(Nov. 12) -- Working for the federal government is a good gig, if you can get it.
The number of federal employees raking in over $150,000 a year has multiplied tenfold in the past half decade and doubled since Barack Obama became president, according to a USA Today analysis.
Rep. Jason Chaffetz, R-Utah, who will oversee a panel addressing federal pay levels, suggests that federal workers consider an immediate pay freeze along with a 10 percent salary reduction.
"It's stunning when you see what's happened to federal compensation," Chaffetz says. "Every metric shows we're heading in the wrong direction."
Fiscally conservative lawmakers are already concerned with the president's plan to offer a universal 1.4 percent pay raise to over 2.1 million federal workers. Despite the opposition, National Treasury Employees Union President Colleen Kelley calls the increase a "modest amount" that " should be implemented" considering the discrepancy between federal salaries and the private sector.
Those who defend the pay levels point to the significant number of doctors -- working in veteran's hospitals, prisons and elsewhere -- earning these high wages. Many of the higher-salaried workers are also veteran staff, working for the federal government upwards of 15 to 20 years.
Various reports show just how complex and seemingly mangled the federal pay system is. James Sherk, a researcher with conservative think-tank The Heritage Foundation, believes the federal compensation system needs to be fixed.
"On average, the government is paying a typical employee 30 to 40 percent more in total benefits -- both wages and salaries -- than a similarly educated and skilled private-sector [worker] would receive," Sherk told NPR. "But ... there are, in fact, some federal employees who are getting underpaid because the federal pay system doesn't reward experience or hard work -- it's basically entirely seniority based."
Read more at USA Today.
Follow Surge Desk on Twitter.
Number of Federal Workers Earning Over $150,000 Doubles Under Obama
Nov 12, 2010 – 3:12 PM
Tagged: barack obama, barack obama - united states of america - world leader, colleen kelley, compensation, employment, employment compensation, federal compensation, federal employee, federal employee benefits, federal employees, federal salaries, fiscal, fiscal policy, heritage foundation, james sherk, jason chaffetz, money, obama, obama administration, salaries, salary, salary information, the heritage foundation, usa today
Leveled Schools Lacked Tornado Shelters Due To Haphazard Regulation
Big Step Forward For Senate Immigration Bill
Moore Residents Take Stock Of Deadly Tornado's Full Horror
CBS Reporter's Grave Allegations
Oklahoma Senators Face Difficult Options On Disaster Relief
State GOP Staffer: I Was Fired After Reporting Sexual Harassment
Child Identified As Tornado Victim
U.S. Seized Phone Records For Fox News AND White House
Many Insurance Payments Won't Cut It After Oklahoma Disaster
WATCH: McCain Asks Apple CEO One Extremely Pressing Question
Student Debt Reaches New Heights
IRS Inspector General's Staff Kept GOP Congressman Updated On Probe
LOOK: The Deadliest States For Tornadoes
BEFORE/AFTER PHOTOS: Oklahoma Tornado Destruction
Elizabeth Warren Wants To Know If The New Treasury Secretary Will Be As Bad As The Old One
WATCH: Tornadoes Rip Through Central U.S.
Benghazi Suspects Identified, But...
WATCH: Tornado Victim Finds Dog During CBS Interview
Jamie Dimon Win Sends A Dangerous Message To Wall Street
Reports: U.S. Drone Strikes Ineffective
Harry Reid Punts Key Vote To July, Setting Up Filibuster Fight
Will She Get Life Or Death?
GOP Senators Doubles Down On Susan Rice Claims
Major IRS Scandal Figure To Plead Fifth
Obama Reportedly Suggests Putting Off Gay Marriage Controversy In Immigration
RFK Jr.: GOP To Blame For IRS Scandal
Inhofe: Oklahoma Aid Will Be 'Totally Different' From Sandy Aid
SHOCKING: Abusive Priest Was Paid To Pray For Catholics
'LET'S GET READY TO SCANDAAAAAL!'
