WASHINGTON – Saying clearly that “federal workers have sacrificed enough,” U.S. Senator Ben Cardin (D-Md.) sent a letter to Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) urging him to abide by budget agreements made last year that “federal workers would not serve as a ‘piggybank’ again, especially for shorter term budget deals.”

Senator Cardin, who has been tasked by Majority Leader Reid to keep the Democratic Caucus apprised of matters concerning the federal workforce, was specific in his request: “… in any budget agreement, there should be no further erosion in federal workers’ compensation or benefits, even in exchange for a limited respite from sequestration, however desirable that goal is.”

Totally more than $115 billion, federal workers have contributed enough to end our fiscal crisis through multi-year pay freezes, furloughs and budget cuts, Senator Cardin said. “No other group of predominantly middle class Americans has contributed to deficit reduction the way federal workers have.  This relentless attack isn’t just devastating to morale; it’s hurting our country and the economy,” he warned in his letter. The impact goes well beyond the National Capital Region. 

The full text of the letter follows and is available at this link. The Congressional Research Service (CRS) report is available here.