Boo-hoo!

Easing the Burden
By David McGlinchey
dmcglinchey@govexec.com

House Minority Whip Steny Hoyer, D-Md., and 46 co-sponsors are pushing a bill that would increase the amount of money the federal government pays toward employee health insurance premiums.


The legislation would increase the government's responsibility for Federal Employee Health Care Benefit Plan premiums from 72 percent to 80 percent. The bill is similar to legislation Hoyer sponsored in the last two congressional sessions.


"Federal employees need relief from the rising costs of health care," Hoyer said. "This legislation will help them afford quality health care, even as costs continue to skyrocket."


Hoyer's office noted that FEHBP premiums have been increasing dramatically over the past several years. Premiums rose 10.6 percent in 2004, and the Office of Personnel Management said last year that premiums will rise 7.9 percent in 2005.


"The government must be able to attract and retain quality employees," Hoyer said. "This bill will help make the government more competitive in the marketplace for employees."

http://www.govexec.com/dailyfed/0205/021005pb.htm

We send them to Washington and all they do is take care of themselves and their employees. To heck with the people!

Last I looked it was the EPA and the CDC and the VA who took care of the people. These are just benifits to encorage quality people to work for the Federal Government.

Oh! Is that so? Well, I'm so glad they have quality people working for them. However, the last time I checked most were not what I would describe as quality people. Also, THEIR "just benefits" are paid for by US, the taxpayers. They are making quite good salaries to pay more than 20% of their health care costs.

Oh! By the way, we send them to Washington to do something besides raise their salaries and benefits and raise their staff's salaries and benefits. When aides are making nearly the salaries of congressmen and women, it is well past time to call it to a halt.