In the News

By Pete Kasperowicz

Rep. Gerry Connolly on Tuesday reintroduced legislation aimed at giving federal workers a 3.2 percent pay raise, even as the Trump administration is looking to cut federal spending and reduce the government workforce.

The Virginia Democrat said that even before President Trump, Republicans had "bullied" federal workers by blocking raises. Federal employees received no raises for a few years early in the Obama administration, and only recently were given raises of just 1 or 2 percent for the last few years.

"For too long Republicans have bullied our federal workforce, falsely painting the civil servant as the scapegoat for all our country's problems," he said. "They've endured shutdowns and furloughs, attacks on pay and benefits, and an across-the-board hiring freeze."

His bill, the Federal Adjustment of Income Rates Act, or the FAIR Act, calls for a 3.2 percent raise because workers sought a 5.3 percent raise last year, but only got a 2.1 percent raise. Connolly's bill would make up for that difference.

Connolly said the raise wouldn't just affect people in the Washington, D.C., area.

"Contrary to alternative facts, 85 percent of the federal workforce live and work outside the national capital region," he said.

His bill has almost no chance of moving in the GOP-controlled House, where Republican leaders have had no interest in boosting federal pay.

The Trump administration has also signaled it wants to tighten the belt further. Trump's team is eyeing cuts as high as 10 percent in some federal agencies, and staffing cuts as high as 20 percent.

http://www.washingtonexaminer.com/democrat-wants-3.2-percent-pay-hike-for-federal-workers/article/2613576