Obama Gets Tough With White House Staffers

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This would be an excellent time to revamp the tax code in connection with the stimulus package. Just eliminate all income tax exceptions and deductions except charitable contributions and home interest expense. Then have a graduated scale of progressive taxes. The more you make the more you pay. PERIOD! What's so hard about that?
Let's face it, if it wasn't for special interests and lobbyists we wouldn't have 78,000 pages of tax code that is so complicated that virtually NOBODY understands it. It's clearly time to start over and this is the best opportunity we've had in a generation. I just wish that congress had the courage to do it!

Jay Fluckiger of ID 11:07PM February 08, 2009

I'd like to help too Mr Obama. Can you freeze my pay at about $150,000 for the next four years? How could I arrange that? I would like to make $200k but it's all about sacrifice and I'm willing to do it for you and the sake of the USA.
I'm thankful that the new president is such a tough boss. Just think, if McCain got in the senior staff would have gotten a big fat raise on the first day of work. Thanks Mr. Obama for cracking the whip. Oh and hey, I think Hillary has been taking more than two lunch breaks in 8 hours. Could be a union thing.

Doogie from Wausau of WI 11:50PM January 25, 2009

So he's "freezing" pay on people who just filled out their paperwork and won't be eligible for a raise for one year, if at all. Some of these dudes are already topped out at statutory maximums.
As imagery, its OK. What will be important will be what happens on Jan 20 2010. After all, he just announced seemingly harsh limitations on the hiring of former lobbyists, but then quickly added "waivers" for two former uncleans (one in Defense, one in HHS I think) whose nomination was in violation of his new tough rules.
I could see the same thing happening on pay next year, when several WH staffers will need "waivers" for pay raises so as to "avoid their loss to the private sector, with inestimable harm to the recovery of the American economy, blah, blah, blah..."
Nobody, but nobody, really changes Washington. The sooner people realize that, the shorter the campaigns can be and the less money will be wasted.

Curmdugeon10 of VA 7:12AM January 23, 2009

Sounds good to me...might have started by not spending 170 million on his "coronation" rather building houses in New Orleans or providing help for the unemployed. Let's see if change is for real or just more of the same (Joe Biden and all the recycled Clinton staffers)Time will tell!

Bob Robie of WA 9:10PM January 22, 2009

Its nice the president is taking proactive steps in cutting costs and keeping his promises, but one thing that does worry me with salary freeze (i searched for more details but came up with nothing) is the people who are in the White House staff are high profile as well as eligible and proficient employees. So just freezing their salaries if its way to low for their position may lead to looses.
Hopefully the staffers are as passionate about this country as the president himself.

Rashmi of MA 12:28PM January 22, 2009

I've read a dozen different articles saying that pay for "White house staffers" (which staffers? I want a list) is frozen. Great. What's it frozen at? Is anyone going to be keeping an eye on those pay levels, to see if this order is followed/kept?
I voted for Obama, and I think we need to question everything he does. He says he's for transparency and openness; let's see how well that holds.

Matt Waggoner of CA 6:33PM January 21, 2009

As the President stated we all must do our part, and cutting our spending is the first step in these rough economic times,and the first place to start is in the White House!

of CA 6:21PM January 21, 2009

It's good he's freezing pay. Given the national debt and projected spending, those loyal staffers might have had to take a salary cut later on if their wages weren't protected by Obama.
Wish someone would freeze my pay in the six figure range.

Luther of IL 6:14PM January 21, 2009