From the office of U.S. Senator Barbara Mikulski:
Republicans ‘want to cut spending, but they’re unwilling to cut their own pay,’ Senator says
U.S. Senator Barbara A. Mikulski (D-Md.), today in a speech on the Senate floor called on House Republicans to pass a stand-alone bill equivalent to the Boxer-Casey Bill, passed by the Senate last month, which says if there’s a shutdown, Members of Congress and the President don’t get paid.
House Republicans voted against the Boxer-Casey Bill twice last Friday. Instead, they attached a weaker provision to a bill they knew would never become law.
“They want to cut spending, but they’re unwilling to cut their own pay,” Senator Mikulski said. “If there is a government shutdown, I don’t think members of Congress should be paid. If there is a government shutdown and we tell dedicated federal employees that they’re not going to get paid, that they’re nonessential, well the fact that we couldn’t stop a shutdown shows we’re nonessential.”
Audio of the Senator’s floor statement is available at http://demradio.senate.gov/actualities/mikulski/040511_MIKULSKI.mp3
The full text of Senator Mikulski’s floor statement follows:
Mr. President, my colleague has talked about one disease in Washington, but I’m going to talk about another disease that seems to be running rampant over in the House Republican caucus and that is hypocrisy. Hypocrisy. And the reason I say that is that they say one thing and they mean another. They say one thing and they deceive the American public.
The reason I call it “hypocrisy” is this: What they say they want to do, which is reduce government spending, is not what they are doing. Sure, I’m for a government that’s more frugal. I’m for cuts. But I’m not for their cuts. What they propose is reckless and radical. And when they don’t get their own way, they say, ‘Cut it or shut it.’
However, if there is a government shutdown, I don’t think members of Congress should be paid. If there is a government shutdown and we tell dedicated federal employees that they’re not going to get paid, that they’re nonessential, well the fact that we couldn’t stop a shutdown shows we’re nonessential. And I believe if there is a shutdown, members of Congress should not get paid.
I not only want to express that as a sentiment. I did that backing Senator Barbara Boxer’s bill, which passed the Senate, that said if there is a shutdown, members of Congress don’t get paid. Now, what did the House Republicans do? They passed a bill that allows Members of Congress and the President to receive retroactive payment. Now, the Senate bill doesn’t do that. So they would be the only ones in shutdown that can come back and pick up their paycheck. You talk about hypocrisy. That’s called bait-and-switch.
Even the title of their bill is wrong. Their bill says, ‘The Government Shutdown Prevention Act.’ Well, their bill doesn’t stop a shutdown. It doesn’t even help with the sitdown. What is a sitdown? Where we would come to the table and, as grownup Americans, we would try to arrive at how to pass a Continuing Resolution to fund the government that recognizes not only debt, but that there are certain aspects of the government program we need to be able to fund.
My constituents were outraged when Wall Street executives got hundreds of millions of dollars of bonuses. Well, they should be outraged when, as members of Congress, we’re going to get paid when they don’t. Here’s what I don’t get: In my home state of Maryland, we have the National Institutes of Health. Right now thousands of people are working as a team to find the cure for Alzheimer’s, for AIDS, for autism, for cancer and for other terrible diseases. They are racing for the cure. But Congress is going to tell those researchers that they’re nonessential.
I represent the headquarters for the Social Security Administration. Right now there are thousands of federal employees processing Social Security claims to make sure someone who’s disabled qualifies for their benefit. They’re going to be told they’re nonessential.
Let me tell you this. On any given day, if somebody would go to their Social Security office and find it shuttered. It they found they cannot apply for a benefit they believe they’re eligible for, I believe they would rather shut Congress down than shut down their Social Security office. And if you ask anybody in the United States of America, who do you think is more essential, members of Congress or the researchers working on a cure for cancer or people working to defend our borders? They would not say members of Congress.
It’s very clear that people know they depend on the functioning of a federal government. They depend on civil servants who are honest and have integrity. And they count on Congress to make sure we keep government doors open.
I’m ready to come to the table. I believe all Democrats are ready to come to the table. But we will not come to the table to engage in meaningless discussions and pursuing a reckless path.
Senate Democrats passed a bill that said if there is a shutdown, we don’t get paid. No way, no day, and no back pay. The House does the sham scam that says, ‘We’ll pretend that we’re not getting paid, but we’re going to pick up a back payment.’
You know, I just don’t get these guys. They want to take away Medicare and turn it into a voucher program, but they sure are happy picking up their government health care. They love to get federally subsidized health care. They want to take away other people’s pension, but they sure like getting their federal employee pensions.
I want to put an end to the hypocrisy and I want to put an end to the C.R. dangling. I think we need to come to the table. I think we need to pass a responsible budget that recognizes we are in a frugal era, but we want to make sure that people know that we are on their side.
And at the same time, the American people need to know that many of us are willing to say if a shutdown comes and federal employees get no pay, if contractors get no pay, we get no pay and no back pay. I’ll have more to say on this as this week unfolds. But before I sit down, I would say, please, let’s sit down rather than have a shutdown.
MIKULSKI JOINS SENATE DEMOCRATS IN REQUESTING MEETING WITH SPEAKER BOEHNER ON ‘NO BUDGET, NO PAY’ BILL
As Threat of a Government Shutdown Grows, House Speaker Refuses to Pass Stand-Alone Bill to Ensure that Lawmakers Would Have to Sacrifice Their Pay
U.S. Senator Barbara A. Mikulski (D-Md.) today joined U.S. Senators Barbara Boxer (D-CA) and Bob Casey (D-PA) and 18 of their Senate colleagues to request a meeting with House Speaker John Boehner (R-OH) to discuss ways to immediately pass stand-alone legislation in the House that would prevent Members of Congress and the President of the United States from being paid during a shutdown of the federal government. The bill passed the Senate unanimously more than a month ago.
