Click here or on the image above to view Congressman Turner’s remarks in the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee’s markup of the budget reconciliation bill last month.
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Congressman Mike Turner (OH-10) issued the following statement after the release of the manager’s amendment to the reconciliation bill which removed an Oversight Committee provision reducing earned pension benefits for current federal employees:
“The pensions of federal workers will not be cut to allow tax breaks. They have been earned. From the beginning, I have made it clear that I will not support any efforts to reduce federal spending by reaching into the pockets of federal workers and taking more of their hard-earned money.
“Federal workers have earned their pensions through years of hard work and sacrifice. These benefits are not handouts – they are promises made, and promises that must be kept.
“This is a victory for fairness and for the federal employees who keep our government running every day. I will continue working to ensure that future efforts to rein in spending are focused on eliminating waste, fraud, and abuse – not on breaking our commitments to America's workforce.”
Background:
On April 30, Congressman Turner raised concerns at the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee markup of the budget reconciliation proposal which included a provision unfairly targeting pension benefits for federal workers.
Congressman Turner has vowed to fight to remove this provision from the broader reconciliation package, arguing that there are more efficient methods to reduce government spending than reducing federal employees’ pensions.