Dougan Urges Congress Not to Attach Federal Retirement Cuts, Pay Freeze, to ‘Doc Fix’ and Unemployment Insurance Extension
Wednesday, February 15, 2012
FOR IMMEDIATE
RELEASE
Contact:
Cory Bythrow, Communications
Director
Phone:
(202) 255-9950
Washington, D.C.
– In
response to reports that Congress is
considering the attachment of a federal pay
freeze or increase in federal retirement
benefits to the ‘doc fix’ and extension of
unemployment benefits, National Federation of
Federal Employees National President William R.
Dougan issued the following
statement:
“Reports
suggesting that members of both parties are
looking to increase federal pension
contributions or extend the pay freeze as a
‘pay-for’ to fund extended unemployment
benefits and the ‘doc fix’ are deeply
disturbing. Though we fully support extending
much-needed unemployment benefits for victims
of the great recession, we cannot allow it to
be done on the backs of other middle class
federal workers who are struggling to get by
just like everyone else. Instead Congress
should ask the wealthiest Americans, who
continue to thrive during the economic
downturn, to pitch in their fair share. There
is something seriously wrong in our country
when Congress doesn’t blink an eye at dipping
into the pockets of middle class VA nurses and
border patrol agents, but threatens to shut
down the government when asked to raise taxes
for millionaires and billionaires. We cannot
keep chipping away at middle class federal
workers’ pay and retirement security with
reckless abandon. If we want dedicated federal
employees to offer top-notch care to our
veterans, defend our borders, and maintain the
safety of our food supply, we need to keep up
our end of the bargain. Federal employees did
not get us into this mess, and they shouldn’t
be the only ones asked to get us out of it.”
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