4 raises under Obama: 2010 - 1.5%, 2011 - 0.00%, 2012 - 0.00%, 2013 - 0.5%. Four more years! Four more years! At this rate I'll be joining the other 50% of Americans on food stamps.

OK Rob, you know better than that. Obama is a far greater proponent of the federal workforce than any major Republican. Obama did the best he could do for us feds under the circumstances. You REALLY want something to complain about? Wait to see if Romney gets elected....our total compensation will probably go DOWN.

The Dems are far greater proponents of the federal workforce when they aren't in power. When it comes to total compensation the federal workforce is best served when a Republican is in the White House and the Dems control at least half of congress.

Maybe it was like that in the past, but here's what the Romney campaign website has to say about federal compensation -- "Align Federal Employee Compensation With The Private Sector — Savings: $47 Billion. Federal compensation exceeds private sector levels by as much as 30 to 40 percent when benefits are taken into account. This must be corrected." ................................... And here's what Paul Ryan's "Path to Prosperity" says, "Additionally, this budget freezes federal pay through 2015 and asks federal employees to make a more equitable contribution to their retirement plans. When combined, these proposals will save taxpayers approximately $368 billion over ten years". ................ But you go right ahead, Right Wing Rob, and vote for a 30-40% reduction in your overall compensation AND increased retirement contributions.

You and the radical left are experts at criticizing every proposal put out there by the GOP. What are the Dems proposing? I know, keep spending 1.1T more than we take in. That's the same "prosperous path" many of the European countries have taken.

A balance of reduced spending and increased revenues. None of this 'We can grow our way out deficits by reducing taxes on "job creators" BS the right wing conservatives are trying to sell AGAIN. Been there, done that, got the 'Deficits Don't Matter' T-shirt. Trickle-down theory DOESN'T work and never will.

What spending cuts are you and your leftists willing to accept. Your party talks the talk when it comes to spending cuts, but every time the GOP proposes spending cuts you clowns on the left run out and scare granny, college kids, minorities, etc. With all the gov't waste there's no way the GOP should accept any tax hikes without significant, meaningful spending cuts. We don't have an under taxation problem in this country. We have an addiction to spending money; money we don't have. Your TAX and SPEND theory doesn't work and never will.

...Defense, specifically programs like the M1 Abrams modernization program that the Pentagon says it doesn't want/need anymore, but that Republicans keep putting back into the Petagon's budget?

If Rob doesn't see what policies are coming out of the House side then just let him be in peace with his head in the sand.

...like health insurance, etc. Others in the private sector have had the same issues about raises, but while COL increases never really kept up with costs, they helped. For the last several year, there has been no pay raise but the COL has gone up dramatically. Just signs of a still- sick economy. Incidentally, Congress is suppose to get a 1.1% increase this year. That doesn't seem fair. I'm betting most of our evaluations are better than theirs. Let's swap increases.

Its pretty sad that I have been working for IRS for 20 years and qualify for Financial AID.. Now going to delay our measly .5% raise till April IF they can pass a budget.. the .5% raise won't even cover the rising cost of Health Insurance.

Stop paying those useless union dues! Its not like they're doing anything for you anyway. Look at their track record for the last several years. Nada, nada, nada...etc..

... can be undone as well. If Romney wins the election, he could reverse this decision under the same authority and extend the pay freeze as long as he chooses. This isn't a compromise, it's a wager -- the two sides agreed that whichever party wins in November gets its way on the pay freeze. This puts Feds in a position of directly voting their wallets -- vote for Obama and get a 0.5% pay raise in April, or vote for Romney and (likely) get nothing.

Or f/ those of us who are eligible & financially able we should 'vote w/ our feet' and let them pay us pensions to stay home. Don't know what part of our work will not get done (yes some of really do needed work) after we are gone but probably both the overtime cost to cover essentials will skyrocket or the training cost after they eventually hire our replacements will go through the roof. I certainly won't suggest that my child ever apply to work f/ any government agency at any level. I just don't see it as being worth it in the future.