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* From a press release…
Americas PAC has just released a new radio ad running across Illinois highlighting the wage gap between men and women working on Dick Durbin’s Senate staff.
Americas PAC Chairman Tom Donelson said, “Dick Durbin likes to talk about the Republican war on women, but how can he talk of a war on women when he doesn’t even pay his female staffers the same as the men?”
Analysis of Senate Staff payroll by the Washington Free Beacon found that in 2012 Durbin “paid men $13,063 more, a difference of 23 percent.” [Link http://freebeacon.com/politics/senate-dems-betray-lilly/]
“The average female on his staff was paid about 77 cents for every dollar earned by his male staffers,” Donelson said.
In 2014, after two years of supposedly championing equal pay for women, a follow-up report by the Free Beacon found that “The average female salary is $11,505 lower than the average male salary in Durbin’s office.” [Link http://freebeacon.com/politics/men-average-11505-higher-salary-than-women-in-dick-durbins-senate-office/]
President Obama’s White House has a wage gap problem as well. [Link http://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/male-female-pay-gap-remains-entrenched-at-white-house/2014/07/01/dbc6c088-0155-11e4-8fd0-3a663dfa68ac_story.html]“The hypocrisy is stunning,” said Donelson. “I am eager to hear Durbin’s explanation of why his female staffers are paid less than male staffers.”
Since 1963 the Equal Pay Act has made it illegal to pay men and women with the same experience differently for equal work. The new legislation pushed by Democrats, known as the Paycheck Fairness Act, does not change the premise of that long-standing law, but just makes it easier for trial lawyers earn money from class action lawsuits. [Link https://www.uschamber.com/letter/key-vote-letter-s-3220-paycheck-fairness-act]
“Dick Durbin’s crony capitalism and hypocrisy are on full display,” Donelson said. “He wants to pass legislation that his own office could be sued for violating, except the legislation conveniently exempts the government.”
The key provisions of the proposed act would not apply to the Federal Government.
“This isn’t about equal pay. This is about paying off trial lawyers,” Donelson said. “Simply put, Dick Durbin and the Democrats are hypocritically pretending to be champions of equal pay so they can line the pockets of trial lawyers who donate to their campaigns.”
Americas PAC, through its issue advocacy and Federal Independent Expenditure Only committees, has placed 47,000 radio ads so far this this election cycle
* And here’s the ad…
posted by Rich Miller
Friday, Jul 11, 14 @ 10:18 am
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Would have been better as a :30 Ad.
Comment by Oswego Willy Friday, Jul 11, 14 @ 10:22 am
Dick Durbin is the grand example of hypocrisy in politics, which is REALLY saying something. The free spender of OPM that is personally tightfisted
Comment by Anonymous Friday, Jul 11, 14 @ 10:32 am
They get high marks for pounding a message. Could have done it in less time, but repetition has some value. It’s their money, so if they want to pound it for :60, it’s their prerogative. It does get a message across.
Comment by A guy... Friday, Jul 11, 14 @ 10:32 am
After a generation in office, Dick Durbin can’t claim to be surprised by anything. This is not a new issue, and it is not a novel approach for a challenger to take. Hypocrisy is the oldest rock to throw at an incumbent’s glass house.
Durbin has had at least a decade to fix his problem with this. I believe it says something. The fact that he doesn’t pay women equally after all these years, yet he continues to preach to others about fairness, exposes him negatively.
Comment by VanillaMan Friday, Jul 11, 14 @ 10:37 am
we think same group has been running an ad about Durbin and the bank bailouts that has been largely ignored by you drive by mediums
We are certain this will shift all the whack jobs supporting into the ChopperJim poste haste.
Comment by CirularFiringSquad Friday, Jul 11, 14 @ 10:39 am
I support as much spending as possible against Durbin — the more they waste in a losing fight there, the less they have to spend elsewhere?
And yea, long and boring. Not very effective.
Comment by AlabamaShake Friday, Jul 11, 14 @ 10:39 am
The Democrats war on women is just horrible.
Comment by Quick Draw Friday, Jul 11, 14 @ 10:42 am
Yawn. When are people going to let this issue go? It is one thing if the wage differential exists for employees that are equally qualified, have the same level of experience, work the same job, same hours, etc. If that is the case, then Durbin is a hypocrite and his female employees have reason to seek employment elsewhere. However, I would wager a tall pastrami sandwich that they are not taking all of these factors into account.
