From Rep. Connolly’s office, I couldn’t agree more. On a related note, I strongly recommend The Morning Plum: The problem isn’t generic “Washington gridlock.” It’s the House GOP. On pretty much every subject, including the sequester of course. In short, GOP=#FAIL
House GOP has Refused to Appoint Negotiators for the 100 Days Since Senate Passed a Budget
WASHINGTON – Congress can resolve the furloughs that will cut pay by 20 percent for 650,000 civilian defense workers, including more than 72,000 in Virginia, if House Republican leaders will only agree to appoint negotiators to work out a federal budget with the Senate, Congressman Gerry Connolly said today.
Connolly said the House majority has refused to appoint its budget negotiators in the more than 100 days since the Senate passed its budget resolution. Civilian employees of the Department of Defense are facing 11 unpaid furlough days, starting this week, due to sequestration. House Democrats have chosen their negotiators and the Senate is prepared to meet.
“Americans are waiting for a budget compromise that replaces the GOP sequester, creates jobs, strengthens the middle class, and responsibly reduces the deficit. Republicans should come to the table to negotiate on this top priority for the nation,” Connolly said.
“I share the frustration of these dedicated federal employees, who through no fault of their own, are being forced to take an abrupt and unplanned 20 percent pay cut,” Connolly said. “We could end the furloughs if the House Majority would appoint conferees to meet with our Senate counterparts to work out a budget that replaces the sequester with a balanced approach that includes responsible deficit reduction.”
Connolly criticized the House Majority for repeatedly and routinely using federal employees as a punching bag. “Our federal employees, who are on the front lines protecting and serving the public every day in our communities, have weathered more than two years of a pay freeze with a third pending, and have made sacrifices in pay and benefits totaling more than $100 billion to help reduce our nation’s debt. Now, more than 650,000 of them must face another 20 percent reduction in pay,” he said.
Connolly has been fighting to replace sequestration with a balanced approach since last August when he first called on the House leadership to cancel all recesses until the matter was resolved.
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