House Republicans urge Trump to reconsider opposition to federal pay hike

[steve2470]

Source: Washington Post

In a rare break with President Trump, a growing number of congressional Republicans are calling on him to reverse his opposition to giving federal employees a pay raise next year, warning his stance could hurt the party in November’s midterm elections.

Some GOP lawmakers fear denying even a small pay increase to the 2.1 million civil servants across the country could be politically damaging in House districts the GOP is defending this fall, particularly those with heavy concentrations of federal workers that provide support to military bases.

“Look, a lot of members have a significant federal presence in their district and feel very strongly about this,” said Rep. Tom Cole (R-Okla.), whose constituents include more than 20,000 federal workers, the majority at Tinker Air Force Base.

“The idea that people who are comparatively well-off get tax cuts and we’re not going to help federal employees get a reasonable raise .?.?. I think it’s a signal to the workforce about how they’re valued,” added Cole, who was among 23 House lawmakers who sent a letter to Trump last week urging him to reconsider his position.

Read more: https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/house-republicans-urge-trump-to-reconsider-opposition-to-federal-pay-hike/2018/09/12/86d31fee-b2c8-11e8-a20b-5f4f84429666_story.html?utm_term=.3633ceb70a1f

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September 12 at 8:43 PM was when the story was posted at WaPo, so less than 12 hours ago

[TexasTowelie]

1. Government employees also turn out to vote in much higher percentages

than the general populace. It will be interesting to see the backlash in November against Trump's decision.

[bucolic_frolic]

2. Republicans lose their principles when facing ejection from office

Hell, they'd ban coal if they thought it would get them re-elected so they could get more coal campaign cash and let coal run rampant. Some would even eat the stuff!

[BumRushDaShow]

3. Once again, Congress can implement the raise

in legislation (e.g., the appropriations bills for FY19) and it would go into effect unless he vetoed the attempt and they can't override. The dog and pony show is more due to a 1994 law (Pay Comparability Act) that would implement an "automatic" HUGE raise based on certain economic factors related to the private/public wage gap, "unless the President sets a different amount", etc.

[PatSeg]

4. True

Yet once again republicans in congress are intimidated by Donald Trump and don't want to rub him the wrong way. They couldn't be more spineless.

[BumRushDaShow]

6. Yup. The cowards rubberstamp anything he demands.

[PatSeg]

7. Prior to becoming president,

Trump was looked at as just a joke by all but a handful of republicans. His bullying tactics are so childish and ridiculous, yet they seem to work on republicans in congress. Though I think Putin may have helped him out a bit too with compromising info on them.

[lagomorph777]

5. No, go for it Donnie! Stick it to those bureaucrats!

We need to flip Northern Virginia blue, and you are helping so much!