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Federal News Radio
Congress' March
Madness: These bills might not be the Final Four
Monday - 3/16/2015
Commentary by Francis Rose
This is the time of the year that I become That Guy.
Every office has one: The guy who doesn't pay attention to the NCAA
college basketball tournament. I just have never been a basketball guy.
So when March Madness rolls around, for me it's more like March Malaise.
The madness has already started on Capitol Hill, though, for federal
employees. Federal News Radio reported on four bills that could affect
your job and salary. But what chance do they really have? Usually,
odds- making would be in order. But during March Madness, of course, no
one bets on basketball. So rather than offering odds, let's look at
each one, and see how far it might advance toward making the finals — a
signature from President Barack Obama.
The most important thing to remember with pending legislation is that
any member can file a bill, any time. So it's especially important to
understand the who, why and how behind every bill when your paycheck is
on the line.
So here's a check on each of the four bills that make up Congress'
version of March Madness.
1. The Promotion Accountability In Decisions (PAID)
for Progress Act
Tale of the tape: This bill from Rep. Tom Rice
(R-S.C.) would cut the salaries of feds making over $100,000 a year by
almost nine per cent until the economic recovery is complete
(active-duty military wouldn't be affected). Rice says "government
regulations have restricted recovery, causing everyday expenses like
gas, groceries and electricity to eat up families' budgets. Meanwhile,
the federal bureaucrats making these decisions and imposing regulations
are taking home six-figure salaries."
Scouting report: Price is a second-term member from
one of the reddest districts in one of the reddest states (he won
reelection with 60 percent of the vote in 2014). But he voted against
Speaker John Boehner's (R-Ohio) clean bill to fund the Homeland
Security Department. Rice has to build bridges with leadership and
perhaps earn some tenure before he gets a shot.
Prediction: First-round flameout. May not even make
the tournament — as of press time, the Web page where the press release
was originally posted now can't be found.
2. The Government Employee Pension Reform Act of 2015
Tale of the tape: Rep. Bruce Westerman (R-Ark.)
introduced this bill. It's a simple concept, one that has been around
since the 1970s: Federal employee retirements would be based on the
highest five years of the employee's salary instead of the highest
three...
Read rhe rest of this article at Federal News Radio
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