Predictable: Missing senators rely heavily on union campaign dollars
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Wisconsin is one of 41 states where public employees earn higher average pay and benefits than private workers in the same state, a USA TODAY analysis finds. Still, the compensation of Wisconsin's government workers ranks below the national average for non-federal public employees and has increased only slightly since 2000.
The finding comes as the Midwestern state remains in the center of efforts by several governors to reduce budget shortfalls in part by requiring state and local government workers to pay more for health and retirement benefits.
The standoff reaches a crucial point today when Republican Gov. Scott Walker presents a proposed budget for the year beginning July 1. He says layoffs of state workers may begin if the Legislature does not adopt his proposal to curb collective-bargaining rights of public workers and require them to pay a higher share of the cost of benefits.
The analysis of government data found that public employees' compensation has grown faster than the earnings of private workers since 2000. Primary cause: the rising value of benefits.
Wisconsin is typical. State, city and school district workers earned an average of $50,774 in wages and benefits in 2009, about $1,800 more than in the private sector. The state ranked 33rd in public employee compensation among the states and Washington, D.C. It had ranked 20th in 2000.
In contrast, California's public employees enjoyed soaring compensation throughout that state's decade-long budget crisis.
The analysis included full and part-time workers and did not adjust for specific jobs, age, education or experience. In an earlier job-to-job comparison, USA TODAY found that state and local government workers make about the same salary as those in the private sector but get more generous benefits.
Economist Jeffrey Keefe of the liberal Economic Policy Institute says the analysis is misleading because it doesn't reflect factors such as education that result in higher pay for public employees.
Key state-by-state findings:
•California. Public employee compensation rose 28% above the inflation rate from 2000 to 2009 to an average of $71,385 in 2009.
•Nevada. Government employees earned an average of $17,815 more — or 35% — than private workers, the nation's biggest pay gap. The state's low-paying private jobs in tourism were the cause, says Bob Potts of the Center for Business and Economic Research at University of Nevada, Las Vegas.
• Texas. The state ranked last in benefits for public employees. The state hasn't granted cost-of-living increases to most retirees since 2001.
Some states that limit the right of public employees to unionize — such as Texas, Georgia and Virginia — pay less in compensation than the private sector. Massachusetts and New Hampshire generally permit unions but pay less than the private sector in those high-income states.
Compensation gap by state for public, private workers
State and local government workers earn more than private-sector workers in 41 states. Average compensation (including salaries and benefits) in 2009 and difference with private-sector workers:
Rank State Compensation Difference
1 District of Columbia $82,607 +$457
2 Connecticut $77,697 +$7,687
3 New Jersey $72,007 +$6,681
4 California $71,385 +$7,977
5 New York $71,282 +$1,699
6 Rhode Island $69,284 +$17,603
7 Nevada $68,785 +$17,815
8 Maryland $65,947 +$6,931
9 Massachusetts $62,562 —$4,688
10 Alaska $60,882 +$2,764
11 Illinois $60,274 +$485
12 Delaware $60,077 +$2,911
13 Hawaii $59,595 +$12,243
14 Washington $59,288 +$532
15 Michigan $58,801 +$6,436
16 Florida $58,749 +$9,099
17 Arizona $56,321 +$4,310
18 Minnesota $55,826 +$1,259
19 Virginia $55,705 —$2,328
20 Oregon $55,682 +$5,607
21 Pennsylvania $55,137 +$1,567
22 Colorado $54,184 —$3,391
23 Wyoming $53,460 +$3,116
24 South Carolina $52,591 +$7,590
25 Ohio $52,473 +$2,392
26 Louisiana $52,412 +$2,473
27 New Hampshire $52,181 —$1,876
28 Vermont $51,503 +$5,811
29 New Mexico $51,428 +$5,715
30 Texas $51,310 —$3,580
31 Alabama $50,999 +$5,001
32 North Carolina $50,902 +$1,857
33 Wisconsin $50,774 +$1,802
34 Iowa $50,394 +$6,178
35 Utah $50,149 +$2,611
36 Maine $49,850 +$4,912
37 Georgia $49,600 —$3,875
38 Indiana $49,157 +$1,183
39 Missouri $49,092 —$1,075
40 Nebraska $48,953 +$3,130
41 Kentucky $48,046 +$2,313
42 Arkansas $48,033 +$4,196
43 West Virginia $47,899 +$3,655
44 Tennessee $47,891 —$756
45 Montana $47,596 +$7,396
46 Oklahoma $47,258 +$1,667
47 Mississippi $46,375 +$4,713
48 Idaho $45,280 +$2,855
49 Kansas $44,803 —$3,229
50 North Dakota $43,619 +$389
51 South Dakota $41,684 +$1,909
Total United States $57,775 +$2,511
Sources: Bureau of Economic Analysis; USA TODAY analysis
The finding comes as the Midwestern state remains in the center of efforts by several governors to reduce budget shortfalls in part by requiring state and local government workers to pay more for health and retirement benefits.