In the letter, the Senators point out that House Republicans last week refused to have an up-or-down vote on a straight-forward measure that would prevent Members of Congress and the President from being paid during a government shutdown and instead included similar language in a controversial bill that House leaders knew would never become law. The Senators wrote, “Embedding ‘no budget, no pay’ in a bill that has no chance of passage, is not fooling anybody.”
The Senate bill, S. 388, would fix a basic inequity that allows Members of Congress and the President to be paid during a government shutdown – while millions of other Federal employees are not – because lawmakers and the President are paid through mandatory spending rather than annual appropriations. The bill also would prevent Members of Congress and the President from being paid retroactively after a government shutdown.
This is not the first time House Republicans rejected a straight-forward measure to cut off pay for Members of Congress and the President in the event of a government shutdown. Before the 1995 shutdown, the Senate passed a measure that would have prevented lawmakers from being paid. Even though at the time Congressman Boehner said he backed that measure, the House, under then-Speaker Newt Gingrich, blocked the measure from becoming law.
In addition to Senators Mikulski, Boxer and Casey, the letter was signed by Senators Begich (D-AK), Bennet (D-CO), Brown (D-OH), Coons (D-DE), Hagan (D-NC), Harkin (D-IA), Klobuchar (D-MN), Manchin (D-WV), McCaskill (D-MO), Menendez (D-NJ), Merkley (D-OR), Nelson (D-NE), Rockefeller (D-WV), Stabenow (D-MI), Tester (D-MT), Whitehouse (D-RI), Warner (D-VA) and Wyden (D-OR).
The full text of the Senators’ letter is below:
April 5, 2011
The Honorable John Boehner
Speaker
United States House of Representatives
H-232 The Capitol
Washington, DC 20515
Dear Speaker Boehner:
We write to request a meeting with you to discuss House passage of S. 388, legislation to prohibit Members of Congress and the President from receiving any pay during a government shutdown.
Over one month has passed since the Senate unanimously passed this bill. Despite written requests for immediate House consideration from Senators and Representatives, you have failed to schedule a vote on stand-alone legislation that would treat Members of Congress and the President no differently from other federal employees during a government shutdown.
Our bill is simple: if we cannot do our work and keep the government functioning, we should not receive a paycheck. If we cannot compromise and meet each other halfway, then we should not be paid.
As we noted in a previous letter, while appearing on the CNN program “Crossfire” in 1995, you offered your support for a bill identical to S.388, so it is unclear why you have not scheduled a vote on stand-alone legislation. Embedding “no budget, no pay” in a bill that has no chance of passage, is not fooling anybody.
We request to meet with you as soon as possible, whether in person or via conference call, to discuss how we can work together to immediately send this legislation to the President.
Sincerely,
Barbara Boxer
United States Senator
Robert P. Casey, Jr.
United States Senator
Mark Begich
United States Senator
Michael Bennet
United States Senator
Sherrod Brown
United States Senator
Chris Coons
United States Senator
Kay Hagan
United States Senator
Tom Harkin
United States Senator
Amy Klobuchar
United States Senator
Joe Manchin, III
United States Senator
Claire McCaskill
United States Senator
Robert Menendez
United States Senator
Jeff Merkley
United States Senator
Barbara A. Mikulski
United States Senator
Ben Nelson
United States Senator
Jay Rockefeller
United States Senator
Debbie Stabenow
United States Senator
Jon Tester
United States Senator
Sheldon Whitehouse
United States Senator
Mark Warner
United States Senator
Ron Wyden
United States Senator
ced says
well senator, the government employees will be paid no matter what and they will not be charged any leave time. so basically its an unscheduled vacation that will cause some inconveniences for some that is for sure, but they will receive their pay when the budget is passed.
so senator how many times did you vote to give yourself a raise? to improve your health benefits, to improve your retirement package either openly or tacked onto some other piece of legislation? how many vacations did you take that were paid for by someone other than yourself? how many “fact finding” trips have you taken on some one else dime?
Cantwell says
Your comment regarding federal employees being paid in the event of a shut down is not entirely correct. They aren’t automatically paid. There is no law in place to this effect. A bill has to be passed requesting the payment of those federal employees. The only people who are guaranteed payment is Congress and the President.
Federal employees have become a bad word in America these days, it’s a shame that it’s not seen as public service. My husband took decades and an engineering degree to be paid less then double what a private sector person makes. Dont’ assume the hype that you hear and the scewed statistics thrown around on the “news.” Those figures actually include the PRIVATE SECTOR contractors. That was done intentially to make people resent public workers. Stay informed….
Rob in Bel Air says
Oh my . . . talk about hypocrisy . . . Senator Mikulski please tell us where all this money is going to come from if spending is not cut? Are you going to contribute some of your pay and the money WE put out to pay for your benefits? Of course not !!! If both Houses and the President were willing to cut their “expense accounts” that would save some money. But that’s not going to happen. The President is going to be flying all over creation campaigning (and at our expense).
The Senator and all her liberal friends want to keep spending yet there is no money to spend (unless we borrow it). Moreover, what’s worse is that there are people out there that support tax and spend liberals (mostly those who benefit the most from welath distribution). What a shame.
