Obama Proposes a Pay Increase for Federal and Military Employees

President Obama proposed a one percent pay increase for federal workers and military employees in a pair of letters to Speaker John Boehner (R-Ohio) sent Friday afternoon. 

The one percent hike falls below a 1.3 percent increase that would have triggered had Obama not acted before the end of August. But the number is still likely to meet stiff resistance among budget hawks in Congress — who will ultimately decide what, if any, increase will kick in.

In his message to Boehner, Obama said federal workers "have already made significant sacrifices as a result of a three-year pay freeze," but said he also weighed ways "to keep our nation on a sustainable fiscal course." 

Last year, Obama attempted to grant federal workers a half-percent raise through executive order, but later abandoned that plan as part of a budget deal with congressional Republicans.

None of the Republican budget proposals passed this year have increased pay for civilian employees, although GOP lawmakers have signaled a willingness to support a pay raise for military personnel. In a statement earlier this year, House Oversight Committee Chairman Darrell Issa (R-Calif.) said Obama's push for a pay increase was "not necessary to retain talented employees and just wastes taxpayer money.”

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