White House Repeats Call for 2.6 Percent Raise

With both the House and Senate poised to vote on spending bills that would set the January 2003 general schedule average raise at 4.1 percent, the White House has sent Congress a policy statement again urging that the raise be 2.6 percent, the figure the administration recommended in its original budget proposal for the upcoming fiscal year. Both versions of the fiscal 2003 Treasury-Postal appropriations bill (S-2740 and HR-5120) specify a 4.1 percent average raise. But a statement of policy says the administration continues to believe that its figure “is both reasonable and responsible. We urge the Congress to adopt the president’s budget policy. The additional cost of this increased pay level is $1.5 billion over the president’s request. This congressional policy would divert critical resources from programs across the government.” The House this week likely will pass its version and the Senate likely will take up its version soon as well