Why federal workers deserve what they’re paid By Joe Davidson, Washington Post Federal Diary - February 3, 2010

President Obama may not have given federal workers much of a salary increase — just 1.4 percent — in his proposed budget for fiscal 2011, but he did show them some love. The affection is apparent in Chapter 10 of the “Analytical Perspectives” section of the budget. “We are fortunate to be able to rely upon a skilled workforce committed to the public service,” it says.

Of course, lip service like that comes quick and easy. What makes this budget stand out is the level of serious attention that the White House, through its Office of Management and Budget, gives to federal employees. Recent budgets by previous administrations have not gone into the depth of detail on federal-workplace issues that Obama’s spending plan does… With the title IMPROVING THE FEDERAL WORKFORCE Chapter 10 covers a variety of topics, including old favorites such as improving the federal hiring process, restoring the balance between employees and contractors, and improving employee training — a significant inclusion in a time of cutbacks. It also talks about using data collected to protect against fraud in the Federal Employees Health Benefits Program to improve health and lower insurance costs. And early in the chapter is a cogent rebuttal to those who misleadingly argue that federal pay is greater on average than private-sector pay.