From the office of U.S. Sen. Barbara Mikulski:
Announcement builds on first COLA in three years that Chairwoman Mikulski fought to permit and pay for in the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2014
WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Barbara A. Mikulski (D-Md.), Chairwoman of the Senate Appropriations Committee, today praised President Obama’s proposal for a one percent Cost-of-Living Adjustment (COLA) for civilian federal employees in 2015.
“I’m pleased that President Obama has proposed a COLA for federal employees in 2015. This modest COLA would go a long way in further recognizing the value of federal employees and help bring to a close years of pay freezes,” Senator Mikulski said. “I’m proud to fight on the front lines on behalf of federal employee pay just as federal employees work on the front lines each and every day on behalf of the American people. Federal employees have been undervalued and underappreciated for too long. Each and every day, federal employees stand up for America. That’s why I will continue to stand up for federal employees.”
As Chairwoman of the Senate Appropriations Committee, Senator Mikulski fought to end a three year pay freeze for federal employees by making sure the final agreement to reopen the federal government in October would permit the President to implement his plan for a one-percent COLA for federal employees on the GS Pay Scale. That COLA took effect on January 1, 2014.
Ending the pay freeze for blue-collar federal workers covered by the Federal Wage System required additional legislation. Senator Mikulski made sure it was specifically enacted in the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2014. And Senator Mikulski also ensured the spending law put funds in the federal checkbook to pay for the one-percent COLA for both GS and wage-grade federal employees.
Maryland is home to the headquarters of 20 major federal agencies, from the Social Security Administration to the Food and Drug Administration. More than 300,000 federal employees and retirees live and work in Maryland, serving the nation and serving the world.
Sure Barbara, it’s easy to keep spending more and more money that you and the federal government don’t have to increase the national deficit. I will be impressed when you do something to manage taxpayer funds to balance the budget!
Even better: Civil Service retirees will get 1.8%!
http://www.govexec.com/pay-benefits/2014/08/cola-hovering-around-18-percent-now/92444/
“Federal and military retirees might have noticed a slight dip in 2015 cost-of-living adjustment calculations, based on the latest data from the Labor Department.
The exact cost-of-living adjustment for next year won’t be known until October when all the numbers are in, but plugging into the formula the latest available data results in a 1.8 percent increase, down a bit from the 1.9 percent estimate based on June statistics. The Consumer Price Index for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers (CPI-W) fell 0.1 percent in July, after increasing in May and June. The CPI-W measures price changes in food, housing, gas and other goods and services; the annual COLA for retirees is based on CPI-W data.”
“Stand up for Federal employees” ? What has the Senator done to secure the release of our Marine being held captive in Mexico ?
He commited a crime by going into Mexico with weapons, he should do the time. You want illegals to go to jail for crossing our borders, you can,t have it both ways. That’s the problem with America today, he broke the law, simple as that.
Something the Senator does very well………SPEND!!!
Maybe you guys should be more concerned about Burger King buying a Canadian company for the sole purpose of avoiding US tax code? No, instead you worry about workers and retired people getting a raise of 1%.
Maybe if U.S. tax code and regulation wasn’t so detrimental to profit and growth companies would not be looking to go the way of Burger King. Here in M.D. the O’Malley/Brown admin. has created such an anti-business environment that thousands of employers have left the state. Do you think these businesses wanted to go through what it takes to relocate. Dems. still don’t get the proven idea of lower taxes and less regulation equaling higher revenues and employment. The only reason our state economy isn’t totally in the dumpster is our proximity to D.C. and all the Fed. teat money that enters M.D. Wake up M.D. voters !
Yea everyone is moving to Kentucky those tax breaks Brownback passed are working wonderfully.
I mean have you even been to Kentucky? Its the garden spot of Appalachia! *Everyone* wants to be in Appalachia.
Tax rates are detrimental to growth as Burger King is a very profitable company. We are talking about the contrast seen when a govt employee gets a raise vs. a national company willfully trying to avoid paying taxes. Would you become a Canadian national while working and living in USA? Tax code needs to get these cheaters to own up to their tax responsibility. It is like having a table at the flea market and finding a way to have someone else give you a free table. Pathetic, I don’t plan to ever shop at greedy burger king. In fact, I already told my broker to dump my BBKing shares.
Going to B.K. to get my lunch. Damn 6% sales tax.
Freestate? you should change your name to Freeloader, that’s more like it. What part of the government that must provide a service and not charge a fee for service don’t you understand? It would be like buying life insurance or health insurance when near death or gravely ill? It think that’s more like it. Freeloaders and tax evaders are like boys impregnating the ladies and have someone else pay for their offspring. You are a pathetic person and worthless. You should move to Canada and you are no better than people coming over to the USA to take our services. You, Burger King and a bunch of illegals that’s what’s wrong in our country. Everyone wants to pay nothing and have everything.
your hyperbolic statements regarding Maryland and all the thousands of employers is nothing but a bunch of lies. Maryland is doing better than Virginia and most southern states except for maybe TX thanks to oil for them. Fact, most higher taxed states are actually richer and doing better than low tax states. Northeast, West and Mid-west are higher taxed states than south and have better education, health, transportation, social services and standard of living. The south has warmer weather which is nice when you retire from the north. If you don’t like Maryland then leave same for the county.
Free loader, That statement is bull shit.
babs is a troll I wish she would retire and move to california
she like all of the demokrauts here in MD are worthless trash
It would be better if all REPUBLICANS would move to soviet union sense you guys think Pouton is such a great leader.
Like every other article, there will be 100 comments, with 40 different names, and in reality, only between 5-10 people talking amongst themselves.
Maryland is masking their real tax revenue issue (its been falling for a while), it will be interesting to see how they will screw citizens with new taxes and fees in the future if a new Omalley clone governor is elected,
Concerning Burger King, I applaud their choice, businesses are in business to make money not to fund an entitlement government, if you want to place blame, direct it toward the incompetent Obama administration and their punitive business laws.
Obviously you have drank too much tea.
So the solution is to bail out on your country just for tax purposes? I am glad most corporate entities do not see it that way! Yes, the tax code needs some reforms but to actually become a foreign corporation over remaining a national company is a bit much, I think. To your statement though, who’s job is it to fund the government we have? It shouldn’t be the poor? the middle class? the 1%? or should it be a fee for service model? which doesn’t really work in a public service setting. I think if BK wants to be defended by our laws, military and have their employees cared by our medical system, that they need to pay their fair share. I don’t want Canadian fires with that Canadian burger!! If I want Canadian I can go there or get if from a genuine entity not a tax loop a%%$#$#hole. AND, our tax code remains that it has been for the past 3 administrations or so, can’t place the blame on Obama since legislation starts in the House and the Senate.