GOP Sen. Ron Johnson May Target Fed Workers' Pay, Benefits

Wisconsin Republican Sen. Ron Johnson, poised to become chairman of the Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee when the GOP takes control of the Senate in January, is a tea party-leaning fiscal hawk whose positions on deficit spending will be seen as worrisome among federal employees, The Washington Post reported.

Johnson would succeed Delaware's Sen. Tom Carper, a Democrat. The current ranking Republican on the committee, Sen. Tom Coburn of Oklahoma, is retiring. Johnson, a freshman lawmaker, is currently one of seven members of the Republican minority on the committee, which oversees the government's workforce.

He is known to favor eliminating, consolidating or privatizing certain federal agencies — such as the Post Office. He thinks federal employees are overpaid, would reduce their healthcare and retirement benefits, and make them contribute more toward their benefit packages.

He would also eliminate cost of living adjustments for retirees, the Post reported.

He is on record as advocating a reduction of the federal workforce by 10 percent and cutting workers who contract for the government by 15 percent.

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