Tag: Maryland

Hoyer casts ‘no’ vote in break with Dem leaders

December 12, 2013, 07:26 pm

Hoyer casts ‘no’ vote in break with Dem leaders

By Mike Lillis and Erik Wasson

 

Breaking with his fellow Democratic leaders, Rep. Steny Hoyer (D-Md.) on Thursday voted against a bipartisan deal to finance the government for the next two years.

The minority whip conceded that the controversial measure was “better than the alternative” of not reaching a deal, but he said he also wanted to make a statement that the package “does not deal with the fundamental issue of long-term fiscal stability.”

The Maryland lawmaker, who represents thousands of current and retired federal workers, acknowledged that his opposition came despite his role in negotiating some of the details of the final bill. Continue reading “Hoyer casts ‘no’ vote in break with Dem leaders”

Cardin expresses outrage over fed worker cuts

Sen. Ben Cardin, D-Md., on Capitol Hill.
Sen. Ben Cardin, D-Md., on Capitol Hill. (Getty Images )
December 06, 2013|By John Fritze | The Baltimore Sun

Sen. Ben Cardin sent a letter to Democratic Senate leaders Thursday (December 06, 2013 Senator Cardin Letter to Senator Reid re Budget Agreement Federal Workers) expressing outrage over reports that a budget deal developing in Congress may include further cuts to the federal workforce — the latest member of Maryland’s delegation to push back on the possibilities of those cuts.

Lawmakers in states with a high concentration of federal employees are reacting to rumors that negotiators are considering a 5.5 percentage point increase in how much federal employees would contribute toward retirement plans. Maryland is home to some 300,000 federal workers. Continue reading “Cardin expresses outrage over fed worker cuts”

Budget negotiators face alarm from federal workers

Budget negotiators face alarm from federal workers

By Lisa Desjardins CNN Congressional Reporter
POSTED: 8:14 PM Dec 05 2013
WASHINGTON (CNN) -A top lobbying group for federal workers rushed to Capitol Hill Thursday, following news that budget negotiators were considering a $20 billion change in government workers’ paychecks. The fast pushback is a potential political issue for budget leaders who aides say have been getting closer to a deal.

Rep. Chris Van Hollen, D-Maryland, who sits on the budget compromise committee, told reporters Thursday that Republicans were pushing for, and negotiators have been discussing, a proposal to increase how much most federal workers contribute toward their pension. A senior Republican House aide confirmed to CNN that the idea has been on the table in spending talks.

“This is something we strongly oppose,” said Jessica Klement, spokeswoman for the National Active and Retired Federal Employees Association, or NARFE. Out of breath while walking between congressional offices, Klement told CNN she is worried that the change may already be a done deal. Continue reading “Budget negotiators face alarm from federal workers”

Md.’s Democratic power players leading push against cuts to federal workers

 

December 05, 2013, 06:00 am

Md.’s Democratic power players leading push against cuts to federal workers

By Mike Lillis and Erik Wasson

 

The power players in the Maryland congressional delegation are pressuring Democratic leaders to oppose any new cuts affecting federal workers as part of a budget deal.

The lawmakers, who hold prominent spots in both chambers and represent thousands of federal employees, have long argued that those workers have been hit disproportionately amid efforts to cut deficit spending.

In their weekly meeting with House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.), several ranking members of prominent committees made clear Wednesday that they oppose any new cuts for federal workers.“Federal employees have become the whipping folks whenever there’s a need for money or some kind of offset,” Rep. Elijah Cummings (Md.), the senior Democrat on the Oversight and Government Reform Committee and a participant in the meeting, said afterward. “I think it’s totally unfair, and I think you would hear that from most of us from Maryland and Virginia.” Continue reading “Md.’s Democratic power players leading push against cuts to federal workers”

Government Pensions Under Fire Once Again

Government Pensions Under Fire Once Again

Liberal supporters circle the wagons.

Government Pensions Under Fire Once Again

Liberal supporters circle the wagons.

– See more at: http://www.thefiscaltimes.com/Articles/2013/12/04/Government-Pensions-Under-Fire-Once-Again#sthash.lN8STRLK.0eO3rmfa.dpufGovernment Pensions Under Fire Once Again

 

Liberal supporters circle the wagons.

– See more at: http://www.thefiscaltimes.com/Articles/2013/12/04/Government-Pensions-Under-Fire-Once-Again#sthash.lN8STRLK.0eO3rmfa.dpuf

Eric Pianin The Fiscal Times December 4, 2013

The heat is on unions again because of what many believe are overly generous benefits to government workers – especially as compared to those of private-sector workers. In Detroit, unions are up in arms over the new threat to city workers’ pensions in light of a federal judge’s decision that Detroit can move forward with the largest municipal bankruptcy proceeding in history – a threat to pensions that could reverberate throughout the country.

Now the potential budget deal between House Republican Paul Ryan and Senate Democrat Patty Murray – who are racing to meet a Dec. 13 deadline – proposes requiring federal workers to pay substantially more for their retirement benefits. The proposal has made the chairwoman of the Senate Appropriations Committee, Barbara Mikulski (D-MD), furious.

On Wednesday Mikulski sought to head off the proposal as part of the emerging budget deal to cancel the sequester for at least two years. Continue reading “Government Pensions Under Fire Once Again”

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