A group of Democratic female senators on Wednesday declared war on the so-called “gender pay gap,” urging their colleagues to pass the aptly named Paycheck Fairness Act when Congress returns from recess next month. However, a substantial gender pay gap exists in their own offices, a Washington Free Beacon analysis of Senate salary data reveals.
Of the five senators who participated in Wednesday’s press conference—Barbara Mikulski (D., Md.), Patty Murray (D., Wash.), Debbie Stabenow (D., Mich.), Dianne Feinstein (D., Calif.) and Barbara Boxer (D., Calif.)—three pay their female staff members significantly less than male staffers.
Murray, who has repeatedly accused Republicans of waging a “war a women,” is one of the worst offenders. Female members of Murray’s staff made about $21,000 less per year than male staffers in 2011, a difference of 33.8 percent. A significant “gender gap” exists in Feinstein’s office, where women also made about $21,000 less than men in 2011, but the percentage difference—41 percent—was even higher than Murray’s.
Other notable Senators whose “gender pay gap” was larger than 23 percent:Sen. Bernie Sanders (I., Vt.)—47.6 percent
Sen. Jeff Bingaman (D., N.M.)—40 percent
Sen. Jon Tester (D., Mont.)—34.2 percent
Sen. Ben Cardin (D., Md.)—31.5 percent
Sen. Tom Carper (D., Del.)—30.4 percent
Sen. Amy Klobuchar (D., Minn.)–29.7 percent
Sen. Kent Conrad (D., N.D.)–29.2 percent
Sen. Bill Nelson (D., Fla.)—26.5 percent
Sen. Ron Wyden (D., Ore)—26.4 percent
Sen. Tom Harkin (D., Iowa)—23.2 percentSen. Sanders, who is an avowed socialist who caucuses with the Democrats, has the worst gender gap by far. He employed more men (14) than women (10), and his chief of staff is male. Like many of his fellow partisans, he has previously accused Republicans of “trying to roll back the clock on women’s rights.”
My wife has always made more money than me….but then, I’m much happier than she is.
i fuck them ‘hoes.
I have something important to say about the difference between european and american cities; But, i’ve forgotten what it is….
Perhaps we should examine the “skill set” pay gap instead of the “gender” pay gap. Maybe the men are way better at their jobs then the women are.
Then/Than . . .
“Isn’t it interesting how those who are often against something are all too often guilty of that very thing?” Now, where have I heard that before?
Oh Ya! THE LYING LEFT and their constant vigil about making everything fair! That’s where.
… I suppose this might make the TV news if all those names had an R next to them, or if there were actual sex involved. But instead, it looks like we’ll have to wait for another good hypocrite scandal coming out of Washington. IOW, looks like we’ll have to wait until there’s a dumb-ass republican to bash. (Don’t worry, they have a good supply of idiots TOO!)
Hey, I thought Obama had solved the problem with his Lily Ledbetter Fair Pay Act? Are they just going to keep proposing more and more things to keep the issue alive?
Once again if your going to point a finger you should do so with clean hands.
EVERYONE should be paid equally, on an hourly basis.
I’ve reversed my earlier stance.
You should compete for the Quality of work.
Don’t want to clean toilets, then get an education and study more than is required, and compete for a desk job. Don’t want to do work, because it is too “hard”, then compete for a management slot.
It is a race to the top.
O.K. Unbunch your panties, women in the white house. 1st, stay out of the halls of congress! Y’all had your chance and we got a big ol’ Feinstein. So, zip it. We can’t make that mistake again… Besides, *senator* means *old MAN*.
Now, to keep your GS rating yet feel useful while being used, get used to getting used to your pay going up {as tips}. The more you give, the more you get. When Biden comes along and asks one of ya’ll to slip into the eastmost nave with him, then you slip into the eastmost nave with him. Keep ya’lls ass in the kitchen with Michelle until such opportunities present themselves and yo’ money will sweep up your way eeezy peezy.
I don’t care what your position on the issue is, if you start the discussion with the “overall” average of males vs females THEN you are a worthless SLUG not worth listening to–aka 90% of the discussions I see currently.
Its all about choices and consequences, not that gender discrimination doesn’t exist, thats why “Equal Pay for Equal Work” should remain the law and not be weakened by SCOTUS rulings re time to sue issues and what not.
No follow up last month on the woman who demanded more pay to start her new job so she didn’t get hired. Ha, ha. CHOICES AND CONSEQUENCES!
Next up: why children love their mothers 4 times more strongly than they love their fathers. Corollary: why women love their kiddies more than their jobs 4 times more often than men and why men love their jobs more often than their families.
……………..I will dither: Always saddens me to see one of the basic Darwinian fractures in our society: men love women, women love kiddies. Lots of exceptions, overlap, and feed back…but there it is. I like my kiddies, LOVE my wifey, but still LUST after Charlize Theron. I laugh at myself, and pop another beer.
> if you start the discussion with the “overall” average of males vs females THEN you are a worthless SLUG not worth listening to
Well that s a standard liberal talking point, so it looks like you are listening to worthless slugs.
Hey Mickey—I just said they were worthless so why would I listen to them?……………
……………………otoh…………..I’m replying to you, so I see the confusion.
Here is my question: Does a member of Congress get to determine the individual pay of their staff? Or do they only get to determine the pay level of the position or is there a predetermined pay scale for all the staff positions that is Congress-wide?
Yeah, initially I think they all should be good old GS controlled positions………..but…………. like everything else, your question and this issue being alive makes me think Congress probably exempted themselves from all that is good and holy and required of everyone else.
………..more dither: I am reminded of the British Comedy “Yes Minister” and the very clear story lines around the civil service and the political/elected functions.
We see various “systems” Pros and Cons highlighted by such comparisons.
1. Consider that the story is from http://freebeacon.com
2. The headline says White House but all the people mentioned are from the Senate.
You imply that the 2 yr old online “newspaper” funded by a 501(c)4 organization may be biased in their reporting. How dare you.
Do you seriously think your Huffington Post would ever say anything critical about their gods?
Grow up Cap’n. Mr. Bunny Rabbit wants his carrots back.
Feds pay grades same for job description/classification regardless of gender. Inferring otherwise just another rightwing copout on the issue of equal opportunity.
Same copout used since night riders discovered bedsheets.
Only relevant question is which side are you on? Working folks in general or old white men who worry most about being old white men?
Har!
Oh yeah, lets compare this to the Klan. Typical Liberal deflection, you’ve just proven you’re an idiot.
The White House sued Kaplan for using credit and background checks in hiring. The judges threw it out unanimously, with the first sentence noting that the EEOC uses the same checks in hiring.
Women want equal pay for comparable work, and they want to define comparable themselves. It’s the latest feminist me-me-me scam.