Political Quotes

“Finally, let me just close with this observation. The long-term salary savings from work force reductions will, in fact, far exceed anything that can be achieved under either the RIF or the attrition and hiring freeze approach. The clear superiority of buyouts as a work force reduction tool, in addition to the cost consideration, are significant nondirect cost factors, such as the ability to target the reductions, thereby maximizing work force efficiency as well as diversity, minimizing the disruption of the agency mission and maintaining work force morale. So, Madam President, I close on the point on which I began, and that is the urgency now of achieving this buyout legislation. The further we move into the fiscal year, the less value buyouts have, because the offsetting benefits from the savings which result from not paying out the salary and benefits diminish with each pay period that goes by. Of course, in the lower-grade jobs, you are at that point now. The cost of the buyout is potentially higher than the savings that will be achieved in the current fiscal year. This negates it as a tool to be used to achieve our objective of reducing the work force, but in a way that is rational, sensible, and accomplishes this objective without having a negative impact on the workings of the Government.”