U.S. Rep. Ben Cline Congressman for the 6th District of Virginia | Twitter Website
U.S. Rep. Ben Cline Congressman for the 6th District of Virginia | Twitter Website
Today, Congressman Ben Cline (R-VA) collaborated with Senator Mike Lee (R-UT) in the introduction of the No Union Time on the Taxpayer’s Dime Act. This proposed legislation aims to prevent federal employees from using "official time" for union activities while on duty, intending to improve accountability and ensure taxpayer funds are dedicated solely to public service.
Rep. Cline stated, “Taxpayers shouldn’t be footing the bill for federal employees to conduct union business instead of fulfilling their official duties,” emphasizing the need for taxpayer dollars to be used responsibly. Senator Mike Lee is leading the introduction of the bill's companion legislation in the Senate.
The bill outlines its principal measures as follows:
- Elimination of Official Time: The legislation seeks to amend 5 U.S.C. § 7131 to clarify that any union-related activities by federal employees must occur during non-duty hours at their own expense. This change allows union engagement but mandates it occurs without affecting paid work hours.
- Assurance of Appropriate Use of Taxpayer Funds: Data from the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) indicated that in 2016, federal employees dedicated 3.6 million hours to union-related activities, incurring a cost of $177.2 million for taxpayers. Although initiatives under the Trump Administration reduced these numbers to 2.6 million hours and $134.9 million in 2019, lack of comprehensive reporting still obscures the full scale of the issue today.
- Restoration of Federal Workforce Accountability: The current system, with its insufficient transparency and statutory guidelines, allows for extensive misuse of official time. Federal employees spend significant portions, if not all, of their paid time on union activities rather than public duties. The legislation aims to ensure that employees on taxpayer salaries fulfill their public responsibilities.
Background information shows that the provision for "official time" was part of the 1978 Civil Service Reform Act, permitting federal employees to perform union duties while on payroll. However, this practice has escalated into a costly issue that detracts from governmental efficiency, with its misuse hard to quantify due to inadequate reporting measures.
The full text of the bill is available for public reading.
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