UPDATE ON PAY REFORM LEGISLATIVE INITIATIVES

At the urging of Senator Voinovich, Chair of the Senate's Subcommittee on Oversight of Government Management, The Federal Workforce and the District of Columbia (part of the Senate's Governmental Affairs Committee) a bill was passed (signed into law) directing OPM to:

"Not later than April 30, 2004, the Office of Personnel Management shall submit a report to the President of the Senate and the Speaker of the House of Representatives and the appropriate committees and subcommittees of Congress that includes—

(1) a comparison of classifications, pay, and benefits among law enforcement officers across the Federal Government; and

(2) recommendations for ensuring, to the maximum extent practicable, the elimination of disparities in classifications, pay and benefits for law enforcement officers throughout the Federal Government."

(note: bolded emphasis added by FLEOA)

The report this law calls for will include such topics as "Why aren't Customs and INS Inspectors not covered by 6c coverage", "Why aren't US Mint Police covered by 6c", as well as seeing IF there is a need for pay reform.

Of course you know where FLEOA's members stand on this issue - we have heard repeatedly from you in the legislative surveys we have conducted, as well as listening to members attending chapter meetings. We believe the good intentions of the law that was passed in 1990 (granting immediate special emergency pay adjustments, calling for a separate pay and classification system for those covered by 6c, and instituting locality in 1995) have badly eroded with grave consequences for recruitment of good over-qualified applicants as well as retaining senior experienced personnel. We believe the answer to the current crisis is a bill introduced in the Senate (S.985) that already has written commitments of support from 52 Senators (the House, H R 466 has 237 co-sponsors).

However, a basic fact in the Senate is that you need 60 Senators (a "super-majority") to ensure action on a piece of legislation. Therefore, we need eight more Senators; otherwise S.985 may not see the light outside Senator Voinovich's committee. Any of the remaining Senators are "good", but who are the Senators most likely to come aboard? Those that hear from their constituents! Plain and simple - S.985 is a bi-partisan bill; introduced by a senior Democrat but co-sponsored by senior Republicans such as John Warner, Rick Santorum, Judd Gregg, Susan Collins, Conrad Burns, Thad Cochran, John McCain, Charles Grassley, Arlen Specter, Mike DeWine, Olympia Snowe, and "newer" Republicans such as John Ensign, John Sununu, Saxby Chambliss, and Lincoln Chaffee.

WE NEED YOUR HELP! Senate staffers, from those who are not yet co-sponsors, and from both sides of the aisle, have told us - plain and simple - that unless they hear from people from their home state they will not put down a written commitment (i.e., become a co-sponsor). Although several have stated they would vote for the bill if it comes up for a vote, it will die in committee unless we get eight more co-sponsors. Please don't wait for someone else to make the call. Please take the time (probably under five minutes total) and contact your elected officials, and even some others (Leaders of each party or those running for higher office, such as Frist, McConnell, Edwards, Kyl, etc) - to let them know what federal agents in the field think about this issue. And, please try to get members of your family, friends, co- workers to do the same.

The phone numbers for the 48 Senators not yet co-sponsoring S.985 are:

Daniel Akaka (HI) (202) 224-6361

Wayne Allard (CO) (202) 224-5941

Robert Bennett (UT) (202) 224-5444

John Breaux (LA) (202) 224-4623

Jim Bunning (KY) (202) 224-4343

Ben Nighthorse Campbell (CO) (202) 224-5852

John Cornyn (TX) (202) 224-2934

Michael Crapo (ID) (202) 224-6142

Pete Domenici (MM) (202) 224-6621

Michael Enzi (WY) (202) 224-3424

Bill Frist (TN) (202) 224-3344

Lindsey Graham (SC) (202) 224-5972

Tom Harkin (IA) (202) 224-3254

Ernest Rollings (SC) (202) 224-6121

James Inhofe (OK) (202) 224-4721

Herbert Kohl (WI) (202) 224-5653

Carl Levin (MI) (202) 224-6221

Rich Lugar (IN) (202) 224-4814

Lisa Murkowski (AK) (202) 224-6665

Don Nickles (OK) (202) 224-5754

Jeff Sessions (AL) (202) 224-4124

Gordon Smith (OR) (202) 224-3753

Jim Talent (MO) (202) 224-6154

George Voinovich (OH) (202) 224-3353

Lamar Alexander (TN) (202) 224-4944

Evan Bayh (IN) (202) 224-5623

Chris "Kit" Bond (MO) (202) 224-5721

Sam Brownback (KS) (202) 224-6521

Robert Byrd (WV) (202) 224-3954

Norm Coleman (MN) (202) 224-5641

Larry Craig (ED) (202) 224-2752

Elizabeth Dole (NC) (202) 224-6342

John Edwards (NC) (202) 224-3154

Pete Fitzgerald (EL) (202) 224-2854

Bob Graham (FL) (202) 224-3041

Chuck Hagel (NE) (202) 224-4224

Orrin Hatch (UT) (202) 224-5251

Kay Bailey Hutchison (TX) (202) 224-5922

Daniel Inouye (HI) (202) 224-3934

Jon Kyl (AZ) (202) 224-4521

Trent Lott (MI) (202) 224-6253

Mitch McConnell (KY) (202) 224-2541

Ben Nelson (NE) (202) 224-6551

Pat Roberts (KS) (202) 224-4774

Richard Shelby (AL) (202) 224-5744

Ted Stevens (AK) (202) 224-3004

Craig Thomas (WY) (202) 224-6441

Ron Wyden (OR) (202) 224-5244

If anyone has any questions on this issue, you can contact FLEOA's Legislative Vice President via e-mail at mli 1811 @adelphia.net or leave phone messages at: (607) 277-4899.

Thanks for the help you have given so far.... and thanks for any future help you can give us. Be safe out there.