FROM CNN's Jack Cafferty:
More than 77,000 federal workers make more money each year than the governors of the states where they work. That's according to a new congressional research report. The figures are based on 2009 salaries, the most recent data available.
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It comes at a time when cutting budgets and the size of government are hot button issues.
Almost a quarter of those earning more than their governors were doctors, more than 18,000 according to the report. The second-highest percentage is air traffic controllers, about 5,000 out-earned their states' governors. There are also more than 4,000 attorneys on the list, 22 librarians and one interior designer.
Say what?
Governors' salaries differ from state to state. The lowest is Maine, $70,000 a year. The highest is California, where the governor makes more than $212,000 a year. Colorado had the largest number of workers making more than its governor, more than 10,000. Delaware had the fewest, 37.
A spokesperson for the American Federation of Government Employees, a union that represents more than 600,000 federal employees, discounted the report, telling the Washington Times that many of these employees work in higher paying medical fields. Others also say many of these workers have reached those salaries after many years on the job.
Interested to know which ones made it on air?
Stella in New York:
I'm a federal employee and proud of it. I work my butt off and heart out for the soldiers and organizations I service. Some weeks I put in 60-70 hrs. I guess you think we're just rolling in the money as hard and long as we work. How's less than $50,000 a year sound to you? Just remember there are thousands of federal employees like myself across this country. I don’t see any governors around my pay scale. Do you?
Ted:
This is yet another bogus comparison to make federal salaries look out of step. Why are we comparing governors to doctors or engineers in the first place? It is hardly unusual for people in these professions to earn less than $150k–especially if they're working in a large metro area. If anything, all this shows is that governors are massively underpaid for the amount of responsibility they have.
Cy in Arlington, Virginia:
So, if you're a computer genius designing software for the government, you should work for well below your free market value because voters don't want to feel like they're overpaying hack politicians? Sounds like Socialism to me.
Marilyn in Powell, Ohio:
More than likely, yes. They do all the grunt work. You know, just like the underpaid administrative assistants of the big shot executives.
Bryan in Colorado:
Who cares? I have a college degree with 20 years experience and make less than uneducated data entry personnel working in a government union. I apply every time a position becomes open for government work and have been told several times that I am over qualified. We need to be concerned about the unemployed private sector non union workers. We are the ones taking it in the shorts.
Ash in Portland, Oregon:
Should ball players earn more than doctors, CEOs more than U.S. presidents, hard-bitten CNN newsmen more than teachers? Sure, why the heck not? The list of things that actually make sense in this world is far shorter than those that don't.