Federal Workers: Pigs or People?

As we travel the road of life we encounter many people we like, love and want to be with and take care of. But the bottom line for most of us, I’m guessing, is “What’s in it for me?”

If that describes you, does that make you a bad person?

Probably not.

If you want to contribute to your family’s welfare and happiness, you need some input: as in money. A steady paycheck is a real good start.

If you want to nurse your significant other or kids back to health, or keep them healthy, you need to be healthy too.

So, are federal workers and retirees who are worried about an interruption of their cash flow greedy pigs or decent humans trying to get by? Consider:

The current political impasse on how and whether to raise the debt ceiling threatens a number of things things you probably hold dear: federal paychecks, pension payments and payments to government contractors. Congress has acted to keep military pay flowing and even the stupidest most radical member probably wouldn’t stop Social Security payments. But the rest are up for grabs.

Politicians are adept at leaking information – often the kind that will scare the public – in order to strengthen their hand in negotiations with their political opponents. It can be valid and accurate or it can be hyped and enhanced to make a point. In January the Treasury Secretary laid out a laundry list of federal programs that might be interrupted unless the debt limit is raised by the Aug. 2 deadline.

More recently, the Federal-Postal Coalition, a group of unions, and professional associations representing 5 million active and retired feds, sent a “What’s up?” letter the the president. It respectfully asked the White House to explain what federal programs and benefits (from pay to potential furloughs) were on the chopping block. What happens if Congress and the White House fail to raise the debt limit?

Today at 10 a.m., on our Your Turn radio show, we will talk with coalition spokesman Bruce Moyer to find out what, if anything, they have found out: the answer to the what’s-in-it-for-you question. Moyer is an attorney and a registered lobbyist and was the long-time executive director of the Federal Managers Association.

At 10:30a.m. we will talk with Federal Times Editor Steve Watkins, for a different look at the debt ceiling crisis and about the long-running and on-going media campaign – complete with statistics – which shows federal workers are the best-paid, best-perked and most coddled workers in America.

Listen if you can (1500 AM or online), and if you have questions call in or e-mail me at mcausey@federalnewsradio.com

NEARLY USELESS FACTOID

One of the earliest attempts to measure the speed of a Major League pitcher’s fastball was the motorcycle test, done by pitching against a speeding motorcycle.

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