Decision on Raise Deferred Again

Congress has passed the latest in a series of stopgap funding measures for the current fiscal year that effectively leaves in place-at least for the time being-a 3.1 percent federal raise for calendar year 2003. The latest “continuing resolution,” like a number of similar measures passed since last October 1, generally keeps agencies funded at fiscal 2002 levels and does not specifically address the raise amount. Because the measures have been silent on the raise, a 3.1 percent 2003 increase took effect by default this month. The latest stopgap measure runs through January 31, by which time congressional leaders hope to have come to a final resolution of spending for the budget year that is now almost four months old.