GOP Effort to Freeze Fed Pay "Unconscionable"

(Metropolitan Washington Council, AFL-CIO)“It is amazing the lengths that the Tea Party Republicans will go to shill for the 1 percent,” AFSCME Council 26 Executive Director Carl Goldman told Government Executive last week in a report on an effort by the GOP to deny a 0.5% raise for federal employees after a two-year salary freeze. “Instead of attacking federal workers, who have already contributed over $100 billion towards deficit reduction, Congress should raise taxes on Wall Street, tax investments at the same rate as income and make sure that all large corporations pay their fair share.” "Federal pay should not be politicized in this way," said a statement issued by AFGE. "Federal employees had no part in the financial crisis and the ensuing recession, and they should not be forced into penury to reduce a deficit they had no part in creating." Rep. Chris Van Hollen (D-MD) agreed, saying that ”Efforts by House Republicans to constantly use federal employees as a piggy bank – especially when the vast majority of their caucus refuses to ask millionaires to contribute more to reducing our deficit – are unconscionable. We cannot keep asking them to contribute more than their fair share as we work to put our fiscal house in order.” AFSCME and AFGE are urging members to call their Representatives and speak out against the legislation. Update: Although the GOP apparently pulled the bill last Friday afternoon, Goldman says "They will probably re-introduce it at some point in the near future, so the calls are still important."