THE TENSION: Wire: Obama Budget Caps Military, Civilian Pay Raises

News in Balance:

WASHINGTON, Feb. 26, 2009 -- Writing in the Washington Post, reporter Steve Vogel notes that pay increases for military personnel are to be capped 2.9 percent, an amount described in the budget summary as reflecting "the priorities of an administration that is committed to caring for the service members who protect our security and the families who support them."

The report also said civilian employees of the federal government will be limited to a 2 percent pay increase in 2010 under the proposed budget.

The administration describes the proposed increase as reflective of the current economic crisis and bringing federal pay and benefit practices more in line with what workers in the private sector are experiencing.

The fiscal 2010 budget summary released this morning notes that Obama has ordered a freeze of White House senior staff pay. "In this budget, federal employees also will be asked to do their part," the summary states.

The proposed increase compares with a 3.9 percent increase for federal workers in 2009 and 3.5 percent in 2008.