The Congressional supercommittee is tasked with cutting as much as $1.5 trillion from the federal deficit. The committee has a Nov. 23 deadline to make its recommendations to Congress.
The 12 supercommittee members have been meeting — usually behind closed doors. But that hasn’t stopped a flurry of recommendations to the committee on what and where to cut.
Nearly everyone from President Barack Obama to Congressional committee leaders have chimed in on various budget-cutting proposals. And their recommendations have made it clear. Federal pay and benefits are on the table.
The Supercommittee Tracker below charts the various recommendations on federal pay and benefits and federal contracting. This chart was updated on Nov. 8, 2011.
Increase employee contribution to FERS by 1.2 percent.
Reform TRICARE for military retirees to make similar to other healthcare plans.
Decrease prescription drug costs by allowing OPM to contract directly with pharmacy management services.
Cap pay of contractor executives at $200,000.
<a href="http://www.federalnewsradio.com/?nid=722&sid=2593048" target="_blank">House Oversight and Government Reform Committee</a> — Rep. Darrell Issa (R-Calif.), chairman
Pay freeze through 2015.
Eliminate periodic step increases.
Increase the FERS contribution by 6.2 percent.
Increase the CSRS contribution from 7 percent to 10 percent beginning in 2013.
Eliminate FERS for new hires.
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<a href="http://www.federalnewsradio.com/?nid=108&sid=2591034" target="_blank">Rep. Elijah Cummings (D-Md.)</a>, ranking member House Oversight Committee
Avoid further cuts to federal pay.
Avoid further cuts to federal benefits.
Lower prescription drug costs under FEHBP.
Cap pay of contractor executives.
<a href="http://www.federalnewsradio.com/?nid=146&sid=2592958" target="_blank">Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee</a> — Sen. Joe Lieberman (I-Conn.), chairman
Pay freeze through 2013.
Support administration proposal to increase employee contribution to FERS by 1.2 percent.
Decrease prescription drug costs by allowing OPM to contract directly with pharmacy management services.
Cut management support services contracts by 15 percent in FY2012.
Support President’s proposal for $200 annual fee for TRICARE for Life.
Ensure any changes to military pay be grandfathered.
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<a href="http://www.deficitreduction.gov/public/_cache/files/882b0b88-f259-411d-85ee-0f3971b62ae4/Joint-Veterans%20Affairs-SenPattyMurray-SenRichardBurr-RepJeffMiller-RepBobFilner-Recommendations%20to%20JSC.pdf" target="_blank">House and Senate Veterans Affairs Committees</a> (pictured is Sen. Patty Murray (D-Wash.)
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Round veterans’ disability COLA down to nearest dollar and delay COLA by one month.
Clarify pension rules so benefits provided to only significantly disabled vets, not just based on age.
<a href="http://www.deficitreduction.gov/public/_cache/files/b30af8cf-0d9c-4929-8d38-7808cfef547c/House%20Small%20Business-Minority-RepNydiaVelazquez-Recommendations%20to%20JSC.pdf" target="_blank">Rep. Nydia Velazquez (D-N.Y.)</a>, ranking member, House Small Business Committee
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Do not cut oversight staff at the Small Business Administration.
Increase contracts to small businesses for overseas contracting.
Read more letters from Congressional committee heads.
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