Putin tells Trump in New Year’s letter he’s open to meeting

MOSCOW

Russian President Vladimir Putin has told U.S. President Donald Trump in a New Year's letter that the Kremlin is "open to dialogue" on the myriad issues hindering relations between their countries.

The Kremlin published a summary of Putin's "greeting message" to Trump on Sunday. The summary states the Russian leader wrote: "Russia-U.S. relations are the most important factor behind ensuring strategic stability and international security."

Trump canceled a formal meeting with Putin scheduled for Dec. 1 at the G20 summit in Buenos Aires, tweeting "it would be best for all parties" given Russia's seizure days earlier of three Ukrainian naval vessels.

The message to Trump was among dozens of holiday greetings Putin sent to other world leaders, each tailored to reflect a bilateral theme.

https://www.newsobserver.com/news/nation-world/world/article223738645.html

President Trump orders pay freeze for federal workers for 2019

Thousands of federal workers in the Dayton region might not get a raise after President Donald Trump ordered a pay freeze.

Trump’s executive order to freeze federal employee salary rates comes after previously saying there should not be a pay increase. The pay increases would have happened by default if he had not issued the executive order, according to Washington Post.

There are more than 12,000 federal civilian workers at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base and over 15,000 in the Dayton region.

Trump said earlier this year that the move is needed to deal with rising federal deficits for 2019.

“We must maintain efforts to put our Nation on a fiscally sustainable course,” Trump previously stated in a letter to the House and Senate. “I view the increases that would otherwise take effect as inappropriate.”

Local Congressman Mike Turner, whose district includes Wright-Patt, had called the president’s statement “shortsighted” and said Congress needs to “ensure a competitive pay scale” for federal employees.

Congress could still pass legislation that would enact pay raises.

The Office of Personnel Management says employees would remain eligible for raises in 2019, as they were from 2011 to 2013, through promotion or advancing up pay grades.

Members of the military will not be impacted and are set for a 2.6 percent pay increase.

https://www.daytondailynews.com/news/president-trump-orders-federal-worker-pay-freeze-for-2019/f11DU4JeYOwmHbLlceKGnL/

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