Feds/Congress: The Fear Factor

Several decades ago, when we were both starting out in the news biz, a friend landed a job as the weatherman for a small TV station in southern Arizona. He bemoaned the fact that just about every day was the same. He found it almost impossible to terrorize — therefore interest — his small band of viewers. His “hype” potential was limited.

Unlike weather persons in D.C., New York City, Chicago or Dallas-Fort Worth, Jim couldn’t talk about the horrors of a possible early (or late) frost. Or of horizontal rain squalls. Or the potential for icy roads or debilitating humidity. He said everyday was same-old-same old.

Jim eventually came to his senses. He went into government (the Labor Department) where he grew old, gracefully and with dignity. Of a sort.

Had my friend been psychic at 22, he would have seen that joining the federal news beat would have given him regular (legitimate) reasons to hype with a straight face. And a pure heart. To report that the-end-is-near because it might be. So how did bland go to exciting?

Since Congress (and sometimes the White House) has turned on feds, covering the beat has been much more exciting for us. Not so much for you the covered.

It seems that just about every year — whether Democrats or Republicans steer the ship of state — federal (and postal) workers have become targets of budget-cutters. Or of politicians (some legit, some looking for TV time) rooting out crime, corruption or stupidity in government.

While the fed-whackers have done little other than talk, they keep coming up with ideas (mostly old retreads) for ways to bring government to heel. And make it less expensive by reducing benefits promised feds as part of the employment contract. Like now.

Two new budget plans from Congress follow the pattern established years ago. With a twist that could mean problems for active and retired feds.

Although Congress agreed to a two-year budget plan (to minimize the impact of the White House-created automatic sequestration cuts), both the House and Senate are looking at program and benefit cuts that would impact (as in say- ouch) cuts for all members of the federal family.

The House plan called for cuts amounting to $280.9 billion while the Senate would have saved an estimate $170 billion by cutting federal personnel costs. That would include reducing take-home pay, higher health costs for federal workers and a variety of other changes that would reduce future retirement benefits for workers, and maybe even eliminate the FERS program for new hires.

What’s next? How serious are the proposals, what can feds expect next and what, if anything, can they do to block or minimize them?

Today at 10 a.m. on our Your Turn radio show we’ll talk with Jessica Klement. She’s legislative director of the National Active and Retired Federal Employees. Klement formerly worked for the Federal Managers Association and before that she was a congressional staffer specializing in legislation.

She’ll talk about the latest assault on federal-postal workers, and retirees and explain how serious they are and what, if anything, you can do about it. Later in the show Andy Medici, senior writer for the Federal Times, will bring us up to speed on what’s happening in your world.

NEARLY USELESS FACTOID

By Michael O’Connell

Joseph Orsino of the U.S. holds the world’s record of walking the most dogs at the same time. On Oct 1, 2011, Orsino walked 35 dogs for a distance of 1 kilometer as part of a Lupus Foundation fundraising event in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.

Source: Guinness World Records

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