Schock: Constituents are ‘thankful for the paycheck they’ve got’
The following appeared in my inbox earlier today. My thoughts at the end:
“Thank you Mr. Chairman,
“I rise today in opposition to H.R. 626.
“Ladies and gentlemen what we do here in the United States House and United States Congress really sets a precedent. Not only for the people we employ as a federal government, but also who small businesses and large businesses around our country employ: the standards that we set, the expectations that we have in terms of benefits.
“And I like everyone else enjoy federal benefits. My employees here as a member of Congress enjoy our great benefits plan.
“Unfortunately, back home in central Illinois, my constituents there are not employed by the federal government. By and large they are employed by the private sector. And unfortunately, for them, this is a time for them not looking to expand their benefit programs, not going to their employers asking for more, but they’re thankful for the paycheck they’ve got.
“It seems to me a little disingenuous by those in support of this legislation that at a time we’re talking about stimulating the economy, we’re talking about feeling the pain of the American people, that we know that truth, that our constituents are having to do the opposite; they are having to cut back, they are having to do with less. And this bill and this measure seems to do the opposite.
“Expanding four weeks of pay of paid federal leave, will not only add a cost to the federal government by the Congressional Budgets Office’s own figures of $1 billion in costs over the next five years, but it will undoubtedly set a precedent for the private sector. And unfortunately, the private sector, they cannot print the money or tax the American people to pay for their benefits.
“The unemployment rate in my state in Illinois is just over 9 percent as of April. This includes over 24 thousand jobs laid off by my home town employer, Caterpillar. When I go back this weekend, I will not be able to tell those individuals who are now unemployed, not only do they not have a job, that my colleagues in this body, that our employees who have not felt the economic impact of a downturn, are not only getting to keep their job, but also have added benefits at the expense of them as taxpayers.
“I don’t know how we can honestly vote for more benefits, more pay and more costs to the federal budget at the expense of taxpayers and those people who are cutting back and losing their jobs.
“I urge a no vote. I yield back the rest of my time.”
Congressman Schock makes some valid points. People who do not work for the government don’t like having to pay taxes to that public servants can enjoy benefits that they do not get. I know I do not.
But is it true that all private employees do without this kind of benefit? I image there are some plans that do, I can’t imagine many do, and I can imagine those that do want to rid themselves of that cost.
But I really take issue with this statement: “And unfortunately, for them, this is a time for them not looking to expand their benefit programs, not going to their employers asking for more, but they’re thankful for the paycheck they’ve got. ”
What’s he’s saying is that because the lousy economy has his constituents too frightened to ask for this benefit, don’t give it to federal employees. Besides the fact that the statement demonstrates a poor attitude about people who work for a living, it’s not completely accurate. Workers have felt afraid to ask for more for decades now. I’ve got a feeling that once the Employee Free Choice Act gets approved we WILL see more workers demanding more from their employers.
Schock says that it’s “unfortunate” (his words) don’t feel free in this economy to ask for me. Yet he doesn’t support EFCA, which would make it easier for workers to ask for more, once they’re in a union.
Federal employees are asking for more now and they are on their way to getting it:
Federal employees would be eligible for four weeks of paid leave when they become parents, under a bill approved by the House on Thursday night, June 4.
The measure, which attracted the backing of 24 Republicans and passed 258-154, carves the four paid weeks out of the 12 weeks of unpaid leave that are available to all workers under the Family and Medical Leave Act. The paid leave is provided after birth, adoption or the placement of a foster child.
And my advice to Congressman Schock is to NOT mention a frightened-into-submission private workforce as a reason to not give benefits to public employees.
Billy Dennis is a former reporter and editor at small daily and weekly newspapers in Illinois and Missouri. He comments on media, news and politics. He also owns and operates 
