Tom Coburn: “I said the attrition rate in the Federal Government versus private industry is about one-fifth. Number two is, we did…”

“I said the attrition rate in the Federal Government versus private industry is about one-fifth. Number two is, we did need to raise military pay, but we do not pay military on average anywhere close to what we are paying Federal civilian employees. And to say because we are trying to bring them up to retain when we do not have the retention problem in the rest of the government I think is not an accurate argument. The final point I would make: In last year's appropriation there was over $400 million for buildings in this bill that are not in there this year. So the real expenditure that the American people needs to know is this bill has gone up $640 million. Because we are not buying $400-plus million worth of buildings this year. We are applying that to run the IRS and some of the other agencies that we run. So even though the net is only up this additional $240 million, I think it is accurate to say that. And I am not saying we do not necessarily need to do that. My complaint was on the $330 million, Mr. Chairman, not the $240 million.”