OBAMA froze the pay of top civil servants earning more than 100K

**Jodar** · 22-01-2009, 09:35 AM

WASHINGTON - President Barack Obama Wednesday vowed to forge a new era of government openness and froze the pay of top staff earning more than 100,000 dollars to show Americans their leaders could also tighten their belts amid economic crisis.

"For a long time now there's been too much secrecy in this city," said Obama who was elected partly on a platform of purging big-time politics of influence peddling and corruption.

"The old rules said that if there was a defensible argument for not disclosing something to the American people, then it should not be disclosed," Obama said.

"That era is now over," Obama vowed at a swearing in ceremony for senior members of his White House staff in the Executive Office Building, across the road from the presidential mansion.

Obama, who takes office amid the deepest economic crisis since the 1930s also sought to show his administration shared the sacrifice of Americans outside the US government.

"During this period of economic emergency, families are tightening their belts, and so should Washington," Obama said.

"That's why I am instituting a pay freeze on the salaries of my senior White House staff.

"Some of the people in this room will be affected by the pay freeze, and I want you to know that I appreciate your willingness to agree to it," Obama said.

Obama also pledged to hold himself accountable to "a new standard of openness" introducing new requirements from presidents to keep as much information as possible available to the Americans.

He said that if he, or a former president, wanted to keep information secret they would have to consult the US attorney general and the White House counsel to see whether the move was permitted by law.

"Information will not be withheld just because I say so -- it will be withheld because a separate authority believes my request is well grounded in the constitution."

The previous US administration of president George W. Bush was repeatedly criticised for covering up information that did not need to be withheld and for seeking to ensure some data relating to previous presidencies was covered up.

Obama also banned any gifts from lobbyists to his staff and sought to lay down in the law how they could operate.

"However long we are keepers of the public trust, we should never forget that we are here as public servants, and public service is a privilege," Obama said.

"It's not about advantaging yourself, it's not about advancing your friends or your corporate clients. It's not about advancing an ideological agenda or the special interests of any organization," he added.

Therefore "as of today, lobbyists will be subject to stricter limits than under any other administration in history," the new president said.

"And there will be a ban on gifts by lobbyists to anyone serving in the administration as well."

- AFP /ls
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I dunno if it's just me, or does Joe Biden look unhappy? xD

ValkyrieLenneth · 22-01-2009, 09:42 AM

will we follow suit?

***StarDust*** · 22-01-2009, 09:44 AM

Wish Singapore government can do the same too.

**gumok** · 22-01-2009, 09:54 AM

Good move by Obama...As for Singapore, I dun think they'll freeze their pay...
Even if they freeze their pay, the top few people will not be affected that much as they have earned so much for the past years...
If they want to gain the respect and support of the citizens, they should work without pay for at least a year...
This will help the country save up a lot of money...

**Jodar** · 22-01-2009, 09:58 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by gumok

Good move by Obama...As for Singapore, I dun think they'll freeze their pay...
Even if they freeze their pay, the top few people will not be affected that much as they have earned so much for the past years...
If they want to gain the respect and support of the citizens, they should work without pay for at least a year...
This will help the country save up a lot of money...

Yup, by cutting their pay temporarily wld rly show that they are not working for the money, but truly want the best for Singapore. And as Mr Obama said 'we are here as public servants, and public service is a privilege'.

**rmagnus** · 22-01-2009, 10:02 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by *StarDust*

Wish Singapore government can do the same too.

keep dreaming doll, remember the dude that went over seas to learn how to cook or some shit like that? And if my memory serves me which has offen failed, wasn't there some mp's daughter whom look upon non-elites as lower class beings? The world they live in is totally different from us

**Emolisher** · 22-01-2009, 10:03 AM

Wow i am touched by his speech~!
How i hope Singapore president can be like him..and not just .....
You guys should noe what i mean

**nugget** · 22-01-2009, 10:09 AM

thats a totally good move. but so true, i doubt singapore will ever follow suite, the next president maybe

**Shi Yuen** · 22-01-2009, 01:28 PM

wow Mr Obama is one really good person!
By doing this, it brings on the confidence of the nation that the goverment is thinking about the people.

Oh well, this however will not happen in SG with the goverment system of ours. =(

**plutoainaplanet** · 22-01-2009, 01:32 PM

And he said that lobbyists r not gonna b able to influence his administration.

BTW in S'pore we did not freeze pay .. we CUT pay for the top civil servants

**Jodar** · 22-01-2009, 07:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by plutoainaplanet

And he said that lobbyists r not gonna b able to influence his administration.

BTW in S'pore we did not freeze pay .. we CUT pay for the top civil servants

Haha yeah. Better than NOTHING. =P

**TerZeis** · 22-01-2009, 07:57 PM

i would rather stand neutral in such affairs.

those who stand so high up will never know/feel/think from those who being though the low-downs.
steel rice bowls...nothing to fear from them. their future is alreadly determined.

**shypineapple** · 22-01-2009, 07:59 PM

mann,,,,,sg should follow suit :/
but i doubt so. zzz

**DoraTheExplorer** · 22-01-2009, 08:01 PM

Don't think Singapore will follow suit since there is not such a need for it. Singapore is a very small country as compared to USA, thus they need all the resources they can get as if a job recession starts snow-balling, they will need all the resources to stop it if not it will become total mayhem.

PS. That's Joe Biden's serious look

**cute wormz** · 22-01-2009, 08:02 PM

wow...his speech is so good..

**friendshipz** · 22-01-2009, 08:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Shi Yuen

wow Mr Obama is one really good person!
By doing this, it brings on the confidence of the nation that the goverment is thinking about the people.

Oh well, this however will not happen in SG with the goverment system of ours. =(

i support obama but it is too early to say he is "really a good person", but still i have faith in him.

**Arakai** · 22-01-2009, 08:06 PM

agrees

**chowychow** · 22-01-2009, 08:22 PM

Wow if Singapore also follows then good lor... a pity...

**Jodar** · 22-01-2009, 08:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DoraTheExplorer

Don't think Singapore will follow suit since there is not such a need for it. Singapore is a very small country as compared to USA, thus they need all the resources they can get as if a job recession starts snow-balling, they will need all the resources to stop it if not it will become total mayhem.

PS. That's Joe Biden's serious look

Haha, he looked as though he's unhappy about this freezing of pay. LOL!

**shingshing** · 22-01-2009, 08:28 PM

Obama put Singapore leaders to shame.