NARFE finds votes impacting feds, retirees ‘more polarized than ever’

Budget

NARFE finds votes impacting feds, retirees ‘more polarized than ever’

Vermont and Rhode Island lawmakers were among those in Congress who consistently voted in favor of federal workers and retirees, according to the National Activ...

Federal News Network Staff

October 2, 2014 10:34 am

3 min read

By Ginger Whitaker
Federal News Radio

Vermont and Rhode Island lawmakers were among those in Congress who consistently voted in favor of federal workers and retirees, according to the National Active and Retired Federal Employees Association’s latest scorecard.

NARFE released its analysis this week, one month ahead of November’s elections, breaking down how each member of the 113th Congress voted. Out of 535 members of Congress, 207 voted 100 percent of the time in accordance with NARFE on key bills. 20 members never voted for the group’s preferred position. Specifically, NARFE detailed how members of Congress leaned in nine House and three Senate votes, concerning issues such as federal pay and budget resolutions.

Extend Federal Pay Freeze, (H.R. 273)
The Extend Federal Pay Freeze bill extended a pay freeze for federal civilian employees for a third year. Federal workers were slated to get a 0.5 percent pay increase in March 2013 after President Barack Obama mandated an end to the freeze in an executive order. The House bill, introduced by Rep. Ron DeSantis (R-Fla.), canceled the planned pay increase, which he said would cost $11 billion over the next decade. It passed 261-154, with the support of Rep. Darrell Issa (R- Calif.), chairman of the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee. The Committee’s ranking member, Rep. Elijah Cummings (D-Md.), opposed H.R. 273 and was in agreement with NARFE’s position.

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Stop Government Abuse Act, (H.R. 2879)
NARFE opposed the Stop Government Abuse Act, which was introduced by Rep. Lynn Jenkins (R-Kan.) It combined three other bills — the Common Sense Compensation Act (HR 1541), the Government Employee Accountability Act (HR 2579) and the Citizen Empowerment Act (HR 2711) — all of which originated in the Oversight and Government Reform Committee. The bill limited federal bonuses during sequestration, outlined new requirements for Senior Executive Service members who are under investigation and put on leave, and allowed citizens to record conversations with federal employees. H.R. 2879 passed 239-176.
Hiring Freeze Amendment, Fiscal 2013 Continuing Appropriations, (S. Amdt. 66 to H.R. 933)
On the Senate side, NARFE opposed this amendment, which was introduced by Sen. Tom Coburn (R-Okla.). If it had passed, S. Amdt. 66 to H.R. 933 would have placed a hiring freeze on “nonessential” federal employees. Coburn, the ranking member of the Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee, wrote to Office of Personnel Management Director John Berry, saying the office should take steps to offload federal workers and contractors who don’t show up for work, aren’t performing official duties or “are simply not working at all.” Coburn said doing so could prevent the need to furlough critical employees under sequestration.
Continuing Appropriations to End Partial Shutdown, Suspend Debt Limit and Pay Furloughed Federal Employees, (H.R. 2775)
In October 2013, the Senate and House passed the Continuing Appropriations to End Partial Shutdown, Suspend Debt Limit and Pay Furloughed Federal Employees. The deal reopened the government, permitted the Treasury to borrow, and provided back pay for federal employees who were furloughed during the 16-day shutdown. NARFE supported the bill, and it was passed 285-144 in the House, while the Senate voted 81-18 in favor.

In addition to these four bills, NARFE’s scorecard also broke down votes on Fiscal Year 2014 Budget Resolution Substitute (H.Amdt. 35 to H.Con.Res.25), Fiscal Year 2014 Budget Resolution (H.Con.Res.25), Conversion of Defense Functions to Contractor Performance (H.Amdt. to H.R. 1960), Compensation of Furloughed Federal Employees (H.R. 3223), Fiscal Year 2015 Budget Resolution Substitute (H.Amdt. 615 to H.Con.Res. 96), and Fiscal Year 2015 Budget Resolution Adoption (H.Con.Res.96). Having examined the 12 votes it highlighted in the House and Senate, NARFE wrote in a news release, “as with nearly all action and inaction on Capitol Hill, voting on these issues is more polarized than ever.”