Proposals to abolish the IRS continue while the FAIR Act proposes a 3.6% pay increase to Feds
From NTEU, February 7, 2019:
Legislation that would abolish the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) has been introduced by Representative Rob Woodall (R-GA) in the House of Representatives. The bill, H.R. 25, the “Fair Tax Act of 2019” is similar to legislation introduced by Representative Woodall in previous Congresses.
NTEU is strongly opposed to this misguided legislation and will work with our supporters in the House to block its enactment. Furthermore, we will continue to underscore to Congress the important role the IRS serves in administering our nation’s tax laws and assisting taxpayers in understanding and meeting their tax obligations, in addition to fighting to ensure that the agency is provided with the resources it needs to carry out its mission.
From NTEU, February 7, 2019:
Senator Brian Schatz (D-HI) and Representative Gerry Connolly (D-VA) introduced the NTEU- supported FAIR Act, which would provide a 3.6 percent pay increase to federal employees in January 2020.
The Federal Employee Pay Comparability Act (5 USC 5303) indicates that federal employees should receive a 2.6 percent pay raise in January 2020, prior to any amount being provided for locality pay rate increases. This formula is designed to ensure that the gap between federal government and private sector wages does not further deteriorate. According to the most recent Federal Pay Agent Report, the current pay disparity is over 30 percent. Providing federal workers a 3.6% pay raise in 2020 would begin to help address the shortfall in pay over the past few years and help make the federal government a more competitive employer.
NTEU whole-heartedly supports the FAIR Act for 2020 as we continue the fight to secure a pay increase for 2019. As part of that effort, NTEU sent a letter to the Senate in support of the Federal Civilian Workforce Pay Raise Fairness Act of 2019, H.R. 790 and S. 262, which would provide a 2.6 percent pay increase for federal employees this year and provide parity with the military. NTEU also joined with other federal employee groups in sending a letter in support of pay parity.
As you know well, federal employees, like all other Americans, face rising food, utility, college, and health care costs. Federal employees and their families deserve fair pay, and NTEU will fight to ensure employees receive a fair pay raise in 2019 as part the final funding agreement for Fiscal Year 2019 and in 2020.