FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
January 06, 2014
January 06, 2014
AFGE President Calls for Repeal of Military, Federal Employee Pension Cuts
Categories:
Retirees
WASHINGTON – American Federation of Government Employees National President J. David Cox Sr. today called for the immediate repeal of two provisions in the December budget deal that cut military retiree pensions and raised pension contributions for federal civilian employees.
At the same time, President Cox said Congress should reject any proposal that would replace those provisions with harmful cuts to vital federal programs and services, including eliminating Saturday mail delivery by the U.S. Postal Service.
“Congress made a grievous mistake in December by approving a federal budget that slashes cost-of-living increases for military retirees and cuts take-home pay for new federal employees by increasing their pension contributions. But it must not compound that error by swapping out those cuts for other cuts that would destroy the living standards of working people and deprive Americans of vital services,” Cox said.
A new bill by Rep. Darrell Issa of California would reverse the cuts to military retiree pensions in exchange for ending Saturday mail delivery by the Postal Service. Ending Saturday delivery would degrade mail services, hasten workforce cuts and make the Postal Service less competitive in the marketplace, Cox said.
“Instead of slashing services that millions of Americans rely on and cutting take-home pay for government workers and retirees, Congress should be exploring ways to generate new sources of revenue. Let’s start by closing tax loopholes that benefit corporations that outsource American jobs, requiring the wealthiest 1 percent to pay at least as much in taxes as everyone else, and investing in public works projects that would create jobs right here in this country,” Cox said.
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