well as enact a 10 percent reduction in pay for members of Congress. An exception is provided in the bill for national security or reasons relating to public health or safety, including law enforcement.
So...instead of cutting out the pork...we forlough those actually performing a service. How about the Congressman address these issues:
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"So...instead of cutting out the pork...we forlough those actually performing a service."
ReplyDelete#1 - it is the start not the end
#2 - some of those 'performing services' are the pork
Some of them are not needed (redundant) nor are some of the services they provide.
anonymous number 2, you seem to be missing the point. when cutting budgets, you do not start with the things that actually put money back into the economy. See the problem is that america has the general idea that government workers are the highest paid employees and have had the idea for as long as i can remember. well the idea is simply not true. the public fails to see the working class people that are federal civilian employees making $40k or less a year. yes most government OFFICIALS make enough to compensate for the 2 weeks off, however there are countless federal employees living paycheck to paycheck that a 2 week skip in pay would devestate.
ReplyDelete