Jim Moran's News Commentary

President Bush must embrace the principle of pay parity in his fiscal 2005 budget, scheduled to be submitted two weeks from now.

In a recent letter sent to the President, I and my colleagues in the region's Congressional Delegation, reminded the President that "pay parity is not a new concept" and that "historically, Congress has expressed strong bipartisan support for parity in pay between our military and federal civilian sectors, in recognition of the important role that both play in our nation's defense and well being."

As you read this, federal employees are still waiting on a 4.1 percent pay increase--an increase double what the President proposed as part of his fiscal 2004 budget. The pay increase is part of the fiscal 2004 Omnibus bill now awaiting passage in the Senate.

Last year our Congressional Delegation worked closely to fight for pay parity, ensuring our federal employees get the same deserved raise our military received. We would rather not have to battle every year for pay parity. Instead, we want the President to see the light and do what is right for his employees--the federal workforce--and give equal raises for equal work.

As a senior member of the House Budget Committee, I have successfully included an amendment in the last three House Budget Resolutions requiring pay parity when it came to federal pay raises. And if the President does not make pay parity a priority I will again offer an amendment making it part of the House Budget Resolution.

Double-digit health increases in health insurance premiums and a "human capital crisis," where thousands of federal jobs are going to need to be filled over the next decade, make embracing the principle of pay parity even more important.

Our federal employees aren't asking for extravagant benefits. Instead they just wanted to be treated with respect and be treated fairly. By giving them an equal, but modest pay increase, we will fulfill those expectations.