The general federal pay scale limit for
various government agencies is $155,500 per year.
However, Title 42, which was passed in 1944, allowed that level to be exceeded in order to hire exceptional scientists and managers.
The Government Accountability Office (GAO), recently reported that 22% of Health & Human Services employees are now above the $155,500 limit. In other words, 22% of HHS employees are exceptional scientists and managers. Sound reasonable? Not to me!
The National Institute of Health (NIH) is part of HHS. Two years ago, 25% of all NIH employees and 44% of NIH researchers and clinical practitioners exceeded the $155,500 limit.
One might suggest that the $155,500 limit was placed some time ago and that there has been a normal increase in salaries, through inflation.
However, Chemical and Engineering News reported on a Salary & Employment Survey in its September 24 issue. The highest median salary was for PhD's in industry at $121,000.
This is obviously an area for considerable budget cuts in these times of extreme budget deficits and debt. We might also ask how we have come to this situation.
The answer lies in the obvious deficiency of Title 42. It allowed for abuse, and wherever there's an opportunity for abuse, it will be forthcoming. Congress needs now to change Title 42 to eliminate the possibility of abuse and also strongly consider avoiding possibilities of abuse in any future legislation.
However, Title 42, which was passed in 1944, allowed that level to be exceeded in order to hire exceptional scientists and managers.
The Government Accountability Office (GAO), recently reported that 22% of Health & Human Services employees are now above the $155,500 limit. In other words, 22% of HHS employees are exceptional scientists and managers. Sound reasonable? Not to me!
The National Institute of Health (NIH) is part of HHS. Two years ago, 25% of all NIH employees and 44% of NIH researchers and clinical practitioners exceeded the $155,500 limit.
One might suggest that the $155,500 limit was placed some time ago and that there has been a normal increase in salaries, through inflation.
However, Chemical and Engineering News reported on a Salary & Employment Survey in its September 24 issue. The highest median salary was for PhD's in industry at $121,000.
This is obviously an area for considerable budget cuts in these times of extreme budget deficits and debt. We might also ask how we have come to this situation.
The answer lies in the obvious deficiency of Title 42. It allowed for abuse, and wherever there's an opportunity for abuse, it will be forthcoming. Congress needs now to change Title 42 to eliminate the possibility of abuse and also strongly consider avoiding possibilities of abuse in any future legislation.
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