The standoff reaches a crucial point today when Republican Gov. Scott Walker presents a proposed budget for the year beginning July 1. He says layoffs of state workers may begin if the Legislature does not adopt his proposal to curb collective-bargaining rights of public workers and require them to pay a higher share of the cost of benefits.
The analysis of government data found that public employees' compensation has grown faster than the earnings of private workers since 2000. Primary cause: the rising value of benefits.
Wisconsin is typical. State, city and school district workers earned an average of $50,774 in wages and benefits in 2009, about $1,800 more than in the private sector. The state ranked 33rd in public employee compensation among the states and Washington, D.C. It had ranked 20th in 2000.
In contrast, California's public employees enjoyed soaring compensation throughout that state's decade-long budget crisis.
The analysis included full and part-time workers and did not adjust for specific jobs, age, education or experience. In an earlier job-to-job comparison, USA TODAY found that state and local government workers make about the same salary as those in the private sector but get more generous benefits.
Economist Jeffrey Keefe of the liberal Economic Policy Institute says the analysis is misleading because it doesn't reflect factors such as education that result in higher pay for public employees.
Key state-by-state findings:
•California. Public employee compensation rose 28% above the inflation rate from 2000 to 2009 to an average of $71,385 in 2009.
•Nevada. Government employees earned an average of $17,815 more — or 35% — than private workers, the nation's biggest pay gap. The state's low-paying private jobs in tourism were the cause, says Bob Potts of the Center for Business and Economic Research at University of Nevada, Las Vegas.
• Texas. The state ranked last in benefits for public employees. The state hasn't granted cost-of-living increases to most retirees since 2001.
Some states that limit the right of public employees to unionize — such as Texas, Georgia and Virginia — pay less in compensation than the private sector. Massachusetts and New Hampshire generally permit unions but pay less than the private sector in those high-income states.
Compensation gap by state for public, private workers
State and local government workers earn more than private-sector workers in 41 states. Average compensation (including salaries and benefits) in 2009 and difference with private-sector workers:
Rank State Compensation Difference
1 District of Columbia $82,607 +$457
2 Connecticut $77,697 +$7,687
3 New Jersey $72,007 +$6,681
4 California $71,385 +$7,977
5 New York $71,282 +$1,699
6 Rhode Island $69,284 +$17,603
7 Nevada $68,785 +$17,815
8 Maryland $65,947 +$6,931
9 Massachusetts $62,562 —$4,688
10 Alaska $60,882 +$2,764
11 Illinois $60,274 +$485
12 Delaware $60,077 +$2,911
13 Hawaii $59,595 +$12,243
14 Washington $59,288 +$532
15 Michigan $58,801 +$6,436
16 Florida $58,749 +$9,099
17 Arizona $56,321 +$4,310
18 Minnesota $55,826 +$1,259
19 Virginia $55,705 —$2,328
20 Oregon $55,682 +$5,607
21 Pennsylvania $55,137 +$1,567
22 Colorado $54,184 —$3,391
23 Wyoming $53,460 +$3,116
24 South Carolina $52,591 +$7,590
25 Ohio $52,473 +$2,392
26 Louisiana $52,412 +$2,473
27 New Hampshire $52,181 —$1,876
28 Vermont $51,503 +$5,811
29 New Mexico $51,428 +$5,715
30 Texas $51,310 —$3,580
31 Alabama $50,999 +$5,001
32 North Carolina $50,902 +$1,857
33 Wisconsin $50,774 +$1,802
34 Iowa $50,394 +$6,178
35 Utah $50,149 +$2,611
36 Maine $49,850 +$4,912
37 Georgia $49,600 —$3,875
38 Indiana $49,157 +$1,183
39 Missouri $49,092 —$1,075
40 Nebraska $48,953 +$3,130
41 Kentucky $48,046 +$2,313
42 Arkansas $48,033 +$4,196
43 West Virginia $47,899 +$3,655
44 Tennessee $47,891 —$756
45 Montana $47,596 +$7,396
46 Oklahoma $47,258 +$1,667
47 Mississippi $46,375 +$4,713
48 Idaho $45,280 +$2,855
49 Kansas $44,803 —$3,229
50 North Dakota $43,619 +$389
51 South Dakota $41,684 +$1,909
Total United States $57,775 +$2,511
Sources: Bureau of Economic Analysis; USA TODAY analysis
Okay. Unions support Democrats. I thought that was a given. Just as it's a given that corporations generally support Republicans, hence Republicans usually come out against any regulations, including worker and consumer safety.
