Opposition Appears to Be Weakening

Supporters of a 4.1 percent 2003 federal raise say the administration-which for most of last year was advocating 2.6 percent and then switched to supporting 3.1 percent-seems to be easing off its opposition to setting the raise at 4.1 percent. Budget officials, in commenting on the pending wrapup budget bill to carry the government through the remainder of the current fiscal year, have been signaling that their primary interest is in keeping spending within certain overall limits and meeting certain major budget priorities. Backers of a higher raise also note that under the bill now in conference, most agencies would have to absorb the cost of the entire raise out of their general overhead accounts, meaning the raise would not show up as an additional cost on the government’s bottom line.