Comment by Slick Willy Friday, Jul 11, 14 @ 10:42 am
It is refreshing to see a PAC digging into U.S. Senator Durbin’s sordid and inconsistent voting record on women’s rights. I have been pleasantly surprised by Jim Oberweis’ campaign thus far and these ads might prove effective to penetrate U.S. Senator Durbin’s very annoying air of inevitability. #outwiththeoldplease
Comment by Black Ivy Friday, Jul 11, 14 @ 10:43 am
It’s a fair question.
Comment by Aldyth Friday, Jul 11, 14 @ 10:46 am
Careful what you wish for. If Durbin doesn’t get re-elected, we get 6 years of Jim Oberweis.
Comment by SAP Friday, Jul 11, 14 @ 10:46 am
Do GOP Members of Congress pay women better than Dems?
Comment by Carl Nyberg Friday, Jul 11, 14 @ 10:50 am
Do GOP Members of Congress pay women better than Dems?
Comment by Carl Nyberg Friday, Jul 11, 14 @ 10:50 am
The Oberweis crew clearly sees their path to the Senate is appealing to women. That wouldn’t have been my choice, but I guess you have to try something.
Personally, I would have gone with an anti-Washington, do-nothing Congress dealio. Durbin is in leadership. Congress’ approval rating is at 7%.
Comment by wordslinger Friday, Jul 11, 14 @ 10:53 am
In the end it’s Oberweis v. Durbin safe money on Durbin.
Comment by Mason born Friday, Jul 11, 14 @ 10:54 am
Nyberg, do you think everything you say is so profound, you need to post it twice?
If so, I disagree.
Comment by A guy... Friday, Jul 11, 14 @ 10:56 am
@ Carl Nyberg
From a 2012 survey by National Journal (don’t know if the numbers are “profound,” so I’ll only post once, but they suggest a pattern):
– Female Republican Senate staff made on average $9,805.85 less annually than male Republican Senate staff.
– Female Democratic Senate staff made on average $4,916.46 less annually than male Democratic staff.
http://www.nationaljournal.com/congress-legacy/how-congressional-republicans-and-democrats-pay-women-20120711
Comment by olddog Friday, Jul 11, 14 @ 11:07 am
It ignores job levels and experience, so the “he could be sued” crack is gratuitous nonsense.
If he’s got a problem here, which is not demonstrated by the ad, he should fix it.
But it’s a fair shot overall, because when the Dems keep pounding that general 77% number, they don’t fully adjust for levels or experience either. They would argue that we all should have been giving women experience and promoting them to higher levels all along.
As to winning points for Obie — right! Maybe 1.
Comment by walker Friday, Jul 11, 14 @ 11:11 am
=== However, I would wager a tall pastrami sandwich that they are not taking all of these factors into account ===
There is a lot of that going around.
Comment by dupage dan Friday, Jul 11, 14 @ 11:12 am
I’ve heard from some in the profession that an under-estimated talent gap, between Republicans and Democrats today, is the lack of truly first-rate Republican opposition researchers. Maybe it comes from knowing however poorly-sourced or researched your assertions, you know that right-wing talk, media and Super PACs will pick them up and run them down the field for you.
This is still just weak tea; it’s the Scottish verdict, “Not proven.” The source appears to be the Report of the Secretary of the Senate, and they appear to have just taken all the reported salaries - from Senior Advisor Michael Daly (about 85K) down to the staff assistant level. First off when you’re talking a lot of variation here, median income level would also be helpful to report.
But second, yes, there -might- be a story about whether Durbin hires enough women to senior-level positions (though the #2 salary in that report after Daly is a woman, his Chicago director Clarisol Duque). But there’s no attempt here to compare seniority, skills, length of service, etc. Heck, if they just took it title by title - comparing all “legislative aides” say, by gender, that would be a bit better.
For now, this might all lead more to a better conservative critique of how we calculate and talk about the gender wage gap overall in America, than to Senator Durbin.
There’s just not that much “there” here.
Comment by ZC Friday, Jul 11, 14 @ 11:15 am
I can’t get over their lack of an apostrophe. Is this also Central America’s PAC?
