U.S. Representative

Washington, Feb 2, 2012 -

Freshman Florida Republican Dennis Ross said an automatic pay raise for federal workers is “out of whack” with private industry. The nation’s “appreciation” of federal workers “does not bring a mandate to pay them above market rate with little regard to their individual performance,” he said.

Ross said the legislation would save $26 billion. A cost- of-living raise “means much less money is available to highly skilled workers such as scientists and professionals,” he said.

Another Republican said the federal government already has too many highly paid workers. Utah Republican Jason Chaffetz said 450,000 government employees make more than $100,000 a year....(read more)