Lieberman: Extension of Federal Pay Freeze Is Possible

Sen. Joseph Lieberman, powerful chairman of the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee, says federal workers should be prepared for an extension of the two-year pay freeze. The senator’s committee oversees the federal workforce, The Washington Post’s blog the Federal Eye reported.

The Independent from Connecticut believes that a third year of the pay freeze is regrettable but “necessary right now.” President Barack Obama put the two-year freeze in place in 2010. A proposal in the House would extend the pay freeze and raise the amount federal workers pay toward their pensions, the Post reported.

Such an extension is opposed by Senate Democrats. Lieberman said the chances of extending the cuts are a “strong probability,” but added, “You never know until it happens,” the Post reported.