Doug Jones introduces back pay fairness act for fed workers with interest

[mikeymikec]

https://mynbc15.com/news/local/sen-...ss-act-to-reimburse-fed-workers-with-interest

Apologies if this has been posted already, the search function wasn't working at the time of posting.

MOBILE, Ala. (WPMI) — U.S. Senator Doug Jones last night introduced legislation that would require federal workers who were impacted by the shutdown to receive their full back-pay plus any interest accrued. Last week, Congress passed the Government Employee Fair Treatment Act of 2019, which would require that all impacted federal employees receive compensation for wages lost during the government shutdown. While this is an important step, the shutdown has forced many federal workers to incur additional costs associated with loans, late bill payments, and the other effects of missing paychecks.

“If the federal government can charge you interest for being late on your taxes, then it should be paying interest on late paychecks,” said Senator Doug Jones, who has also requested his paycheck be withheld until federal workers receive their back pay. “The more than 5,500 federal workers in Alabama didn’t ask for a shutdown and shouldn’t be punished for it. It’s only fair that the government pays them back with interest for putting them out of work indefinitely or forcing them to work without pay.”

Pretty cool.

 

[s0me0nesmind1]

Looks like this passed the senate and was signed by Trump?

Looking at the summary, this doesn't look that great to me? To me at least all it is saying is this:

1. Employees must be compensated for their time worked after the shutdown (duh, pretty sure this is already law that if labor hours are worked then one must be compensated for them).
2. An interest payment will be given (looks like the amount is 3.625%?) If that is APY interest and lets say the shutdown is.. 1 month or 30 days... were talking about an interest payment of about $3 for each $1000 owed.


Overall I think the bill is...well... kinda shitty. I would rather see something declaring that payments CANT be stopped regardless of shutdown and regardless of furlough. That would actually give an incentive to not do this shit again.


EDIT: I'm a bit confused by this text in the summary of the bill:

The employees must be compensated on the earliest date possible after the lapse ends,

Earliest date AFTER the lapse ends tells me after the government shutdown? Or am I misunderstanding?

 

[K1052]

Overall I think the bill is...well... kinda shitty. I would rather see something declaring that payments CANT be stopped regardless of shutdown and regardless of furlough. That would actually give an incentive to not do this shit again.

It's an incredibly modest proposal to be sure. I'd probably float the interest to 20ish percent at least. Also does nothing for all the contractors that got fucked hard. They should get at least partial pay.

I'd also want to pass legislation that automatically funds the government without requiring any legislative action. Then you can just alter agency funding levels as required by actively legislating for it. Also eliminate the damned debt ceiling by considering it raised when congress passes a budget.

 

[Paratus]

Looks like this passed the senate and was signed by Trump?

Looking at the summary, this doesn't look that great to me? To me at least all it is saying is this:

1. Employees must be compensated for their time worked after the shutdown (duh, pretty sure this is already law that if labor hours are worked then one must be compensated for them).
2. An interest payment will be given (looks like the amount is 3.625%?) If that is APY interest and lets say the shutdown is.. 1 month or 30 days... were talking about an interest payment of about $3 for each $1000 owed.


Overall I think the bill is...well... kinda shitty. I would rather see something declaring that payments CANT be stopped regardless of shutdown and regardless of furlough. That would actually give an incentive to not do this shit again.


EDIT: I'm a bit confused by this text in the summary of the bill:



Earliest date AFTER the lapse ends tells me after the government shutdown? Or am I misunderstanding?

Two different bills I believe. The one that passed, grants civil servants their back pay not only for work done but for any time missed.

This new bill by Doug Jones would add an interest payment to civil servants on top of the back pay to cover the incidental expenses the CS workforce incurred due to the shutdown.

While I certainly don’t have a problem with that I think the other major reason he introduced it, besides helping his CS constituents, is to make it that much more expensive to shutdown the government.

Not only will you pay us for working less. You’ll pay us more. So maybe don’t shutdown the government.

Both only go into effect after a subsequent shutdown ends.

 

[s0me0nesmind1]

It's an incredibly modest proposal to be sure. I'd probably float the interest to 20ish percent at least. Also does nothing for all the contractors that got fucked hard. They should get at least partial pay.

I'd also want to pass legislation that automatically funds the government without requiring any legislative action. Then you can just alter agency funding levels as required by actively legislating for it. Also eliminate the damned debt ceiling by considering it raised when congress passes a budget.

Yup agree...

A bill that basically says the government is on auto-pilot until the budget is passed - which would include contract employees.

 

[Hayabusa Rider]

Yup agree...

A bill that basically says the government is on auto-pilot until the budget is passed - which would include contract employees.

I think Pelosi has this in the works although I haven't read the details

 

[s0me0nesmind1]

Two different bills I believe. The one that passed, grants civil servants their back pay not only for work done but for any time missed.

So just to clarify - this only applies to civil servants (and not contractors) correct? And if that is the case it's already shitty legislation just knowing how many contractors there are.

But yeah, just knowing that this doesn't make them pay until after the shutdown doesn't fix what all the federal employees are complaining about.

 

[s0me0nesmind1]

Also if you miss payments to the government you don't pay interest...

You pay PENALTIES + Interest - which hurt a shitload more than just a measly 3.625%.

 

[K1052]

I think Pelosi has this in the works although I haven't read the details

I've read it's being discussed. It's really time to put an end to this brinksmanship forever.

 

[IronWing]

I'd also want to pass legislation that automatically funds the government without requiring any legislative action. Then you can just alter agency funding levels as required by actively legislating for it. Also eliminate the damned debt ceiling by considering it raised when congress passes a budget.