Watcher says
Rob – what time are you going to protest GE and their enormous corporate tax refund or Bank of America’s executive bonuses or Exxon Mobil’s free ride in terms of corporate taxes? Oh, that’s right, you aren’t.
You are not for fiscal responsibility, you are simply for taking money from people/programs that you don’t believe in. You are a fraud.
amazed... says
@Watcher, I would be happy to join in protest of these corporate entities if I thought it would accomplish anything. I don’t think any of their CEO’s are worth what they’re paid, but while their companies reap large profits they’ll demand and receive it. Don’t forget though, while you’re protesting, that every member of Congress is owned by big business. Ask yourself, who is more reprehensible – the one who owns the politicians or the politicians who promise us the moon then sell us out when they agree to be owned. As far as Babs’ latest empty headed proposal… since the majority of Congress are millionaires exactly what would cutting their pay accomplish? She’s already proven herself to be a part of the problem when she heaped praise on a self proclaimed king of pork.
Watcher says
Amazed – I don’t disagree with you. The system is broken. But I’m getting tired of the Tea Party rhetoric of complaining and offering no solutions (see Rob in Bel Air’s comments).
Cantwell says
Congress may be millionaires, so why won’t they give up their pay instead of stopping the bill? It would at LEAST not be a smack in the face to federal workers who don’t make that much. A gesture would go a LONG way when I am worried about how I will pay my mortgage when my husband may, or may not, lose his salary that we depend upon.
Rob in Bel Air says
Watcher,
You don’t need to attack . . . take a chill pill, call your therapist, and try to relax. I know the truth hurts but please, calm down and think things through before you put your fingers to the keyboard again.
I just cannot figure out some are able to reach the keyboard wearing a straitjacket.
Watcher says
LOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOL. ROFLMAO! Rob, stop. You’re killing me. Sooooo funny.
Rob in Bel Air says
I agree with you 100%. GE and other companies are getting away without having to pay millions in taxes . . . and Congress is to blame. But if I’m not mistaken, the CEO of GE is Obama’s boy (or is it the other way around). The sooner we get rid of this president and many in congress (on both sides), the better this country will be.
As far as those who loathe the Tea party (I guess they don’t mind paying more taxes), there are some who are questioning Obama’s citizenship. I am one who does not seek to determine his citizenship but I sure would like to know why he has spent millions to keep the original copy hidden. I’m thinking it has more to do with what’s in the religion block (but that’s just my idea). Those who are called “Birthers” are not only in the Tea Party, but are also in both parties and some who voted for Obama (especially those who are now embarrassed, those who won’t admit they voted for him, and those who will not vote for him in the next election). Apparently that hope and change has not worked out for most.
Watcher says
Nice veiled racial slur (saying that President Obama is someone’s ‘boy.’
Rob in Bel Air says
Seems you are the one who is turning it into a “veiled” racial slur.
Watcher says
Sorry, amigo. That one was all you. And you should rightfully be ashamed of yourself.
Cantwell says
The birth certificate is an official Hawaii cert. Not to mention that the deparment of health and human services placed a birth announcement, (which was quite normal at that point in time), in not ONE BUT TWO papers. I am not sure how much more you would want as “proof.”
Most states will give you an abridged version of a birth certificate. I was born in Maryland and I requested a copy of my cert for something and I got about the same thing. I wish people would deal with issues instead of creating fecal matter out of nothing.
Cdev says
The republican governor of Hawaii has verified his birth. No one gets the original of their birth certificate ever in this country and Hawaii law, not Obama prevent you from requesting and recieving a copy. He scanned his certified copy and put it on the internet. He has provided more then any other president ever did. Why are you not leading the charge to challenge Chester A. Arthur’s birth!
Watcher says
Cdev – you will have better luck beating your head against a wall. Too many people were/are not ready for a black man in the highest office. It’s sad but true.
Mike says
Wow, this is so surprizing, It just go’s to show once again it’s really goverment by the goverment for the goverment, We are just here to Pay their way. The funny thing is most of us keep putting the same criminals back in office. Must be the same ones that are driving around in a daze on their cell phones. The only way to get the gov. back for the people is to vote it back and change the face of the goverment to what we want. But no, Lets vote for that person because we remember their name. So they think we like what their doing to us and do it some more. No change is no change, thats all i’m saying.
Cantwell says
Until the lobbyist are taken out of politics, this will continue to happen. The money is too good for the actual Congress people do the people’s work instead of a companies agenda.
When I was a kid the election cycle was a year, maybe. Now they begin once the last election is over. Every canadite are playing to get elected then don’t do anything but the lobbyist agenda. Take the MONEY OUT OF POLITICS!
Clay says
If the senator wants to cut hypocrisy then she needs to stop taking her lesbian girlfriend and her pro-abortion attitude to Catholic church.
Cantwell says
@Clay…huh? Is this instead of Newt’s 3rd wife after leaving the second one while she had cancer? Not sure what you are getting at? Are we pointing out character flaws of Congress? Like airport bathrooms and clicking heels? They are ALL a mess, repubs, dems..they all have flaws.
Billy Jack says
Or she could attend the Church of Bigotry and Intolerance with you.
morty says
We need to make sure government employees don’t waste their employers time and resources posting on blogs,such as this one.
Would you agree with that “Assessment” Clay?
Clay says
Why, do you agree with abortion and approval of homosexuality in the Catholic church?
Rob in Bel Air says
Watcher,
I had to throw some humor in there . . . things were getting way too serious. Like any of us can really do anything about inordinate government spending. Oh wait, that’s what the Tea Party has been trying to do. But I do offer a solution (contrary to what you stated): Stop spending money we don’t have. Now that’s a novel idea. Where can we stop spending? Perhaps foreign aid needs to be examined. Let’s look at the countries we send billions to and see what they are actually doing with it. Is it for military buildup (which one day may be used against this country)? Is the aid going into the pockets of dictators? Why are we giving Brazil millions of dollars to help them drill for oil?
Next, let’s take a look at what members of both Houses are costing taxpayers in terms of their salaries, benefits, and their expense accounts. Most if not all are already millionaires. I don’t begrudge them for being rich, but is it an area that we can cut? They’ll argue that high salaries and the best of the best benefits are necessary to attract good people, but it hasn’t worked yet.
I can name a few other areas (without cutting much from entitlements) but I have to go to work now to help pay my tax bill to Annapolis and to Washington.
One thing I am surprised about – the small number of people who post here who are willing to support tax and spend politicians, not holding them accountable for their poor decisions, willing to pay more taxes, and their abhorrence for those who post here and support such groups as the Tea Party.
I have to think sometimes that those who criticize groups, for example, the Tea Party, are those who do not pay taxes and/or those who are worried about their next meal ticket.
Watcher says
What a load of Fox News talking points. Congressional salaries and expenses? That amounts to probably .000000001% of the problem. I notice you didn’t say anything about defense spending. God forbid we touch or address that sacred cow. And you still have not addressed the massive corporate tax loopholes that are killing us. Yes, I am all about financial reform. And yes, cuts need to be made and programs/functions need to be closely examined.
But instead of JUST cutting, we hasn’t any Tea Party member, or Rob in Bel Air, advocated finding other sources of actual revenue?
Rob and the others who criticize and finger point offer no solutions, only their myopic view of the problems that we all face. If Rob doesn’t like it, none of us can have it. Right, Rob?
I said it before. You are a fraud.
Rob in Bel Air says
Watcher,
You are right, defense spending should be included. As for the salaries and benefits, I doubt that your number is correct, but if it is, when you start adding up all the little numbers you come up with a bigger number. Did you not learn that in school? As to everything you post, it is generally wrong. Sorry
INQUISITOR says
“As to everything you post, it is generally wrong. Sorry”
Best rebuttle and closing argument ever.
Clay says
I’ve got a solution. Politicians promise the moon to everyone to get elected. Then they get in and start looking at funds and realize that they cant do all that they promised. However, they dont mind borrowing more to please their constituents. Essentially they are selfish in that they dont care where the economy is for the future generations as long as they have their cut out of it. Why dont we do what more tea party members and republicans tend to suggest and attempt to pay off the national debt? What a great idea. Obama isnt doing it. He wants to get all the benefits for minorities that he can, as a pay back to the community that he is from essentially. We in Md want to give in state tuition to people who are here illegally? What is the point in having laws? Yes, God wants us to help the poor. He doesnt want us to borrow money to do it does He? Arent we supposed to be not wasteful? Doesnt He want us to obey the law? If enough people tithe in church, the churches could care for the poor, as they do now. But oh no, I am not supposed to mention that in relation to government am I? If I do that I am a right winger trying to force religion on people. Believe me folks, the Republicans and tea partiers arent perfect, but they have the potential to do more for this situation than left wingers. Yes, defense spending can be cut, but so can social programs, especially like the one here in Baltimore that takes money for addict treatment and needs more addicts so it can keep putting money into the wrong pockets. And that is only the tip of the problem.
INQUISITOR says
You’re right, God doesn’t want us to borrow from someone else to help the poor. There is no sacrifice or merit in giving away what doesn’t belong to you. But there is no merit in making someone else sacrifice themselves for your benefit either! What if Jesus did that at the cross? You are expected to give the shirt off of your back, your last morsel of bread-even your life for your neighbor. Rather than looking at your neighbor and complaining that they don’t give enough, look to yourself. Can you honestly say that you are doing your part? I know I can’t. As for charging God’s church with the responsibility of caring for the poor, you should thank God that you live in a country where the government takes an interest in its lowest, most impoverished and underprivileged members of society, especially in a nation full of people who don’t share your faith! And you’re right, you can’t make them believe what you believe, which is why tithing is not a realistic alternative to taxes. The Bible teaches us “Everyone who has been given much, much will be demanded.”
In other words, we might have to dig into *our own pockets to get out of this mess. Would we really rather see the country fall than do that? Yes, politicians fail us – they’re only human. But this governing body is what we use, what we DEPEND on to preserve our free nation and its resources, to fight for justice and maintain peace. Reform is necessary, spending does need cut (and there are some very specific areas), but what’s the point of curing the illness by killing the patient? (the patient being people of America, not its government, and the subsidence of government being the treatment)
I applaud Senator Mikulski’s gesture, whether she needs that income or not, at least someone is voluntarily giving something of themselves, instead of trying to take from an already struggling system.
As you brought God into this subject (and I am glad that you did, since we can at least both agree that he belongs in state affairs), I assume you are a follower and can at least appreciat this. I’d like to illustrate the scripture that reveals Jesus’ and consequently God’s view of government as a regulatory body:
“They came to him and said, ‘Teacher, we know that you are a man of integrity…Is it right to pay the imperial tax to Caesar or not? Should we pay or shouldn’t we?’
“But Jesus knew their hypocrisy. ‘Why are you trying to trap me?’ he asked. ‘Bring me a denarius and let me look at it.’ They brought the coin, and he asked them, ‘Whose image is this? And whose inscription?’
“‘Caesar’s,’ they replied.
“Then Jesus said to them, ‘Give back to Caesar what is Caesar’s and to God what is God’s.’”
-Mark 12:13-17
In other words, Jesus reveals to us, as a Christians, how to view our government, which I’ll wager does more for us than than the Roman Emperor did for them in those days. Taxes are just part of our stewardship of God’s world. If we eliminate the services that this government provides altogether, what is its point? The bottom line is that we must change, we cannot ask or depend on others to take the hit for us.
For anyone who does not identify themselves as a Christian, I hope that you can at least understand the message, if not the faith behind it.
Clay says
I agree with most of what you say, but remember, if Christ wanted us to respect authority, such as the authority of Caesar, it doesnt mean that we should sit around and watch with him and his supporters as people are fed to the lions. We obviously can never agree with everything that government does. If everyone tithed and the churches did their jobs, the government wouldnt need to care for the poor, and more would probably be saved. Of course not everyone goes to church or tithes. Fewer tithe than go to church. As a Christian, I can never agree with the government when it comes to its view of religion, especially when schools say that Easter cannot be mentioned in public schools or that “under God” must be removed from the Pledge of Allegiance. One of the biggest reasons for all of this is the many different people and cultures we allow to come into our country. Muslims say we should be killed if we defy the Koran and Mexican students refuse to say the Pledge of Allegiance even though they are here illegally. Now we allow illegal aliens to have in state tuition. The country is falling apart in many ways, and the more non Christians we allow here and the less we obey God the less we get blessed.
Cdev says
Clay a few things.
Jesus said “Render unto Ceaser what is Ceaser’s and God what is God’s”
Second no where has under God been removed from the Pledge of Allegience.
None of that has anything to do with Tithing and showing Charity. People show Charity in their own way.
You have not been paying attention today as the Senate sent the In state Tution Bill back so it is dead so you are wrong agaian. Sounds from your post you do not support the plight of the Mexican citizens who come here. I would figure them being Catholic in large numbers you might have something in common with them? Or are you only in favor of WASPs?
Clay says
I realize what Christ said and that is what I responded to. It has everything to do with tithes and charity because when we render to God what is God’s then we are tithing and giving to charity. I didnt say that God had been removed from the pledge of allegiance. I said that many want it removed and dont even want Easter mentioned in schools. Mexican students in Arizona refused to say the pledge of allegiance. Is it still said in most schools? If the tuition bill was sent back then fine. Doesnt it seem like it will eventually pass with all that support? Why should it be considered for people here illegally? I realize that most Mexicans are Catholic. Perhaps if more of them practiced that religion they would follow God and not break the law and come here illegally. What does being Catholic mean if you dont obey God? No, I dont just support wasps. I was in a store this morning however and a lady who looked Philippino came in and asked the man behind the counter for a random mega millions ticket. She then asked him if he knew how to do it. He complained about the lady and the attitude of so many foreigners. Why would he not know how to do such a simple thing he had been doing for years? I told him that they dont seem to mind coming here and expecting us to pay taxes for them to get their benefits. It is getting worse and worse. More and more foreigners are coming here and telling us what we need to do and not do. Almost none of them are Christians except the Mexicans whom I pointed out probably arent really obeying God. Many have no respect for our country or God. I dont believe, even as a Christian, that I should pay to support this system and this attitude, all encouraged by our current president. Like it or not, Mitt Romney is going to be our next president. Although he is too liberal, he is a successful businessman and will do a lot better job than our current president. I would rather have a president closer to being a wasp than a honey bee who filled himself up with too much honey and died.
Rob in Bel Air says
Cdev,
Your statement to someone: “You have not been paying attention today as the Senate sent the In state Tution Bill back so it is dead so you are wrong agaian. Sounds from your post you do not support the plight of the Mexican citizens who come here.”
The bill was not dead it has now been signed into law. As far as being concerned about the plight of Mexican citizens, we as a people have been (and still are) very generous. However, people from other countries (not just Mexico) are entering the U.S. to take advantage of America’s generousity (and the misinterpretation of the 14th Amendment). Don’t believe it? Just check any of the hospitals and/or social service agencies. But in referring Mexico, is Mexico as generous as the U.S. when it comes to U.S. citizens who cross the border and set up house? They sure do; they offer a small jail cell and sometimes three meals a day.
Amazed says
@Clay, sir allow me to enlighten you… since I am married to a Filipina I can assure you I am more informed than yourself about many realities. First, while there are some exceptions, the vast majority of Filipinos are here LEGALLY. Maybe you haven’t noticed but there is a shortage of nurses and teachers in this country and many of those positions are being filled by contract workers from the Philippines… primarily because they are skilled, educated, hard working and English speaking. On the other hand, while I don’t presume to know the exact numbers, I’d hazard a guess that the majority of illegals in this country are from Mexico and South America and are neither educated nor English speaking. (There’s this closely guarded geographical secret that it’s easier to swim across the Rio Grande than the Pacific Ocean – but don’t tell anyone) If I had my choice I’d take 12 million educated English speaking illegals over the ones we have. You then proceed to inform us that “Almost none of them are Christians except the Mexicans…” but apparently you haven’t heard that the Philippines is over 90% Catholic. Had I been with you when the store clerk began his insipid whining I’d have pointed out to him that a. he has a job, b. if he can’t be courteous to customers perhaps he needs to seek other less stressful employment and c. just think of all the wondrous things the state will do with the proceeds from that lottery. Whoever she is I hope she wins. Out of curiosity, if it had been a white woman asking for the same help would you be sharing the event with us? Or are all white people born with the knowledge? The only way to stop the influx from Mexico is to quit spending money to support them here and start spending it to fix the situation in Mexico that has them fleeing.
INQUISITOR says
When we start “feeding people to the lions”, as Caesar literally did (particularly with Christians later on), and if I haven’t already drawn the line and decided that the government no longer serves the people, then I will promptly do so. In the meantime, our government is what keeps us free to live, worship, say and think what we like.
Kourtney says
You’ve really capteurd all the essentials in this subject area, haven’t you?
dragon says
Did you forget that the national debt more than TRIPLED in the hands of republicans??!! I am not saying that the current proposed solutions are the right ones, but I have discovered by watching the difference between political actions and words that usually the Republicans are the big spenders. The last time this country had a balanced budget was under Clinton, a democrat.
Mike says
We need to stop fighting among ourselfs and bringing up our own agendas. look at the problems: 1 our gov. is over spending, 2 we are being over taxed to make up the deference, 3 our rights under the law are being replaced with unlawful regulations that should not carry the same weight as a law but do and 50% of the population is directly or indirectly supported by the goverment.
What are the answers? Maybe stop any new spending and look at the things we are spending on now and see what is needed and what isn’t, remove tax’s on items that are basic needs for survival in this present day such as food and gas. (gas theirs a problem, stop making cars that use it and build only electric for local or hydrogen for long travel etc. that are affordable) look at all regulations to see if their lawful. I don’t see any way to remove the support of the gov. for all real Americans but those that aren’t shouldnt’ get anything and stop supporting other countries that aren’t supporting or helping ours. and lastly stop voting in the same duds that are only trying to fill their pockets while they can. any other ideals?
HardRight says
If the “Public Servants” who work for the government are subject to these fancy terms such as “furlough” which in essence means they do not work then they should be treated just as we in the “Private Sector” are treated. If we do not work, we do not get paid, it’s very simple logic! When the money originates in the “Private Sector”, without us providing some good or service there essentially would be no government employees. Thou must remember a government in any form is nothing more than legalized robbery, because they can. Sure most of us like the roads repaired, snow cleared, police and fire protection, etc., etc. But the big fat bloated centralized government of today is out of control. They are no better than a drug addict or an alcoholic. They have never seen a dollar that they didn’t try to figure out how to take it from you. Oh you will get from the “Public Servants” that they pay taxes, which they in fact do. But if there were no taxes or very few taxes, then there would be no government or government employees. They would be working at Walmart, or for Tenneco on an oil rig (oh those were the days), or may they would have a little something going for themselves. But to pay someone with monies that are raised by taxes and the new code word for taxes…fees for work they did not preform, who authorizes that, some beauraucrat who is also making his or her living off the taxpayer, seems to be pretty generous with OTHER PEOPLES MONEY! Treat them like the people that are paying for all this mess some “Public Servants” got us into in the first place!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
baglady says
So you would prefer no TSA employees, no air traffic controllers, no FEMA workers, no border patrol, no food inspectors, no Social Security workers, no embassies, no VA workers?
In my experience, the people who cry about “big government” cry even harder when they need something.
My husband has worked for SSA for over thirty years. Like someone else on this site wrote, he made the choice to work for the government knowing he would never get rich, but would have some job stability.
And oh, while not all SSA employees are considered “essential”, his job IS considered essential, so he will be going to work on Monday, knowing that at some arbitrary date in the future, he will get paid. How many people work in the private sector, and go in because they are REQUIRED to, but their bosses basically come in and tell them “you must come in to work, and we will pay you whenever?” In the private sector THAT is against the law. Check your employees’ rights posters at work. He still has to pay to get there, he still has to pay to park his car, etc. Just no pay. So quit holding government employees up as some privileged class that should be despised by all. They get that abuse already!
amazed. says
@Baglady, No one is advocating for the demise of the federal government, simply a return of some inkling of fiscal responsibility. The attitude of Congress to simply spend other people’s money as if it were water seems to trickle down (no pun intended). There is no impetus for the government to work lean and efficiently when they’re permitted to spend far more than they take in.
Niccolo says
Ms. Baglady – your either or/straw man argument that we can have either a government that is greater than 40% of the US Gross Domestic Product or none at all is nonsensical.
Nic
Proud Military Dad says
You know how we fix our current problems??? Stop sending our money to other countries that dont want our help except to take our money. Bring all that money back into the budget and take care of our people and our problems FIRST. While we are at it, bring home our troops from countries that don’t want us (or our way of life) there to begin with. Demand that our policitians not get one dime of pay until they fix and pass a budget (no matter if the govt shuts down or not.) I don’t care what political party they are in, neither side deserve to be paid because they didnt do their job. there is plenty of blame to pass around. If I dont do my job, I dont get paid or I get fired. Why should politicans be exempt from that. Time for our politicians to tow the line and be accountable to the people they work for US, not special interests or lobbyist etc… While we are at it, demand that politians have the same health care and same retirment system that every other American has. I can assure you that this would be fixed quickly and we would have the best health care and Social Security system ever. Term limits should be set for all political offices as well.
Billy Jack says
Never really thought of “furlough” as a fancy term. I am a public servant (and before you even go there, let’s be clear that I am not working today), and I have worked hard and long for the perks of my job. I have quite a bit going for me, as a matter of fact, and happen to think that is the basis for your anger, frustration and, quite possibly, jealousy.
Thirty or so years ago I made a choice to work as a public servant for many reasons, but one was the relative stability of the work, despite a lower annual salary. I come from a working class background and my parents worked the same jobs all their lives. They had reasonable expectations of their employers and firmly entrenched work ethics, both passed on to me. Now, I am looking at the longterm positive benefits of my choice all those years ago. I have paid into a pension system that, while not perfect, will allow me to live comfortably.
Therein is the rub for some of you. I made the right choice and am going to be rewarded for that. You did not. What about that personal responsibility you and your ilk like to crow about?
SuperflyofBelAir says
Time to stop bashing federal government employees. I understand everyone’s feelings about waste, fraud and abuse however, your anger is misplaced. Civil Servants did not create this problem. Civil Servants were hired with a package of benefits already defined, similar to what corporate folks get. Whereas Civil Servants receive less pay, they have a decent benefit package, while corporate folks receive higher pay, stock, bonuses, and less benefits. Stop complaininig.
The anger or frustration you all have should be sent via written or verbal communication to your ELECTED officials. They are the ones who have lost touch with Americans and America. Civil Servants are typically well-educated employees who are dedicated to public service. These aren’t handouts. We work. Sorry if you don’t like what we do, but not your call.
That’s right, get off your asses and contact your elected officials. Stop voting for those whom you feel let you down. Look at the local level such as Harford County. There are several who haven’t addressed local issues such as pathetic roads like Route 22 or 543, yet they keep voting for more residential and commercial development.
Next topic.
Porter says
@SUPERFLYOFBELAIR Federal employees are paid a greater salary and unbelievable benefits compared to the private sector.
USAToday March 8 2010
“Overall, federal workers earned an average salary of $67,691 in 2008 for occupations that exist both in government and the private sector, according to Bureau of Labor Statistics data. The average pay for the same mix of jobs in the private sector was $60,046 in 2008, the most recent data available.
These salary figures do not include the value of health, pension and other benefits, which averaged $40,785 per federal employee in 2008 vs. $9,882 per private worker, according to the Bureau of Economic Analysis.”
Dan says
That’s probably true for the average federal employee, but it’s not true for everyone. It is universally know in the work force that people with professional degrees get paid higher salaries and get better benefits in the private sector than working for the Government.
SuperflyofBelAir says
Dan,
you seem angry @ fed employees, why? Yes, the USA Today did report what you cited. so what. I’m glad to see others expressed views on this so I will be short.
Bottom line: Fed’s with advanced degrees, experience and skills, are paid less than their counterparts in the private sector. That said, the reason many of us still work for the Feds is that we are dedicated to public service, which is a personal thing, such as pride in serving your country in a capacity other than the armed forces, which does not mean this is detracting from being in the military.
How come folks such as yourself haven’t complained about overpaid executives in the private sector? What about all those financial firms that tout Capitalism, yet sucked and had to be bailed out by the USG? These same firms continue to overpay employees with huge stock options and bonuses, things that fed employees do not receive, unless you call a $1000 performance award a bonus. These same financial firms have had losing seasons, costing their customers millions in lost retirement funds, yet their employees still get bonuses. Hmmmmm….care to comment on that? Why aren’t you demanding reform to those co’s that accepted bail outs to insist they pay employees on par with the federal employee’s pay scale?
You need to get real and stop riding the Tea Party bullshit bus. Get your head out of your butt and accept that maybe you are so biased, you can’t see the light. Sorry, but you got to stop trying to balance the budget on the backs of dedicated public servants. Without us, who would keep the real government functioning? Its clear our elected officials can’t.
SuperflyofBelAir says
Dan, my apologies…the previous post was meant to be addressed to PORTER. So Sorry!
Niccolo says
Mr. SuperflyofBelAir – It is somewhat apparent that you are confused on many subjects. USG employees are fully funded with taxpayer money and private companies are typically not.
It is proven that USG employees receive salary and benefits greater than private company. Average Federal salary is almost $120,000, private sector salary is just $59,909 according to the Census Bureau of Economic Analysis.
Mr. S. we can’t afford the cost of Federal government and we can’t afford the addition of 90,000 Federal employees by President Obama.
Nic
Dan says
Holy Crap!
“Average Federal salary is almost $120,000”?????????
I’m going to go ahead and label this “not intended to be taken as a factual statement” as it is more than obvious that you have absolutely no idea what you’re talking about. You know you can look up the Federal Employee Pay Table. It’s public information. I’ll even provide a link for you at the end of this.
Basically to make even close to $80K a year you need to be a GS-13 and that level is usually only obtained by upper management and professionals, such as doctors, lawyers, engineers and PhDs. To make a $120K you have to be a GS-15, and that’s as high as it goes. You’d be hard pressed to find any Government worker making much more than $120K and you can’t say that about the private sector.
http://www.opm.gov/oca/11tables/html/gs.asp
Cdev says
Niccolo some USG employees are not funded with taxpayer money. For example Postal Employees are funded from their own agency fees. Office of The COmptroller is funded by the fees charged to the Banks they oversee.
amazed. says
@CDEV, The several sites I’ve looked at report about 2 million federal employees and they’re always specific that this excludes the postal service. The real issue is that Congress has and continues to allow the president and those before him to borrow a trillion dollars a year… the debt is now 14.3 trillion and it is unconscionable to burden future generations with this kind of debt.
SuperflyofBelAir says
No confusion Nici Poo,
You state the obvious about funding. so what. Do you think Gov’t employees should be paid wages super well below industry standards? Please, the higher paid gov’t employees you rave about would make much more in private sector, calm down. Do you think its ok for the private sector to overpay poor performers? Who ends up paying for this in the long run? The consumer.
While Gov’t employee do have a generous benefit package, they are civil servants and receive less pay. There is a tradeoff for less pay. The private sector offers stocks and bonuses that in many cases, exceed Gov’t employee’s salaries. You are probably too young….years ago, many private sector companies had generous benefit packages with defined pensions. Those jobs, many blue collar, enabled millions of parents to retire comfortably, and also to send kids to college, after many years of hard work. Company loyalty to its workers has suddenly become taboo. Please don’t beat up Gov’t employees for receiving pensions.
The average salary you cite is really not an exact science or reasonable. The average Gov’t employee is in a job that has no exact comparison in the private sector, and the average Gov’t employee is better educated.
Would you rather we privatize all gov’t functions so some profit motivated company can charge too much, export its work force overseas to make more money, pay no corporate income taxes, and then get bailed out by the government when they fail, despite crying that in capitalism, only the strong survive?
Please tell us, what would you prefer?
SuperDuperFlyofBelAir says
@SuperDoucheofBelAir Of course there are too many federal employees making far too much money and it takes two of them to do the job of one person in the private sector. You’d have to be an idiot to believe that there is such a thing as government efficiency. Now there are a few exceptions of good people doing a great job, however the vast majority of federal workers are lazy entitled moochers.
SuperDuperFlyofBelAir
Cdev says
My dad works for the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency. Over time he has observed them contract out many jobs in his office. He is left making sure the contractors do what we the people pay them to do and clean up the mess when they don’t do it. At first most of the Contractors hired retired employees. The current batch are all younger then him and make more money then him. The trade off is that he has a good benfit package and they don’t but while he is sitting there with 30 plus years of experience they make 50K more fresh out of college.
Porter says
@Dan if it is universally known then why can’t you provide empirically recognized statistics from the Bureau of Economic Analysis and the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics to prove that federal workers are paid less in salary and benefits than private sector workers?
Face it Dan, Federal Employees are a privileged and entitled imperial class. They are immune to the effects of the recession and economic realities of the real world. Government has become so bloated and over-sized that it delivers less to and takes more from taxpayers. It’s unsustainable and must be reined in and right-sized.
I was in Washington, DC all last week and there are no signs of a recession there…the restaurants and retail shops are full and construction seemed to be going on everywhere. It was surreal.
Cdev says
Because while being a janitor or secratary for the government is far better then the private industry…….being an electrical engineer is not. My father in law made far less with the Air Force then he did for Northrup Grumman, TRW and TASC as an electrical engineer.
Amazed says
@CDEV, I’m curious. I admit I have been at the same private company since the early eighties, but when I was looking for work back then it was generally accepted that government pay lagged behind private but the benefits and stability were seen to balance the equation – and even to tilt it toward the government as more desirable since the job market was so poor. When did your relative work with the Air Force?
Dan says
This might not be true for every profession, but after getting a PhD you basically have three choices of career paths; private sector, government, and academia. Private sector offers the best pay and benifits, but is usually the most stressful. Academia offers the most freedom, but worst pay. Government is in the middle. A lot of my professors had worked in all three and had good and bad things to say about all of them.
Cdev says
He went into the US Air Force in 1970 he was in until 1992. At that point he went to work for ccontractors.
Clay says
Well amazed I didnt say that the Filipinos were here illegally. If they are Catholic, great. I just thought that the lady was rude because she seemed like she was being smart when she asked him if he knew how to do the ticket. He was never rude to her. I agree that Mexicans are more likely to be here illegally and they are less likely to speak English. Would I have reported what the lady said if she was white? No. There arent many whites here illegally and that was the point I was making about people coming here and being disrespectful even though they may not be legal citizens. A Mexican girl who was pregnant came into the building where I work to see social services. The guard asked her, “who is going to pay for that baby?” She said, “you are.” Thats the type of attitude I was referring to. To many are resentful for what Americans have and if they cant be respectful to us they shouldnt be here to begin with. Even if they are respectful they are still here illegally. Thanks.
Amazed says
@Clay, sorry dude . Your initial comment left me wondering who was ragging whom… I haven’t seen where any particular race has the market cornered on arrogance though… as far as your security guard story; frankly I can’t believe he’d ask such a question. If true, exactly what gave him the right to ask such a thing? Did he know everything there was to know about her situation? Did he somehow know she wasn’t brought here as a fiancé then dumped, human trafficked, legally adopted or a dozen other possibilities? She could even be a victim and if I were her I’d probably have given him the same answer followed by my middle finger since it didn’t have anything to do with guarding. Don’t get me wrong, the federal government is a miserable failure when it comes to upholding the Constitution – with a border so porous that there are of millions of illegals running around they have failed to provide “domestic tranquility” and “common defense”.
Dulcinea says
Clay
You don’t seem to appreciate how inappropriate the comment was from the guard. It has nothing to do with race or color. Heads up to you and your security friend, he could face significant sanctions for his words.
Clay says
It has everything to do with race because if I were living in India, I would not ask a lottery clerk if he knew how to print a ticket from the machine, as the lady who I believe was Indian did. I would respect Indian culture and be concerned that if I asked the clerk if he knew how to do something simple that he would complain that I was a disrespectful American.