House Likely to Move First on Raise

The next action on the 2005 federal raise likely will occur in the House, which in March passed a non-binding measure supporting “pay parity.” The budget resolution from which appropriators are working does not include similar language, but during House voting on that resolution, Rep. Tom Davis, R-Va., head of the Government Reform Committee, engaged in a “colloquy” with the head of the Budget Committee, Rep. Jim Nussle, R-Iowa, noting that the pay parity measure had passed with 299 votes and asking if parity is the position of the House. Nussle replied in the affirmative. Such exchanges define the intent of the House and act as precedent-and political cover-for later action.