Bush by the Numbers
$52 million — the amount some 2,100 senior political appointees in the federal government expected as year-end cash bonuses from the Bush administration. They come courtesy of a President who has stripped away scheduled pay increases for federal workers and postponed payment of $1.5 billion in anti-terror assistance to local police departments. The Clinton administration discontinued bonus payments in 1994.
1 million — jobless Americans whose unemployment benefits have already expired; 75,000 — unemployed who lost their benefits three days after Christmas because Bush delayed in supporting legislation that would extend them. The jobless rate rose to 6 percent last November, the highest level in eight years.
49,000 — unionized federal workers whose voices in the workplace could be silenced at the stroke of a pen. They are part of a group of 170,000 who have been scheduled for transfer to the new Homeland Security Department. Bush won a major battle with Congress to fire or move department employees without notice or consent.
850,000 — the number of federal government jobs — roughly half the federal workforce — Bush would like to open to competition from private contractors in coming years. They would cover a wide range of white- and blue-collar positions as well as a broad swath of departments and agencies — even parts of the military. Some departments, including Defense, are questioning the wisdom of such a move.
