The Wheeling Intelligencer and News-Register  reported today that after the government declared that inflation was low enough not to increase social security benefits for senior citizens, the President is suggesting a 1.4 percent pay raise for 2.1 million federal workers. 

The article points out some basic facts about the government’s payroll:

• Civil servants on the federal payroll earned an average of $123,049, including benefits, in 2009, according to USA Today. That same year, average compensation for workers in the private sector, including benefits, was $61,051, reports the Bureau of Economic Analysis.

• The average federal salary has increased 33 percent faster than inflation during the past decade.

• During the past five years, the number of federal employees paid $150,000 or more a year has increased by more than 1,000 percent.

• The $150,000-plus category of employees makes up 3.9 percent of the federal workforce. In 2005, it was 0.4 percent.

The article reminds us that it has been suggested that Congress should freeze the pay of federal employees, following the example of many private companies.  That would be a good start in reducing the deficit.