Political Quotes

“I'd like to enter into the Record three letters from representatives of public employees and retirees who are wondering why it is that they've had to sacrifice $60 billion of reductions over the last decade when they didn't create the deficit and yet they're asked to pay for it. The National Treasury Employees Union, February 16, 2012. Dear Representative: On behalf of the 150,000 federal employees represented by NTEU, I am writing to urge you to VOTE NO on the conference report on H.R. 3630, the payroll tax extension legislation. This conference report singles out one group--federal employees--to offset fully half the cost ($15 out of $30 billion) of the unemployment insurance extension included in the bill, while there are no offsets included for the payroll holiday extension. Federal employees are in the second year of a two year pay freeze that is contributing $60 billion to deficit reduction. It is unconscionable to come back to them for a second $15 billion hit, while no other group has been asked to sacrifice. Under this agreement, millionaires and billionaires continue to keep their tax cuts and corporations that have shipped jobs overseas keep their tax loopholes, but middle class federal employees who guard our borders, keep our food and water safe and protect our financial systems will get a 2.3% pay cut due to increases in pension contributions with no increase in benefits.…”