Senate Parliamentarian Ruling Removes Harmful Provisions from Reconciliation Bill

The Senate parliamentarian ruled that several provisions from the administration’s domestic policy bill that would have slashed federal employee benefits and their right to workplace representation violated the Byrd rule and therefore had to be removed from the bill for it to be passed in the Senate with a simple majority vote. These provisions are now out of the bill:

• Increasing the Federal Employees Retirement Systems contribution rate for new federal employees if they do not agree to give up civil service protections to become at-will employees.
• Requiring federal employees to pay a filing fee to appeal decisions to the Merit Systems Protection Board.
• Requiring unions to reimburse the government for office space, equipment, parking, and salaries of union officials representing employees.
• Allowing the president to broadly reorganize the federal government with minimal congressional oversight. 

The parliamentarian ruled that the provision charging unions and other nonprofits a 10 percent fee to deduct dues or other contributions from payroll did not violate the rule and could remain in the bill. This bill is still being negotiated, and the text of the bill could still change, so we must all continue to stay engaged in the fight to ensure the final bill does not cut your pay and benefits or weaken your rights. Click here to write your Senators and urge them to stand with us in this fight!