Feds hiring hundreds as furloughs loom

[Chris_]

Feds hiring hundreds as furloughs loom

Sen. Tom Coburn, R-Okla., sent a letter this morning to Jeffrey Zients, acting director of the Office of Management and Budget, calling for a freeze on non-essential hires to protect essential jobs.

Coburn detailed just 10 of the “numerous” lower priority positions listed on usajobs.gov, which combined could save $1.4 million for more critical jobs.

A staff assistant to the Department of Labor, for instance, earns up to $81,204 to answer phones. State Department drivers make up to $26.45 per hour. A director for the Air Force History and Museums Policies and Programs makes up to $165,300.

“Are any of these positions more important than an air traffic controller, a border patrol officer, a food inspector, a TSA screener, or a civilian supporting our men and women in combat in Afghanistan?” Coburn wrote.

Washington Examiner

They just don't get it, do they?

I'm going out on a limb and will say this is a cynical ploy to lower unemployment numbers before the shit hits the fan.

[marv]

I guess it's okay to annoy the flying public with threats to shut down air terminals. But how about starting with those four thousand some IRS agents they just hired? Hell, the IRS still doesn't have all the 2012 return year forms printed.

Again, I'm not even going to bother filing a 2012 return.

[zeitgeist]

Non essential government workers?  Yup I know it is hard to believe but it is true.  And some of them are grossly overpaid for what they don't (can't or won't) do.  I cannot begin to count the number of magic promotions I saw, truly astounding.  A lot like the assignment of prime parking spaces based on skirt length.  (What? the new hot secretary got a parking space when none were available, how could that happen?) 

[Chris_]

Sen. Coburn urges White House to freeze hiring, curb traveling to ease budget pain

The request follows a letter Thursday in which Coburn urged the Obama administration to cancel a 100-city tour aimed at connecting federal officials with local leaders.

Coburn disputed claims that the cuts automatically mean customs agents, Defense civilian workers and food inspectors will have to be furloughed or laid off, as the administration has warned. Perusing the roster of federal job openings, he listed 10 positions that "could save as much as $1.4 million" -- money that could be directed toward saving other jobs, he said.

White House Press Secretary Jay Carney also downplayed the idea that Congress could minimize the problem by giving the administration more flexibility. And in answer to Coburn's letter complaining about upcoming travel, Carney claimed administration officials were not going on a "tour" but were traveling the country to highlight important projects.

Fox News

The Vacationer-In-Chief strikes again.

[Crazy Horse]

Washington Examiner

They just don't get it, do they?

I'm going out on a limb and will say this is a cynical ploy to lower unemployment numbers before the shit hits the fan.

I know the DoD is under a hiring freeze and has been since mid January.  The only people that have been hired since then already were offered the job and finalizing the paperwork prior to the hiring freeze.

We still post job openings, because we do have them, however nobody is being hired.