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Retiree raise? COLA not a guarantee

Federal, military and Social Security retirees get a cost-of-living adjustment like clockwork each and every year, even during years when federal workers do not get pay raises. But the 2014 cost-of-living adjustment for retirees is up in the air and on attack on two very different fronts, Senior Correspondent Mike Causey says.

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Saintly media vs. government devils

When a newspaper reporter fakes a story, we are outraged. When a network TV show gets it wrong, we are stunned. But we tend to forget, Senior Correspondent Mike Causey says. But when a handful of government workers go rogue, maybe on orders from their political bosses, the entire workforce is tainted for a long, long time.

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Don't work or we'll fire you!

The password next week at several federal agencies is this: Come to work and we fire you. Don't dare show your face on Friday or else, Senior Correspondent Mike Causey says.

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Uncle Sam's GPS: Are we there yet?

When you're on a vacation trip or long drive, do your kids keep asking "Are we there yet?!" Now, Senior Correspondent Mike Causey says, suppose you are Uncle Sam and you've told your 1.8 million kids they are going on a sequestration vacation. If they keep asking are we there yet, what do you tell them?

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Sequestration slaps feds, punches contractors

For many federal workers, the threat of sequestration-triggered furloughs seems to be fading, at least a bit. But for some federal contractors, sequestration has meant layoffs, with perhaps more to come, Senior Correspondent Mike Causey says. So how's sequestration treating you?

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Hacked, fracked and back...

A funny thing happened on the way to work last week, Senior Correspondent Mike Causey says. We got hacked but, as you can see, we are back. As setbacks often do, this one has made us smarter and stronger. Glad to be back.

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Retire?! Are you nuts?

Thinking of retiring within the next 12 to 18 months? Tired of traffic, being beaten up by politicians and facing a furlough? And who knows when the current three-year pay freeze will ever end? So call it a day, right? Put in your papers and everything will be okay, correct? Wrong, wrong wrong. Are you nuts? Retiring is not the answer for everyone, Senior Correspondent Mike Causey says.

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Just how essential are you, really...

Back in the day, there were two classes of federal worker. Either you were essential or you were nonessential. Most were nonessential. Thanks to political correctness, the term of art now is emergency or nonemergency, Senior Correspondent Mike Causey says. So what impact does that have when furloughs come a knocking?

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Watch out: Well-meaning, VIP zombies are stalking feds

Federal workers have dodged a lot of legislative bullets over the years. Plans to cut and save surface, then disappear. But there is one blueprint out there that has traction, and its No. 1 target is the federal retirement system, Senior Correspondent Mike Causey says.

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Furloughs: A soft landing for some?

Sequestration came in like a lion ... While there have been some furloughs, politicians on both sides of the aisle have learned that furloughing air traffic controllers, meat inspectors and FBI agents is not popular, even with fed bashers, Senior Correspondent Mike Causey says. So, is sequestration heading for a soft landing?

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Your health plan: BFF, WDW, WOOT or WTF?

Senior Correspondent Mike Causey wants to know: If you wanted to text your BFF about the future of the FEHBP (your health plan) would you describe it as WOOT or WTF?

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Sequestration: the new heartburn and Alka-Seltzer combo

The threat of furloughs is hanging heavy over tens of thousands of federal workers who say they won't be able to pay the bills if forced to stay home for five to 15 days. So, Mike Causey wants to know, is there light at the end of this tunnel?

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Very expensive IRS furlough invites

Furloughs are supposed to save money. But if you wait until the last-minute to notify workers it can be quite costly as the Internal Revenue Service has found out, Senior Correspondent Mike Causey reports.

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Sequestration: The ultimate organic snowman?

When politicians created the sequestration monster, it may have seemed like a good idea at the time. But now that it's here, nobody wants to take credit for it, Senior Correspondent Mike Causey says. And politicians who insisted that the cuts be across-the-board are now demanding agencies exempt certain programs and people from furloughs.

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Furloughs slam contractors

If you are a federal worker, you are certainly aware of the Washington-based series, Sequestration: The Soap Opera. Normally such a drama would have little audience outside the Washington Beltway, Senior Correspondent Mike Causey says. But it is being noticed in other places because so many contractors are being hit by furloughs too.

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IRS furloughs costing U.S. a bundle

If somebody said they could save you nearly $1,800 but that it would cost you $61,000, you probably wouldn't take the deal, right? Unfortunately, the White House and Congress have signed off on it in the form of furloughs, Senior Correspondent Mike Causey says.

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So, what's next for feds?

Federal workers have figured out that this is not a drill. But for many feds, it is getting hard to keep track of what is happening, which threats are real and who their political adversaries are, Senior Correspondent Mike Causey says. So, what's next?

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Menu for retirees: Steak, to hamburger, to Alpo

Senior Correspondent Mike Causey wants to know: Would the new plan to revise future cost-of-living adjustments put federal and Social Security retirees on a more realistic (and healthy) steak-to-beans diet? Or would each non-raise get a little worse?

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The F-word from Washington

Getting furloughed is a very personal thing, Senior Correspondent Mike Causey says. For some feds, it will amount to no more than a series of three-day weekends. Others say even losing a couple of days pay will break their bank. Still more think it is a political stunt and a heckuva way to run a government. So what's your take?

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Zen and your diet COLA

Senior Correspondent Mike Causey wants to know: If I chopped a couple of bucks off each of the future cost-of-living adjustments made to your federal retirement or Social Security benefits would you even notice? Or, would you pick up the fact that over time that is a lot of money that you will never see.

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