Mike Causey

Endorsement Reaction

So your union endorses a presidential candidate without checking with you. Senior Correspondent Mike Causey asks is it right to pick the candidate it thinks wou...

Federal News Network Staff

April 30, 2008 4:00 am

4 min read

You work for Uncle Sam and the union that represents you (whether you belong or not) endorses a presidential candidate. Does this give you a warm and fuzzy feeling, or make you hot under the collar?

Is the union smart to back a candidate who backs you? Or does this paint feds into a political corner?

Here are some reactions to yesterday’s column about the 3 federal-postal unions (so far) that have endorsed presidential candidates:

BAD IDEA – for the membership – especially if the candidate loses.
GOOD IDEA – if you are an officer of the union. (especially if you want to rub shoulders with the folks in power) No, it doesn’t matter if the candidate wins or loses. R.M., of the IRS.
Almost all endorsements are for one of two reasons. The first is the group wants the government to do something for them and the second is to keep the government from doing something to them. This can only happen when the government becomes the chief “looter” of innocent people and uses it ill gotten loot to bribe voters. Frank of the IRS
Unions have an obligation to their members to identify and endorse candidates who would best represent the interests of the employee as it relates work related issues. Members can use that information along with any other information they deem important, ie: health care, gun control, abortion rights, gay rights, etc. to make their own decision at the ballot box. Unions who endorse too early, or not at all obviously are not doing their due diligence in providing effective representation of their members. David R Larkin
When a union or trade association endorses a candidate it is nearly always for one reason: An ego trip for the top guys and a chance to get on the political cocktail circuit. This is one of those things that rarely does any good (for the members) and cements in the mind of politicians and the public that federal government employees are all Democrats. I can assure you they are not. Not even after this administration. Bill of the BLM

Retiree COLA

Halfway through the inflation-monitoring period federal and military retirees are due a 2.7 percent cost of living adjustment next year. The COLA is automatic (meaning Congress can’t and won’t mess with it) and will show up in payments the retirees get in January. Feds under the old CSRS system (the majority of all current retirees) will get a full COLA. Those under the FERS retirement system get a diet COLA (1 percentage point less than the rise in the Consumer Price Index) if they are age 62 or older.

Retirees who get benefits from CSRS and FERS (there are some) will get the full 2009 COLA on the CSRS portion of their annuity regardless of age. They will get the diet-COLA (starting at age 62) on the FERS portion.

Military retirees and people who get Social Security benefits will get the same COLA, currently set at 2.7 percent. The countdown runs through September and the final amount of next year’s retiree raise will be announced sometime in mid-October.

Dependent Health Insurance

Good question from Carlos L., about dependent health insurance coverage. He writes:

I have a son turning 22 next year. It would be a great help to our family if he could be covered under my Federal Health Plan for a few more years. Can you please tell me the status of H.R. 5550? Thank you for all the information and help that you provide Federal employees.

The bill in question would raise to 25 the age at which dependent children could be covered under your federal health plan. Chances of passage this year are slim and none. Congress is preoccupied with the upcoming elections and with not doing anything wrong (or for that matter, right) that would upset anyone’s apple cart. Unless some powerful member of the House or Senate has a dependent child turning 22 this year, this bill will be on hold. For more on dependent care, click here.

Nearly Useless Factoid

Uranus is the only planet that rotates on its side. Why this is a nearly useless factoid: I can’t say that sentence out loud without laughing.

To reach me: mcausey@federalnewsradio.com