Democratic Senators pay female staffers less than male staffers

[joeglow3]

If true (note the source), this is fucking bullshit and part of the reason I am cynical of most all politicians.

http://freebeacon.com/senate-dems-betray-lilly/

[SunsetDreams]

1. Free Beacon Rebuts Its Own Attack On Democrats' "Gender Pay Gap"

The Washington Free Beacon today reported that "Senate Democrats pay female staffers less than male staffers" and are running afoul of the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act, which provides women more legal room to file pay discrimination claims against employers. However, the Free Beacon story refutes its own attack.

From the Free Beacon article:

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.

After highlighting the gender pay gaps of several other Democratic Senators, the Free Beacon threw cold water on its own claims:

....

http://mediamatters.org/blog/201205240006

I call BS

[joeglow3]

3. I call bull shit on that too

Media Matters seems to say it is okay because there are more male Chief of Staffs, which is a different issue. As was clearly pointed out (at least, it should have been), they EXACT SAME THING is what is causing the majority of the pay gap in the 23% number everyone was discussing. Sorry, but we can't have our cake and eat it too. If that is our excuse as to why this is BS, then we need to apply that SAME logic and call the 23% number BS.

I still come back to hypocritical politicians who say what they think we want to hear and then do whatever they want.

[SunsetDreams]

4. Well then I'll resort to calling BS

on it because the link you posted is to a Right Wing Rag. I was trying to not point out the obvious.

When the Right has a clear war on women, I guess there really is no reason that they would choose to fabricate on Democratic staff members pay. None at all.

The Washington Free Beacon, a project of the 501(c)4 Center for American Freedom, is a nonprofit online newspaper that began publication on February 7, 2012. Dedicated to uncovering the stories that the professional left hopes will never see the light of day, the Free Beacon produces in-depth and investigative reporting on a wide range of issues, including public policy, government affairs, international security, and media criticism. Whether it’s exposing cronyism, dissecting the relationship between the progressive movement and the mainstream media, finding out just who is shaping our domestic and foreign policy and why, or highlighting the threats to American security and peace in a dangerous world, the Free Beacon is committed to serving the public interest by reporting news and information that currently is not being fully covered by other news organizations.

http://freebeacon.com/about/

[Luminous Animal]

5. Actually Media Matters says this:

"The relative shortage of women chiefs of staff is a valid criticism, but it has nothing to do with pay discrimination based on gender. Free Beacon made no attempt in its story to prove that female Senate Democratic staffers are being paid less than male staffers holding the same position. As The American Prospect's Paul Waldman explained when the Free Beacon attacked the White House over a supposed gender pay gap, pointing out that more men than woman occupy higher-paying positions doesn't prove that "women are being paid less for doing the same job -- the kind of discrimination the Ledbetter act was designed to combat.""

[SunsetDreams]

6. Thanks for that quote

[joeglow3]

9. And that is EXACTLY what people on the right said about Maddow's comments on the 23% number

Thus, if one is BS, then the other is BS as they are BOTH casued by the EXACT SAME THING.

[Luminous Animal]

10. Do you have any proof that female staffers DOING AN EQUIVALENT job are getting paid less?

Any at all? Because you are promoting accusations from a right wing source without anything to back it up. I did about a half hour of research and (here: http://www.legistorm.com/browse_by_representative/index/letter/A.html) and by far, the highest paid position in every office is Chief of Staff - a position that is dominated by men. The 2nd highest paid position is usually District Director. Again, mostly staffed by men.

So yes, as Media Matters points out, this is not a matter of pay discrimination when comparing apples to apples but rather it appears to be a matter of hiring discrimination.

Oh, and as for Maddow's critics, they use a severely flawed study to back up their claim.

[joeglow3]

11. You realize Maddow's study uses the same logic, right?

In it, they simply took total men and women and did NOT account for title or position. Rather, they looked at the overall average and came up with a 23% gap. They did NOTHING to account for pay and titles. Please explain how that is difference.

[obnoxiousdrunk]

2. looks like BS...

[stevenleser]

7. There is an issue here, but it is not equal pay for equal work.

It is that we need more female staffers in senior positions.

[LiberalAndProud]

12. OMG, yes!

Of the 46 Democratic Senators listing a chief of staff on their payroll in 2011, 13 were women.

[dembotoz]

8. thanks for the followup

there is an ass i alway argue with on facebook--and the info allowed me to call him a fool in a more creative way

[lumberjack_jeff]

13. Their methodology is consistent with all reporting on the pay gap in general.

The sensational headlines never correct for hours worked, jobs performed or experience. I find it a little amusing that now that Sens Feinstein and Murray are accused of being instruments of the patriarchal conspiracy, people belatedly demand a bit of intellectual honesty on the topic.

[Safetykitten]

14. But they get airconditioning, so they should be happy for what they get.

[cherokeeprogressive]

15. CAN'T be true.

It just can't!