TESTIMONEY OF REPRESENTATIVE STAN PARRIS BEFORE THE POST OFFICE AND CIVIL SERVICE SUBCOMMITTEE ON COMPENSATION AND EMPLOYEE BENEFITS

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP87M01152R000100050020-9
• Release Decision: RIFPUB
• Original Classification: K
• Document Page Count: 3
• Document Creation Date: December 22, 2016
• Document Release Date: January 4, 2010
• Sequence Number: 20
• Publication Date: February 23, 1985
• Content Type: MISC

Approved For Release 2010/01/04: CIA-RDP87M01152R000100050020-9
TESTIMONY
of
REPRESENTATIVE STAN PARRIS
before the
POST OFFICE AND CIVIL SERVICE SUBCOMMT1TEE ON COMPENSATION AND EMPLOYEE BENEFITS
Hearing on
FISCAL YEAR 1986 BUDGET PROPOSALS
February 23, 1985
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MADAME CHAIR, I APPRECIATE THIS OPPORTUNITY TO TESTIFY BEFORE
THE HOUSE POST OFFICE CIVIL SERVICE SUBCOMMITTEE ON COMPENSATION
AND EMPLOYEE BENEFITS REGARDING THE ADMINISTRATION'S PROPOSED
FY 86 BUDGET CHANGES FOR FEDERAL WORKERS AND RETIREES. DURING THE
PAST FEW YEARS, THE CIVIL SERVICE HAS BEEN FACED WITH A LARGE
NUMBER OF NEW PROPOSALS. HOWEVER, THIS YEAR'S BUDGET
RECOMMENDATIONS FOR THE.FISCAL YEAR BEGINNING THIS OCTOBER ARE
PARTICULARLY DRACONIAN.
I RECOGNIZE THE NEED FOR BUDGET RESTRAINT AND I STRONGLY
SUPPORT DEFICIT-REDUCTION MEASURES, BUT AS I HAVE SAID ON A NUMBER
OF OCCASIONS BEFORE THIS SUBCOMMITTEE, ACTIVE AND RETIRED
GOVERNMENT WORKERS HAVE ALREADY MADE THEIR FAIR SHARE OF
SACRIFICES. THIS YEAR'S PROPOSED BUDGET FURTHER PUNISHES AN
ALREADY EMBATTLED FEDERAL WORKFORCE - NOT TO MENTION THAT MOST OF
THE PROPOSALS WOULD HAVE LITTLE OR NO IMPACT ON REDUCING THE
FISCAL 1986 BUDGET DEFICIT. IT WOULD TAKE A NUMBER OF YEARS
BEFORE THE IMPACT OF SUCH CHANGES WOULD MAKE THEMSELVES FELT.
MORE IMPORTANTLY, THE CUMULATIVE EFFECT OF THESE PROPOSALS
WOULD BE DEVASTATING TO AN EMPLOYEE, SAY IN MY DISTRICT, WHO HAS A
FAMILY TO FEED .AND CHILDREN TO SEND TO COLLEGE IN AN AREA WITH ONE
OF THE HIGHEST STANDARDS OF LIVING IN THE COUNTRY. FOR SEVERAL
YEARS NOW, GOVERNMENT WORKERS HAVE RECEIVED LIMITED AND DELAYED
PAY INCREASES, HAVE HAD SUBSTANTIAL REDUCTIONS IN HEALTH BENEFITS
WHILE THEIR PREMIUMS HAVE INCREASED, AND HAVE HAD TO PAY A
MEDICARE TAX, JUST TO MENTION A FEW EXAMPLES. NOW THE
ADMINISTRATION EXPECTS EMPLOYEES TO WORK AN EXTRA TEN YEARS,
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ACCEPT A PENSION COMPUTATION CHANGE, THROW AWAY ACCUMULATED SICK
LEAVE AT RETIREMENT, AND TAKE A FIVE PERCENT PAY CUT - A PROPOSAL
.LAST TRIED DURING THE 1930s IN THE MIDST OF THE GREAT DEPRESSION.
MOREOVER, THE OFFICE OF MANAGEMENT AND BUDGET HAS PROPOSED THE
ELIMINATION OF 25,000 JOBS IN FEDERAL REGIONAL AND FIELD OFFICES
IN TEN DIFFERENT AGENCIES, THE BULK COMING FROM THE SOCIAL
SECURITY ADMINISTRATION.
THIS IS A SIMPLE MATTER OF EQUITY. HOW MUCH LONGER CAN WE
MAKE THESE DEMANDS ON FEDERAL WORKERS AND EXPECT THEM TO STAY IN
THEIR JOBS OR PERFORM PRODUCTIVELY? SINCE I RETURNED TO THE
CONGRESS FOUR YEARS AGO, I HAVE BEEN PREDICTING THAT THESE TYPES
OF PROPOSALS WILL RESULT IN A FEDERAL GOVERNMENT COMPRISED OF
PEOPLE WHO CAN'T GET JOBS IN THE PRIVATE SECTOR.
MADAME CHAIR, I REGRET THIS IS NO LONGER A MATTER OF
PREDICTING THE FUTURE. CIVIL SERVANTS ARE LEAVING THE GOVERNMENT
IN UNPRECEDENTED NUMBERS, TOP COLLEGE GRADUATES ARE BEING
DISCOURAGED FROM MAKING CIVIL SERVICE A CAREER, AND LIFE-TIME
FEDERAL EMPLOYEES ARE TAKING EARLY RETIREMENT. EFFORTS TO ATTRACT
AND RETAIN SKILLED, CAPABLE PEOPLE IN FEDERAL SERVICE HAVE BEEN
SEVERELY REDUCED. AS A RESULT, THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT IS BECOMING
LESS RESPONSIVE AND RESPONSIBLE TO THE NEEDS OF EVERYONE.
I COMMEND THE SUBCOMMITTEE FOR ITS EFFORTS AND URGE IMMEDIATE
ACTION TO HAVE THESE PROPOSALS WITHDRAWN FROM FY 86 BUDGET
CONSIDERATIONS.
Approved For Release 2010/01/04: CIA-RDP87M01152R000100050020-9