Giuliani: Slash the Federal Workforce
By Tom Shoop | Tuesday, May 08, 2007 | 10:40 AM
By Tom Shoop | Tuesday, May 08, 2007 | 10:40 AM
Republican presidential candidate Rudolph W. Giuliani doesn't see the impending federal retirement tsunami as a "human capital crisis." In fact, he views it as an opportunity. In a speech to the Heritage Foundation last night (see the Washington Post report on it here) Giuliani took note of a projection that 42 percent of civilian federal employees would retire during the next two presidential terms. "Some politicians assume that we'll just replace all of them," he said. "I bet there are some politicians in the other party -- I don't know, maybe in ours -- that think we ought to increase them. . . . Here's what I would do: I would seek to replace only half of them."
Giuliani, the Washington Times reported, said such a move would save $70 billion a year. "The challenge will be, of course, to convince the Democrats that there's such a thing as a nonessential government employee," he said.
In the speech, Giuliani also argued for an across-the-board cut in non-Defense spending.
Comments
He slashed many government workers in new york city.
laura | Wednesday, May 09, 2007 | 09:20 AMJust what we need in the White House, someone else who has no respect for the efforts and accomplishments of the federal employees who execute the policies, however misguided, these guys think up.
Christian A. | Wednesday, May 09, 2007 | 09:03 AMReduce the federal workforce -- hire more contractors; reduce DOD -- invite more terrorist aggression. I can't imagine that Giuliani is uninformed about issues he discusses. If I'm correct, he simply lacks good judgement. I would hope that he makes similar statements about other issues during his campaign so his poor judgement becomes more apparent to more people.
I could get behind that plan if the "slashing" started in the "overhead" or "below the line time" jobs; ie: management. And the slashing should start from the top down. Currently, where the "brain drain" is occurring, is at the level where the rubber hits the road, or with the personnel who are actually doing the work of the Agency. Government is too top heavy; being supported on the backs of the front line workers. We need fewer people telling us how to do our jobs, or spending endless time and money doing post analysis. These are the same people that keep clogging up professional workers with endless paperwork so that they can see the same information presented twenty different ways, instead of moving numbers themselves. Hire the best qualified and then let them do their jobs. And here is a second way to "slash" expenditures; stop making the top executives political appointees.
IRS Agent | Wednesday, May 09, 2007 | 07:49 AMSomeone needs to tell Rudy that when you cut federal employment - you increase the amount of money spent on contracting the same amount of work for higher costs to the taxpayer.
What should be examined is the total cost, federal employees plus contractors.
Then when Rudy figures out how to cut workers without cutting the work, well...
Mark Gibson | Wednesday, May 09, 2007 | 07:38 AMI was waiting for a candidate to say something that would influence my vote in 08. Congrats Rudy, you just convinced myself and several hundred thousand current government employees not to vote for you.
Thanks for the early warning.
ORF | Tuesday, May 08, 2007 | 08:38 PMPrivitazation...that's the name of the game, and all the republicrates, play the same. Still waiting for a candidate worth voting for.
Gre Bjugstad | Tuesday, May 08, 2007 | 07:12 PMThe biggest non-essential government employee would be a washed up, cross-dressing former mayor from NYC! Fornuately for the taxpayers, that's one waste that won't have to be realized.......
Don Eiermann | Tuesday, May 08, 2007 | 07:02 PMI would agree with Rudy, but only if it cuts into most un-essential, the top of the food chain rather than the bottom. But then the savings from that 40% would probably eliminate world hunger.
Civil Slave | Tuesday, May 08, 2007 | 05:21 PMOver the next 15 years, it is likely that there will be a major workforce turnover, some 67%; both in the public and private sector. Due to demographics, i.e. - low birth rate, the replacement workforce will not be there. We must begin to plan now to re-engineer the private and public sector to allow for the appropriate consolidation of positions. Or else, open the floodgates to new immigration, like Europe has had to do (their birth rate is even lower than ours).
Tom S | Tuesday, May 08, 2007 | 03:37 PMnot a way to get yourself elected now it? Maybe he thinks thats how you make government smaller. I always thought smaller government was less government control of our lives and businesses through regulation, tax... what a dope!
mike | Tuesday, May 08, 2007 | 02:28 PMI really want to give this guy the benefit of the doubt. He can't be that ridiculously ignorant about the role of the federal government and its missions. My guess is that Guiliani knows he must gain some political points from the "smaller-govt" wing of the GOP - hence last night's "one-liner". I guess its election season, once again, let the tap-dancing begin! Choose carefully America. The best way to get out of a hole is to stop digging.
Joseph | Tuesday, May 08, 2007 | 12:49 PMI'd work 9-10 hr days for 8 hr pay. Of course I love my job, working for the Veteran's at a VA hospital. How can I give more? They gave all!
There are 25,181 federal jobs available today.
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