Also note that the unions Gov. Walker crafted out exceptions where the ones that supported his gubernatorial run.
While this is mildly interesting, the issue is STILL the governor trying to end colletive bargaining in an effort to bust the union.
Can you give an example to back up your statement ? I recall the Govenor saying that he did not want to raise taxes. Many beside the wealthy pay taxes.
Which statement? I didn't know there was any part of what I said that was disputable.
I'm sure he's against raising taxes but I find it interesting that he's handing out millions in tax breaks when he's so concerned about a budget shortfall.
Truth doesn't matter to Demo-RATS. What does it matter anyway?!?!? The country is fucked. I am making my escape plans to the next most Capitalist society on earth. Any body else thinking the same?
I share your thoughts but aint no where to go. The Fed has bankrupted the whole planet
Your probably right. Which is depressing.
Who does Snot Walker rely on for camping dollars?
If that's not fascism, then nothing is!
yeah, ol Rahm got PAID, makin the banks give out bad loans
Since when is Emanuel left?
Thank you, once again you cconfirm, me all the way!
source: Washington Post
Rahm Emanuel: Don’t Worry About the Left
So Rahm wasn't "on the Left"? He was Chief-of-staff you know.
Seriously, you could have a point. Bush doubled the size of govt, yet proclaiming he was for a "limited govt", go figure
Same with Lindsey Graham, Bob Corker, Romney, Scott Brown etc
What do you think? Hasn't President Obama peppered his cabinet with people of all political stripes? May be this is the problem.
I don't know about this statement. Historically, the so called conservatives/republicans have always increased spending and raised the debt, mostly in the name of national security and cutting taxes for the wealthy. How can you run government when you hate it.
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Who does Snot Walker rely on for camping dollars?
If that's not fascism, then nothing is!
source: Think Progress
REPORT: How Koch Industries Makes Billions Corrupting Government And Polluting For Free (Part 2)
In an opinion piece published today responding to his critics, Koch Industries CEO Charles Koch promised to continue to finance anti-government, right-wing front groups. Charles writes that the “purpose of business is to efficiently convert resources into products and services that make people’s lives better.” But when it comes to Koch’s carcinogenic pollution and carbon emissions, the purpose of Koch’s political giving is to avoid any financial responsibility — no matter who gets hurt. Koch Industries has cornered the market in monetizing some of the most dirty industrial businesses. Koch imports oil from the Middle East, refines high-carbon Canadian crude, maintains coal-burning plants, owns one of the largest oil pipeline networks in America, runs environmentally hazardous lumber mills, produces toxic chemicals, and manufacturers fertilizer. The University of Masschusetts Amherst has scored Koch as among the top ten worst air polluters for its carcinogenic chemicals.
Much of the entire Koch political machine is geared towards ensuring that Koch Industries never has to compensate the people and ecosystems damaged by Koch Industries pollution. Koch front groups — from Tea Party groups to think tanks — have diligently promoted Koch Industries’ bottom line by denying global warming, fighting regulations on Koch’s cancer-causing chemicals, and snuffing out investigations into Koch’s environmental crimes:
– In 1990, as both Republicans and Democrats proposed a cap and trade system to address acid rain, Koch financed a front group called “Concerned Citizens for the Environment” to battle proposed regulations. The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reported that the group “has no citizen membership of its own,” but produced studies arguing that acid rain was a myth and that deregulation would benefit the environment. Koch refineries and factories, top emitters of acid rain-causing toxins, were impacted by the successful cap and trade system. A front group founded by David Koch, Citizens for a Sound Economy (which later changed its name to Americans for Prosperity), also battled regulations designed to combat acid rain, labeling the problem a “myth.”
