Union: Feds Guzzling Workers With Low Mileage Expense Rate
By ARI PAUL
A Federal employee union leader is demanding that the mileage reimbursement rate for government workers be adjusted to match the new rate set by the U.S. Internal Revenue Service.

COLLEEN KELLEY: Prices outrun reimbursement.

In a letter to Acting U.S. General Services Administrator David Bibb, National Treasury Employees Union President Colleen M. Kelley said June 24 that the reimbursement rate of 50.5 cents per mile for Federal employees using their own vehicles for government business was insufficient, especially considering that gas prices around the country have gone above $4.00 per gallon.

Only Raised 8 Cents Per Mile

The IRS raised the standard mileage rate to 58.5 cents for the next year starting July 1.

"While I believe that the adjusted rate is still insufficient to cover costs and a rate of 70 cents is needed, I ask that you immediately announce that GSA will extend the revised IRS rate for the second half of the year to Federal employees," Ms. Kelley wrote to Mr. Bibb, who will retire in September. "This will provide at least some relief to traveling Federal employees."

She added that if a rate boost could not be instituted before July 1, it should be made retroactive.

"Considering that for much of the year Federal employees have been reimbursed at rates that do not cover the increase costs of gasoline, I believe any delay is unfair to these workers traveling on government business," Ms. Kelley said.