Senate Pay Hike Raises Eyebrows

“Senators Pass the Buck” (editorial, Oct. 30) sadly reminded me of “Bush Cites ‘National Emergency’ to Limit Federal Workers’ Raises,” buried deep in your Aug. 28 issue. At the time, President Bush informed Congress that “he was using his authority to change the pay structure in times of ‘national emergency or serious economic conditions’ to limit [federal workers’] raises to 2%.” As a retired federal government employee with 34 years of service, I am relieved to learn that our “national emergency,” i.e., “serious economic conditions,” as described by Bush, is merely a myth in the eyes of our esteemed senators. The senators’ decision to allow their salaries to increase in such a manner is an arrogant and dismissive message.

Andrew M. Yager

Westminster