[Reduction in Retired Pay for Senate Employee]

The Financial Clerk of the Senate requested reconsideration of a Senate employee's allowed claim for retired pay. GAO had held that the Senate should not consider a payment characterized as a bonus in computing the reduction to the former Navy member's retired pay. In its request for reconsideration, the financial clerk advised that there was no statutory authority for the payment of bonuses. GAO held that since the Senate lacked authority to pay bonuses to employees, it should include the claimant's pay increase in the dual compensation pay cap calculations. Accordingly, the claim was denied.