For Feds, Is It Boxers or Briefs?

Do you remember that special Christmas or birthday, when you expected a BB gun or a puppy? Do you remember your reaction when you unwrapped the package and found, instead, three pairs of boxer briefs (a double disappointment for girls) or a book of Poetry For Young People?

Well, if you were expecting anything good out of Congress this year, prepare to be disappointed. Action on federal employee legislation is not part of their brief this year.

And come to think of it, shame on you (somebody with your age, education, knowledge and experience) for expecting anything in an election year.

It’s the election people!

First, we have to elect people to run the country. Once they are safely sworn in they will begin doing — until the next election cycle — what we pay them to do. Turn on your TV and see where your Senator or Representative is. One thing for sure, it’s not where you sent them to work or vote, which is Washington, D.C.

At one point is seemed like half the Senate and a third of the House was running for president. Most fell by the wayside, but many of the former candidates or wannabe friends of the next president are still on the trail urging the Democratic and Republican party faithful to work harder while they don’t.

And this, be advised, is just the lull before the storm. These are the equivalent of the political ‘good old days’ for this Congress.

After the political conventions, Washington, D.C., will seem like a ghost-town (which may secretly please many beyond-the-beltway taxpayers) as the people you sent here are, in fact, elsewhere.

For feds this year, it is like going to a ballgame where the scorecards already contain a zero where the runs, touchdowns or goals ought to be.

Example:

Dependent Children Health Coverage: J.D. from the National Weather Service says they were told, at a recent health benefits fair, that “the bill to extend health insurance for federal employees’ children to age 25 has passed.” But she can’t get any confirmation on that.

For good reason: It hasn’t passed and probably won’t, this year.

So, if your dependent child is turning age 22 you better start looking for alternate health coverage for him or her.

For more on that, click here.

Social Security’s Evil Twins

Scores of people have asked what’s happening with bills to modify or eliminate the Social Security windfall and offset formulas.

Windfall can drastically reduce the Social Security benefit anticipated by somebody under the CSRS retirement plan. Offset can wipe out the Social Security spousal or survivor benefit expected by someone getting a CSRS benefit.

Congress has been debating the windfall/offset change for years. It isn’t going to happen this year, but groups representing feds and retirees continue to lay the groundwork for a vote on the issue, which (regardless of who controls Congress or the White House) has never gotten past the House Ways and Means Committee or the Senate Finance Committee.

And so it goes.

There will be a federal pay raise in January. And retirees will get a cost of living adjustment. Both amounts are yet to be determined. Fortunately Congress doesn’t have to do anything for both to happen.

So the bad news is that your politicking politicians don’t have any fed-related goodies coming your way.

The good news, if you are so inclined, is that they are to busy to hurt you.

Not as good as a poodle puppy, but better than a box of boxers, right?

Life Without Judy

Is their life after Judy Park?

She’s the long-time (40 years) leader of the National Active and Retired Federal Employees legislative team.

Judy and her crew have probably made and/or saved federal workers and retirees billions (with a B) of dollars. The fact that federal postal retirees get catchup with inflation raises (while non-fed retirees don’t) isn’t an accident. The fact that retired feds continue to get health insurance coverage under the same premiums as active workers has also been due to a long-running, and so far, successful fight.

To say that Judy is simply the best may be the understatement of the year.

For more on her, click here.

Nearly Useless Factoid

We’re told by this Web site that there are 50 amazing, but useless, things everyone should know!

To reach me: mcausey@federalnewsradio.com

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