– Koch Industries vastly expanded its political giving in reaction to revelations that the company had systematically stolen oil from Native American reservations and federal lands. Sen. Bob Dole (R-KS), a personal friend of the Koch brothers and top recipient of Koch money, sponsored legislation to suppress an investigation into the oil thefts. Over 50 Koch Industries employees later testified that indeed the “Koch Method” of manipulating data to surreptitiously take Native American oil resulted in an estimated 300 million gallons of oil the company received for free. Koch later settled for $25 million in penalties.
– Between 1995 and 1997 there were over 300 reported oil spills at pipelines owned and operated by Koch, which caused an estimated three million gallons of oil into lakes and streams in six states. David Koch helped Sen. Bob Dole (R-KS) raise over $150,000 for his campaign, and was rewarded with Dole-sponsored legislation that would have helped Koch Industries avoid serious penalties for the oil spills. On January 13, 2000, the government settled that case for $35 million in fines.
– In 1997, the EPA proposed strengthening rules governing air pollution, regulating particles from coal plants and industrial plants which cause tens of thousands of premature deaths a year. Again, because Koch’s factories were impacted by the regulations, Koch-funded front groups sprung into action. Koch’s Citizens for a Sound Economy front group ran ads claiming (Koch Industries created) particle pollution isn’t harmful. One ad featured a ”pediatrician” who says increased rates of asthma are not caused by the toxic particles, but rather by “dust mites, stuff like that.” Another ad from CSE claimed the EPA regulations would ban fireworks and backyard grills. ”Imagine that,” the ad stated, ”a new government regulation that takes away our freedom to, huh, celebrate our freedom.”
– Koch funneled large amounts of donations into electing George Bush in 2000 (even sending Koch-linked lobbyists to help disrupt the Florida recount). At the time, Koch Industries faced a 97-count federal indictment charging it with concealing illegal releases of 91 metric tons of benzene, known to cause leukemia, from its refinery in Corpus Christi, Texas. When Bush took office, his Justice Department dropped 88 of the charges and settled the case for a small amount of money.
– As the Wonk Room’s Brad Johnson has reported, Koch Industries emits over 300 million tons of greenhouse gases a year. That is why, as a Greenpeace study has found, Koch Industries has pumped about $50 million into dozens of front groups denying the existence of climate change. To block EPA regulations of Koch’s carbon pollution, Koch fronts, like Americans for Prosperity, the Hot Air Tour, and the Regulation Reality Tour, have expanded their lobbying to children.
– Investigations by the Los Angeles Times and the Wonk Room have found that the House Republican push to neuter the EPA is largely coordinated by Koch lobbyists. Koch front groups helped elect the new Republican Congress, and have closely worked with the new Republican chair of the Energy and Commerce committee, Rep. Fred Upton (R-MI). Koch allies in Congress have passed amendments to gut the EPA’s power to regulate greenhouse gas emissions, enforce the Clean Air Act, and even monitor other air and water pollutants. They also cut funding for the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change
– One Koch front, the “No Climate Tax Pledge,” has successfully manipulated the Republican primary process by demanding that Republicans sign a pledge against supporting clean energy solutions. This pernicious political ploy, along with millions in Koch campaign donations, has resulted in the majority of the Republican caucus now doubting the science underpinning climate change.
– After a lobbying campaign waged by Koch fronts Americans for Prosperity, Competitive Enterprise Institute, Cato Institute, and others to stop federal action on climate change, Koch fronts have worked to decimate state-level efforts to curb carbon emissions. As ThinkProgress first reported, Koch fronts were at the forefront of an effort last year to repeal California’s landmark clean energy law. Currently, Koch fronts, including the State Policy Network and the American Legislative Exchange Council, are working to revoke the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative in New England.
– Koch Industries is one of the largest producers of formaldehyde, a chemical that “several major scientific studies have concluded” causes cancer in human beings. