conserve1

The government employee earns 45% more and does less than 65% of work. They also have great benefits at the expense of the tax payer. I would esttimate there are probably more than 5 people hired to do the job that one person should/could take care of effectively. It is the same as with union workers. Take away the unions and the productivity as well as economics would increase. Been there.

Monday, February 15, 2010 at 10:08 AM  

joeyblueyes

STOP FASCISM NOW

Monday, February 15, 2010 at 06:45 AM  

OrthodoxNet

We have allowed the career politicians in Washington to create a two class system in the US: the privileged class (gov't workers + politicians) and ordinary Americans (everyone else, especially the middle class). This goes against the long tradition of this country which is based on equality and opportunity for all, not special rights, guaranteed jobs, guaranteed pensions, and no risk for the "civil servants", and nothing but risk, hard work, constant taxation, and zero job security for the rest of us. This is not fair, not right, and not acceptable.
While this has been going on for decades, this blatant disparity continuing while so many regular folks struggle, lose businesses, careers, or go bankrupt, while the Obamination bails out failed businesses, protects union workers, and raises gov't salaries with OUR tax dollars is OUTRAGEOUS. It's time for the middle class to stand up and demand this travesty to stop. We've reached the end of our rope. We can't take any more.

Saturday, February 13, 2010 at 11:41 PM  

root.girl

The average Fed Salary is published at
http://www.bls.gov/oco/cg/cgs041.htm
In March 2009, the average earnings for full-time Federal employees were $74,403 compared with $40331 in the private sector.
The number of federal workers earning six-figure salaries has exploded during the recession.
Federal employees making salaries of $100,000 or more jumped from 14% to 19% of civil servants during the recession's first 18 months — and that's before overtime pay and bonuses are counted.
Federal workers are enjoying an extraordinary boom time — in pay and hiring — during a recession that has cost 7.3 million jobs in the private sector.
The highest-paid federal employees are doing best of all on salary increases. Defense Department civilian employees earning $150,000 or more increased from 1,868 in December 2007 to 10,100 in June 2009, the most recent figure available.
When the recession started, the Transportation Department had only one person earning a salary of $170,000 or more. Eighteen months later, 1,690 employees had salaries above $170,000.
The trend to six-figure salaries is occurring throughout the federal government, in agencies big and small, high-tech and low-tech. The primary cause: substantial pay raises and new salary rules.

Saturday, February 13, 2010 at 08:16 PM  

RodT

Until our government is forced to be accountable for what they do nothing will change. Most of our Congress members spend the majority of their time working on their next election. They steal funds from the taxpayers, so they can give the money to their backers. Everyone knows it, but no one does anything to stop it. And this is not just limited to the Federal government, it goes on in the state and local also. Why do taxpayers have to support the retirement of our government workers? If Social Security is good enough for the private sector, then it’s good enough for the public sector. After all it’s Congress that has spent all the FICA excess taxes and replaced the money with an I.O.U. If Govt. Workers are making 45% more then the private sector, they should be able to save for their own retirement.

Friday, February 12, 2010 at 02:47 PM  

Cav vet

The report says government wages on average are higher than the private sector. The only way this can happen is if someone in the government is taking home big bucks. It may not be the people at the lower end of the government scale, but SOMEBODY at SOME LEVEL is driving the average up, and it can't all be politician's salaries. There aren't enough of them. One can always point to exceptions in the trend, but the trend of higher government wages is still there.

Thursday, February 11, 2010 at 12:24 PM  

Con-tea-ican

Watched Beck yesterday and he spoke of the 1920 depression. We reduced government spending 50%. The result was unemployment went from 11%plus to 1.8% in a couple of years. Sounds like we need to get rid of 50% of government soon or tell the workers to see their paychecks cut in half. This should include are dear senators and congress!!!

Thursday, February 11, 2010 at 08:02 AM  

George F

The very first thing that should be done to get rid of our national debt is to cut expenses like federal employees being overpaid. We should also cut their full salary retirement pay.

Wednesday, February 10, 2010 at 01:49 PM  

Lourdes

This is statistical mumbo-jumbo. The majority of government employees (I used to be one) aren't making big money. The military deserves everything they get and more. There are just too many of the civilians. When I was a federal civilian employee there were the people who did twice their share and the people who did nothing. There is a big difference between "working" and "having a job". There were people in our organization who would have never been missed if they had not shown up for a whole year.

Wednesday, February 10, 2010 at 01:34 PM  

mario

They get the big bonus in pay, why can't the private sector, we have an idiot that thinks he will tell us how much we can earn, we will see what happens this fall!

Wednesday, February 10, 2010 at 12:01 PM  

Gunnersmate

This is a lie I have made the same wages since 1986 and by the way Proverb we may not produce a single thing, not a kleenex, not a post-it note, not a pencil. The outfit I work for matains you drinking water, produce electricty for you, we even rebuild Dams clean up your messes in our water supplies, repair damages to your property from strom damages, and last but not lest take care of our troops needs, such as building bases while getting our asses shot at and bombed, I believe the 45% more pay is the politial appointees so don't lump us all together

Wednesday, February 10, 2010 at 10:24 AM  

Joe

Plus, approx. 50% more of them are lazyer than the private sector.

Wednesday, February 10, 2010 at 10:07 AM  

Djairman

I agree with you 2 cents. If we want to cut fat out of the budget we need to start with Capitol Hill. Did you know all you have to do is serve a four year term and you get a 100% retirement for the rest of your life plus benefits and perks. I am DoD Civilian and we don't get 45% over the private sector. Did you know that congress and the senate have to vote for them to NOT get a raise! Their raise is automatic unless they vote it down which has not happened in quite a few years. Things are not set up right and these elected officials that are supposed to work for the people, well that's a joke in itself. All they look out is for #1! So if we want to trim the budget thats a great starting point. I live in Washington state and the state employees here make a lot more than we do but they are facing a 2.6B shortfall for the budget. Do the math on that. But of course their answer is more taxes for all of us. Another money saving thing we should do is stop Joint Basing. I am at the new Joint Base Lewis McChord, did you know it is costing taxpayers 2.5B just to start this up!!! Just this base, there are 11 others with probably similar bills. With 3 audits from the GAO saying we will never see savings, you can thank Rumsfeld for this.

Wednesday, February 10, 2010 at 09:49 AM  

mrsmcnutty

Hopefully, when taxpayers refuse any more increases, 75% of these people will be making nothing.

Wednesday, February 10, 2010 at 09:43 AM  

THE TOMB

Information: The largest number of Union employees are Government Employees who belong to the AFL/CIO. Goverenment is the largest employer and growing! Question: Are Government employees stressed? Comment: The biggest mistake I ever made was not going to work for the Federal Government right out of college. Finally, what kind of country will we be when everyone works for the Government and what kind of life will you have?

Wednesday, February 10, 2010 at 09:38 AM  

my2cents

How about we reduce all congressional senators and reps to an annual salary of $50k and no increase unless taxpayers vote it in via ballot. Then they can only get healthcare while they are actively serving, but not after they leave office. Currently they get full retirement and full healthcare benefits for LIFE even if they only serve 1 term. Does any other job allow the employee to vote in their own pay raise?

Wednesday, February 10, 2010 at 09:22 AM  

Tarzan2

"Lies, damn lies, and statistics"...
I'm not sure how he decided to assign values to the government workers benefits, but is was definitely not by looking at the average federal worker. My wife works for a 'public' companie and her benefits far outweigh mine as a DoD civilian employee. She gets medical, dental, life insurance, disability, tuition assistance, and a fully vested retirement program. I get the privilege of paying for medical (where exactly are these great 'government plans'?) and dental. Disability insurance is being discussed, but will also be for a fee. Contrary to popular opinion, federal retirement benefits have eroded so much over the years that the majority of current employees have moved to a 401k style savings plan. But what does the taxpayer get for the $80k a year I receive? We can start with 25+ years of experience in my position. I am the director of a global program with an operating budget of over $35M. I also control assets with a value over $1.2 Billion and spend 6-7 months a year away from home and family. My job is to make sure our very special DoD forces and our coalition partners are ready and able to protect this country. For $80k, I think the taxpayer is getting their money's worth. Yes - I have worked in the public sector (for a lot more), but left for government employment after 9/11. I think you will find a patriotic core is common in most government employees. Try walking in my shoes for a while - the opportunity is there.

Wednesday, February 10, 2010 at 09:14 AM  

pdxlee

We MUST stop this trend now, these are all union dimo voters for the most part and they are only going to vote for more taxes and for more liberal dim's in order to keep their over paying jobs.
Question, have you EVER met a government worker that did anything useful????
Doubtful

Wednesday, February 10, 2010 at 09:05 AM  

Proverb

This is the first area of concern when it comes to balancing the federal budget. Every govmt job in the USA is paid for by the productive sector. Gvmt employees do not produce a single thing, not a kleenex, not a post-it note, not a pencil. Their salaries are totally funded by the private sector that makes things and must compete with other hard working innovative workers who are trying to put them out of business. Then, after you succeed and make a profit, the profits are taxed. Then, a business must meet all federal regulations to stay in business. The gvmt workforce simply does not have to be on par with the private productive sector....its two different worlds. I call on America to fix this inequity to help balance the budget and eliminate wasteful spending.

Wednesday, February 10, 2010 at 08:32 AM  

airborne71

Mad-MO Agreed , IF you are in the military the big bucks do not apply to you .WE used to say " Nothing is too good for the troops , so nothings what you are going to get !!"

Wednesday, February 10, 2010 at 02:44 AM  

Daralea

Would be great if an auditor, not a government employee, someone from the private sector, could audit the whole government system and make a determination as to where and how much duplication there is, where is the waste, etc., and have the wherewithal to see that the changes needed are made. Unfortunately, dealing with government employees, the senate and house of representatives are government employees and they'd make sure that report never sees the light of day.
Seems a cleam sweep is in order, from Reid and Pelosi, on down.

Wednesday, February 10, 2010 at 02:03 AM  

Mohamad Ali

There’s allot out of whack with government, and this is one of them.

Tuesday, February 09, 2010 at 10:58 PM  

Conserv. Amcit

The report specifically cites State and Local government workers, I can not speak for them. What I can say however is this... as federal employee I made 20 - 30K a year less than my local counterparts. I do agree with a point Tazman2 made, the amount of waste in governemnt is astounding.

Tuesday, February 09, 2010 at 10:41 PM  

Mad-MO

Things have sure changed. When I was serving my country in southeast asia in 69-70 my pay was $600.00 a month plus $50.00 hazardous duty pay. I dodged just as many bullets and bombs as the troops do today and when we came home we got called everything in the world but heros. I support our troops but our government leaves much to be desired.

Tuesday, February 09, 2010 at 10:37 PM  

Rudedawg1979

I am a goverment emplyee and personally I enjoyed my pay hike this year. I enjoyed it because I will be in afghanistan for 9 months fighting for this country.. Every year the military gets a pay increase and that is in the stats for goverment employees. So you leave your family for a year and face the dangers we do, then complain about your pay. Until you have to do that, you really have no room to complain

Tuesday, February 09, 2010 at 09:31 PM  

lightgreentea

cut thier pay they think their better than the rest of us u.sc.s keeps the poverity level high. so 99.7 disabled americans cant get a foreign spouse they keep it the same as working family military gets a 25 % brake. disable no brake. they say tax money is not to go to foreign spuse . whear dose the USCIS part of homeland security whear do they get their money taxpayers we need a law federal enpolys cant have foreign spuse to the goverment out of control

Tuesday, February 09, 2010 at 08:58 PM  

Neptune

A simple solution - cut pay and benefits 45% and let government workers join the rest of us in the real economic world.

Tuesday, February 09, 2010 at 08:19 PM  

Tazman2

I don't know who doing the figuring here, but I sure don't see it in my paycheck. Benifits have been being reduced to appease the public, and rightly so. There is waste, and I am for eliminating, or at least reducing it significantly. Most are correct that the number of workers tends to increase, and the quality of work tends to decrease. Too much of anything is not neccessarily a good thing, Governement is one of these things. But some places in government require government workers, so please use your heads before cutting everything.

Tuesday, February 09, 2010 at 08:03 PM