President Donald Trump on Monday justified a smaller-than-anticipated proposed pay raise for civilian federal workers by citing “national emergency or serious economic conditions,” despite his frequent statements that the nation’s economy is booming.
Trump proposed that pay raises for civilian federal workers be limited to 1% in 2021 in a bid to “maintain efforts to put our Nation on a fiscally sustainable course.” He described a pay increase above 1% as “inappropriate.”
“This alternative pay plan decision will not materially affect our ability to attract and retain a well qualified Federal workforce,” the President wrote.
An across-the-board 2.5% increase for federal workers is slated to take effect in January 2021.
In limiting federal pay raises, Trump cited his statutory authority to adjust pay because of “national emergency or serious economic conditions affecting the general welfare,” but the President frequently touts a growing US economy, including a strong growth rate for the gross domestic product and low unemployment.
The next president will probably use the line from “Duck Soup”: “If you think this country is in bad shape now, just wait ’til I get through with it” (Although the Donald has done a pretty good job of following that movie plot: "To war, to war, Freedonia’s going to war!)
The economy grew at a measly 2.1 percent in the last quarter of 2019. The tax cut failed to deliver 3 percent growth (let alone the 4 percent or 5 percent growth that Trump’s supply-side sect promised) and left us drowning in an ocean of debt. For all that debt, we did not get an infrastructure bill, a huge investment in science or education, or much of anything that will jump-start our currently anemic productivity rate. We did not even get his ridiculous wall (only a mile of completely new wall has been built). His entire claim about having turned around the economy is pure nonsense. That is President Barack Obama’s main accomplishment.Indeed, a surprising number of accomplishments he does claim (e.g. energy independence, most jobs, most deportations) belong to Obama, who, for having done all that, must have been a great president in Republicans’ estimation.Criminal-justice reform? “Trump signed the First Step Act in 2018. One of the biggest pieces of the First Step Act — a provision that reduced sentences for crack cocaine offenses — was an extension of Obama’s efforts in 2010,” my fact-checking colleagues note. “We gave Three Pinocchios to Trump for claiming that he accomplished what Obama could not.” Once more, no matter how hard he spins, he cannot eradicate his predecessor’s record; he cannot even match it. …
To be sure, a replacement for NAFTA was passed. However, the changes in the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA) are largely the work of the Democratic House, which insisted on mechanisms for enforcing labor and environmental standards. (The Wall Street Journal groused that House Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s demands were “never-ending.”)
The White House Toad hasn’t given up on THE WALL; he’s just dropped mostly the claim that Mexico is paying for it. There is a 2 billion dollar line item for it in his next fiscal budget. Of course he is starting to receive heat from his Crime Cartel because the record-setting pace of the national debt might cost the Repulsicans in the upcoming election. So the Toad is proposing cuts to Social Security, Medicare, Medicaid,etc. to slow the increase of the national debt.
It’s amazing how what’s his face acts like he’s above the law! The latest being that he complained to the AG that his buddy? Jolly Roger Stone’s sentence was too harsh. The attorney’s represented the Federal Government quit and one left the DOJ. I’m afraid that Bill Maher is right about we’re having a slow coup.
RobinHood over 4 years ago
They say that these are not the best of times
But they’re the only times I’ve ever known
And I believe there is a time for meditation
In cathedrals of our own
Now we are forced to recognize our inhumanity
A reason coexists with our insanity
Though we choose between reality and madness
It’s either sadness or euphoria
Billy Joel
Brain Pudding over 4 years ago
We are living in amazing times.
Lowest unemplyment in decades.
Economic propsperity helping all.
More secure from foreign threats.
Energy independence (how manynhave promised that and failed to deliver?)!
Enjoy the good times, they are here!
Silly Season over 4 years ago
President Donald Trump on Monday justified a smaller-than-anticipated proposed pay raise for civilian federal workers by citing “national emergency or serious economic conditions,” despite his frequent statements that the nation’s economy is booming.
Trump proposed that pay raises for civilian federal workers be limited to 1% in 2021 in a bid to “maintain efforts to put our Nation on a fiscally sustainable course.” He described a pay increase above 1% as “inappropriate.”
“This alternative pay plan decision will not materially affect our ability to attract and retain a well qualified Federal workforce,” the President wrote.
An across-the-board 2.5% increase for federal workers is slated to take effect in January 2021.
In limiting federal pay raises, Trump cited his statutory authority to adjust pay because of “national emergency or serious economic conditions affecting the general welfare,” but the President frequently touts a growing US economy, including a strong growth rate for the gross domestic product and low unemployment.
https://www.cnn.com/2020/02/10/politics/trump-federal-employee-pay-adjustments/index.html
Khatkhattu Premium Member over 4 years ago
The next president will probably use the line from “Duck Soup”: “If you think this country is in bad shape now, just wait ’til I get through with it” (Although the Donald has done a pretty good job of following that movie plot: "To war, to war, Freedonia’s going to war!)
martens over 4 years ago
From Jennifer Rubin of the WashPost:
The economy grew at a measly 2.1 percent in the last quarter of 2019. The tax cut failed to deliver 3 percent growth (let alone the 4 percent or 5 percent growth that Trump’s supply-side sect promised) and left us drowning in an ocean of debt. For all that debt, we did not get an infrastructure bill, a huge investment in science or education, or much of anything that will jump-start our currently anemic productivity rate. We did not even get his ridiculous wall (only a mile of completely new wall has been built). His entire claim about having turned around the economy is pure nonsense. That is President Barack Obama’s main accomplishment.Indeed, a surprising number of accomplishments he does claim (e.g. energy independence, most jobs, most deportations) belong to Obama, who, for having done all that, must have been a great president in Republicans’ estimation.Criminal-justice reform? “Trump signed the First Step Act in 2018. One of the biggest pieces of the First Step Act — a provision that reduced sentences for crack cocaine offenses — was an extension of Obama’s efforts in 2010,” my fact-checking colleagues note. “We gave Three Pinocchios to Trump for claiming that he accomplished what Obama could not.” Once more, no matter how hard he spins, he cannot eradicate his predecessor’s record; he cannot even match it. …
To be sure, a replacement for NAFTA was passed. However, the changes in the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA) are largely the work of the Democratic House, which insisted on mechanisms for enforcing labor and environmental standards. (The Wall Street Journal groused that House Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s demands were “never-ending.”)
kentmarx36 over 4 years ago
The White House Toad hasn’t given up on THE WALL; he’s just dropped mostly the claim that Mexico is paying for it. There is a 2 billion dollar line item for it in his next fiscal budget. Of course he is starting to receive heat from his Crime Cartel because the record-setting pace of the national debt might cost the Repulsicans in the upcoming election. So the Toad is proposing cuts to Social Security, Medicare, Medicaid,etc. to slow the increase of the national debt.
Jim Kerner over 4 years ago
It’s amazing how what’s his face acts like he’s above the law! The latest being that he complained to the AG that his buddy? Jolly Roger Stone’s sentence was too harsh. The attorney’s represented the Federal Government quit and one left the DOJ. I’m afraid that Bill Maher is right about we’re having a slow coup.