Dougan Urges Congress Not to Attach Federal Retirement Cuts, Pay Freeze, to ‘Doc Fix’ and Unemployment Insurance Extension

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.”