Comment by BL Friday, Jul 11, 14 @ 11:22 am
I’ve dealt with politicians at every level (local, state, and federal) in multiple states (3 to be exact) and have even had some professional dealings with the President (pre-White House, of course) and I will tell you that Sen. Durbin is one of the most honest, dedicated, and thoughtful public servants that I’ve ever been around. That was a long, drawn-out, run-on sentence, but I needed to say it. You may not agree with Sen. Durbin’s politics or positions, but I will not sit idly by and let anyone attack his character.
Comment by Try-4-Truth Friday, Jul 11, 14 @ 11:24 am
Not disputing the problem exists, but…
Have to agree with some points made by earlier posters, I tend to ignore these articles unless they show the men and women are doing the exact same job/title. Then they have a point.
Before I retired, men and women in my bureau made the same salary for the same job.
We know that is not the case everywhere, but a blanket statement about inequality does not hold much credence without supporting statistics.
Comment by Finally Out! (From FL) Friday, Jul 11, 14 @ 12:11 pm
Not buying it, and agree with Try-4-Truth you may not agree with Senator Durbin’s positions but he is a man of character.
Comment by southern girl Friday, Jul 11, 14 @ 12:15 pm
T4T and Southern Girl, I disagree. A lot. But, I did get misty eyed reading.
Comment by A guy... Friday, Jul 11, 14 @ 12:48 pm
Put up or shut up, A guy. Sure, you don’t like his politics, but what is your evidence that he is not an honest, dedicated or thoughtful public servant?
Comment by Anonymous Friday, Jul 11, 14 @ 1:34 pm
Walker makes a good point about Dems being hoist on their own petard on equal pay. The wage gap liberals like to talk about never controls for experience and other relevant factors that account for wage differentials. Consequently, it only seems fair to apply the same cockeyed standard to Durbin that he applies to others.
On the other hand, does Oberwies agree with a simple comparision of male and female salaries — without controlling for legitimate factors — to determine whether sexism exists?? If so, call Phyllis Schlafly!
Comment by Anon Friday, Jul 11, 14 @ 1:34 pm
T4T, are you speaking of the same Durbin who, while congressman in a right-leaning district, held positions on many issues that conveniently flipped 180 degrees when he wanted to run Statewide? There are a lot of words I would use to describe the good Senator, but “honest” is not one of them. I give gim credit for being the political chameleon he needs to be to survive and thrive in this State, but that’s all he is: a politician.
Comment by Anonymous Friday, Jul 11, 14 @ 1:44 pm
Same guy Anonymous. Same guy. I don’t view the word “politician” as some sort of slimy used car salesman profession. Again, I’ve dealt with hundreds (thousands ?) of them, and he is, by far, the best individual human of the lot of them. Period.
Comment by Try-4-Truth Friday, Jul 11, 14 @ 1:54 pm
=== Anonymous - Friday, Jul 11, 14 @ 1:34 pm:
Put up or shut up, A guy. Sure, you don’t like his politics, but what is your evidence that he is not an honest, dedicated or thoughtful public servant?===
His positions in the House vs. his positions in the Senate. Clue; they’re more than 200 yards apart in his case. If you love him, go ahead and love him. I don’t.
Comment by A guy... Friday, Jul 11, 14 @ 2:23 pm
==Again, I’ve dealt with hundreds (thousands ?).==
You do realize you’re on a blog where most people commenting can say the exact same thing, right?
Comment by Anonymous Friday, Jul 11, 14 @ 2:27 pm
Anon: Just to be clear, not all the differences in the income between men and women are caused by differences job levels and experience. I am certain in our society generally, much is generated by discrimination and traditional patriarchal attitudes. I’m just saying both sides play fast and loose with this number for political purposes.
Comment by walker Friday, Jul 11, 14 @ 2:43 pm
Yes, Anonymous, I do. Why do you ask?
Comment by Try-4-Truth Friday, Jul 11, 14 @ 3:18 pm
You know what’s really insulting to women? When you drive a business, in your own words, to the brink of bankruptcy, hand it off to your wife who engineers a massively successful turnaround of the company, but then take credit for the turnaround to try launching a political career. Which candidate did that? Jim Oberweis.
Comment by Precinct Captain Friday, Jul 11, 14 @ 4:04 pm