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Communities need federal workers

In recent months, a great deal of misinformation has been circulating in the media and elsewhere — much of it driven by elected officials — that somehow the government can continue to provide the services the American people want and need while slashing federal budgets. As a chapter president of the National Treasury Employees Union, I want to set the record straight.

In our community, NTEU represents thousands of men and women serving the public. Federal employees ensure we have safe food and medicines, process Social Security and veterans’ benefits payments, protect our borders, see to it we have clean air and water, and do so much more of importance to the quality of life in our country. What’s more, federal employees — including those who work in our area — are an integral part of our community. We pay taxes, shop locally, send our children to school with the children of our neighbors. Federal employees did not cause the current financial crisis impacting our country, and cutting their jobs will hurt our fragile recovery.

Our citizens require the services our agencies provide. That is why Congress should not make enormous cuts to the federal budget.

Charlie Turek

President

NTEU Chapter 10

Chicago