I disagree with this one. Congress' active control of the purse is its most important power. Electing Congresscritters able and willing do carry out their Constitutional duties is the solution.

Getting rid of the debt ceiling silliness I do agree with.

 

[K1052]

I disagree with this one. Congress' active control of the purse is its most important power. Electing Congresscritters able and willing do carry out their Constitutional duties is the solution.

Getting rid of the debt ceiling silliness I do agree with.

They'll still have it. If they want to change funding levels they'll just need to pass legislation as they already do like when they want to fatten defense spending for the zillionth time.

 

[IronWing]

They'll still have it. If they want to change funding levels they'll just need to pass legislation as they already do like when they want to fatten defense spending for the zillionth time.

It would completely change the balance of power if a President knew funding was available without Congress acting to take it away. For example, if a President goes off on a foreign adventure, all Congress has to do to end it is nothing. Simply not paying for a war shuts it down.

 

[Hayabusa Rider]

I disagree with this one. Congress' active control of the purse is its most important power. Electing Congresscritters able and willing do carry out their Constitutional duties is the solution.

Getting rid of the debt ceiling silliness I do agree with.

They do have control of the purse if they enact this legislation because they can either repeal it or include an override. For example if 2/3's of the House could prevent such legislation from kicking in.

Remember that Trump effectively took the power of the purse with the aid of one person, Mitch. We can no longer afford that a President and Congress can be expected to follow their duties under law or Congress on faith. Those days are forever gone and more constraints on their behavior are needed.

 

[Hayabusa Rider]

They'll still have it. If they want to change funding levels they'll just need to pass legislation as they already do like when they want to fatten defense spending for the zillionth time.

The original CR before Trump got his nuts into a knot was for a year. Now we're at three weeks, maybe.

 

[K1052]

It would completely change the balance of power if a President knew funding was available without Congress acting to take it away. For example, if a President goes off on a foreign adventure, all Congress has to do to end it is nothing. Simply not paying for a war shuts it down.

A war would be a supplemental expenditure and require legislation.

 

[K1052]

The original CR before Trump got his nuts into a knot was for a year. Now we're at three weeks, maybe.

If Trump shuts the government down a few more time the GOP is going to be begging for this and would help pass such a plan with a veto proof majority. Even Grassley floated the idea of a 2 year CR to take the government through the next election lol.

 

[Hayabusa Rider]

If Trump shuts the government down a few more time the GOP is going to be begging for this and would help pass such a plan with a veto proof majority. Even Grassley floated the idea of a 2 year CR to take the government through the next election lol.

If what we read about the last Republican lunch is accurate, I don't think Mitch is going to make another pledge for Trump to keep the government shut down. I suspect he was thinking "OK a week and the shutdown is over and I held the party line", not considering that would become a month. But he was in a completely unviable position where he couldn't keep going and couldn't give in as a matter of face.

I don't think he'll let that mule kick him twice, but who knows these days. I would think a big "Nope" would be communicated to Trump on the Republicans shooting themselves in the other foot, which leaves Trump folding for good or seizing the power of Congress. Unfortunately for Donnie this would go to the 9th district court and almost certainly an injunction would be had. DOJ then takes it to the SCOTUS who may refuse to hear the case or if it does ruin Trump's plans for good.

I don't see a scenario where Trump can win, but he can do a lot of damage.

 

[K1052]

If what we read about the last Republican lunch is accurate, I don't think Mitch is going to make another pledge for Trump to keep the government shut down. I suspect he was thinking "OK a week and the shutdown is over and I held the party line", not considering that would become a month. But he was in a completely unviable position where he couldn't keep going and couldn't give in as a matter of face.

I don't think he'll let that mule kick him twice, but who knows these days. I would think a big "Nope" would be communicated to Trump on the Republicans shooting themselves in the other foot, which leaves Trump folding for good or seizing the power of Congress. Unfortunately for Donnie this would go to the 9th district court and almost certainly an injunction would be had. DOJ then takes it to the SCOTUS who may refuse to hear the case or if it does ruin Trump's plans for good.

I don't see a scenario where Trump can win, but he can do a lot of damage.

I doubt Mitch is going to make any commitments about keeping his caucus aligned with Trump if another shutdown comes. He knows there will be a mutiny.

 

[Bitek]

They do have control of the purse if they enact this legislation because they can either repeal it or include an override. For example if 2/3's of the House could prevent such legislation from kicking in.

Remember that Trump effectively took the power of the purse with the aid of one person, Mitch. We can no longer afford that a President and Congress can be expected to follow their duties under law or Congress on faith. Those days are forever gone and more constraints on their behavior are needed.

Agree. This has become the vehicle of choice for extreme partisans (Republicans currently) to force legislation to their side using terroristic tactics rather than actually negotiate and compromise.

It's not the shutdowns, it's the near misses and last minute panic deals like sequestration after "the fiscal cliff." Nothing gets done in regular order anymore.

Needs to end now.

 

[Paratus]

So just to clarify - this only applies to civil servants (and not contractors) correct? And if that is the case it's already shitty legislation just knowing how many contractors there are.

But yeah, just knowing that this doesn't make them pay until after the shutdown doesn't fix what all the federal employees are complaining about.

As far as I know it only applies to civil servants. Many contractors had forward funding that didn’t lapse. So they’ve been paid the entire time. Others did have funding that lapsed. No idea what’s going to happen to them.

Congress should have passed legislation to try and make them whole as well.

 

[Vic]

I don't believe that any bill that automatically funds the government from one term of Congress to the next would be constitutional.