Guess who’s getting a pay raise? (And Guess who's paying for it?)

Hotair ^ | 12/30/2012 | Jazz Shaw

[SeekAndFind]

Some days, it seems like there’s just no limit to what you can do with an executive order. The most recent addition to the list of many hundreds of EOs signed by Barack Obama lifts a freeze on the pay rates for certain DC denizens. The largest beneficiary of this largess (skimpy though it may be) is a name which may come as a surprise.

President Barack Obama issued an executive order to end the pay freeze on federal employees, in effect giving some federal workers a raise. One federal worker now to receive a pay increase is Vice President Joe Biden.

According to disclosure forms, Biden made a cool $225,521 last year. After the pay increase, he’ll now make $231,900 per year.

Also on the list for a bump next are all of the Senators, House members, John Boehner, majority and minority leaders in both chambers and all the members of the Supreme Court. (Among others.) But as pay raises go, it’s not particularly generous. We’re talking about one half of one percent across the board. The total price tag for the raises works out to $500M in 2013 and $11B spread out over ten years. But the optics on this are still terrible. We just finished up an endless campaign where both candidates constantly reminded us of not only the unacceptable unemployment rates, but of the stagnant wages of a shrinking middle class. Lots of people are once again getting no pay raise at all this year, with most of them just thanking their lucky stars to have a job. Turning around and giving your second in command a raise on his salary – which is already roughly five times the median income in the nation – is going to ring sour in many ears.

And doing it by Executive Order just pours salt in the wound. Remember this?

As a candidate, Obama railed against former President Bush’s expansion of presidential powers, particularly his push to invade Iraq.

“These last few years we’ve seen an unacceptable abuse of power at home,” then-candidate Obama said in Chicago in October of 2007. “We’ve paid a heavy price for having a president whose priority is expanding his own

Bad optics for someone who is famous for being the premier politician of his generation.

[TADSLOS]

President Camacho and his mighty pen.

[FlingWingFlyer]

Just a little “thank you” from Barry to all of his supporters.

[Tzimisce]

Yeah well - it’s time you racists shut your mouths and pay your fair share.

The liberals won after all. :)

[sickoflibs]

How was the COLI suspended to begin with?
His executive order?

So will the House fund this when they cave on Os other demands?

[tumblindice]

President Camacho: You know what? S***. I know s***'s bad right now, with all that starving bulls***, and the dust storms, and we are running out of french fries and burrito coverings. But make no mistake about it, I got a solution. South Carolina Representative # 1: That's what you said last time, dips***! South Carolina Representative # 2: Yeah, I got a solution, you're a d***! South Carolina, what's up!

[Trod Upon]

Parasites. Where’s that can of Raid when we need it?

[TADSLOS]

President Camacho: Now I understand everyone's s***'s emotional right now. But I've got a 3 point plan that's going to fix EVERYTHING.

Congressman #1: Break it down, Camacho!

President Camacho: Number 1: We've got this guy Not Sure. Number 2: He's got a higher IQ than ANY MAN ALIVE. and Number 3: He's going to fix EVERYTHING.

Mmmm Mmmm Mmmm... Barack Hussein Obama...

[tumblindice]

I'm not sure ....

[JohnBovenmyer]

Take them to court. Some of that can easily be delayed two years:

27th Amendment
No law varying the compensation for the services of the Senators and Representatives shall take effect until an election of Representatives shall have intervened.

Thank you James Madison! Now somebody file the injunction to delay Harry Reid's raise.

BTW, although this is now counted as the 27th it was written as part of the original Bill of Rights and was actually listed 2nd there. Freedom of Religion etc. was 3rd, Right to Bear Arms 4th, etc. The original 1st remains unratified, but eligible if 27 more states sign on. Oddly we're actually in compliance with its proposed limits on the size of the House.

[Libloather]

[TADSLOS]

IPPA Computer: Welcome to the Identity Processsing Program of Uhmerica!
Please insert your forearm into the forearm receptacle!
[Joe inserts his arm]
IPPA Computer: Thank you! Please speak your name as it appears on your
current federal identity card, document G24L8!
Pvt. Joe Bowers: I'm not sure if...
IPPA Computer: You have entered the name "Not Sure." Is this correct, Not
Sure?
Pvt. Joe Bowers: No, it's not correct...
IPPA Computer: Thank you! "Not" is correct. Is "Sure" correct?
Pvt. Joe Bowers: No, it's not, my name is Joe...
IPPA Computer: You have already confirmed your first name is "Not."
Please confirm your last name, "Sure."
Pvt. Joe Bowers: My last name is not "Sure!"
IPPA Computer: Thank you, Not Sure!
Pvt. Joe Bowers: No, what I mean is my name is Joe...
IPPA Computer: Confirmation is complete. Please wait while I tattoo your new identity on your arm!

Welcome to the new normal.

[USNBandit]

This is all about paying off his constituencies. Half a percent to stop the screaming from the federal employees that are unionized. Half a percent doesn’t go a long way when the cost of Obamacare will raise their premiums way more than that.

[CottShop]

[[in effect giving some federal workers a raise. One federal worker now to receive a pay increase is Vice President... ]]

Meanwhile, millions of elderly livign on next to nothign aren’t ‘due a cost of livign increase’ because ‘the cost of livign index shows no cost of livign icnrease apaprently for the last 3 years’ DESPITE the FACT that EVERYTING has skyrocketted in price to a point where people livign off a scant $1000 a month or less in soem cases can’t afford to get even the basic necessities anymore-

But by golly, make sure congressional rich folks get their pay icnreases- They’ll be enjoying hteir lucrative increases while millions of elderly will have to live in homes that are far too cold to live healthily in- and will have to make a choice between eating or gettign their medications-

[napscoordinator]

Congress should not receive a paycheck in 2013 at all. What have they accomplished in the last four years....NADA! They have been an accessory to the increased debt every time they vote for a higher amount.

[deport]

Info for the thread.....

From the EO signed by Obama;

http://www.opm.gov/oca/compmemo/2012/2013PAY_Attach.pdf

By the authority vested in me as President by the Constitution and the laws of the United States of America, including section 114(b) of the Continuing Appropriations Resolution, 2013 (Public Law 112–175), which provides that any statutory adjustments to current levels in certain pay schedules for civilian Federal employees may take effect on the first day of the first applicable pay period beginning after the date specified in section 106(3) of Public Law 112–175, it is hereby ordered as follows:

*****************

Continuing Appropriations Act Passed by Congress in 2012:
http://www.govtrack.us/congress/bills/112/hjres117

Sec. 114. (a) Section 147 of Public Law 111-242, as added by Public Law 111-322, shall be applied by substituting the date specified in section 106(3) of this joint resolution for ‘December 31, 2012’ each place it appears.

(b) Notwithstanding any other provision of law, any statutory pay adjustment (as defined in section 147(b)(2) of the Continuing Appropriations Act, 2011 (Public Law 111-242)) otherwise scheduled to take effect during fiscal year 2013 but prior to the date specified in section 106(3) of this joint resolution may take effect on the first day of the first applicable pay period beginning after the date specified in section 106(3).

Introduced Sep 10, 2012
Passed House Sep 13, 2012
Passed Senate Sep 22, 2012
Signed by the President Sep 28, 2012

***********

Here is a link to EOs regarding pay implementations going back to the end of the Clinton term. They go back beyond Clinton.

Executive Orders regarding Pay Schedules

[TArcher]

BOHICA!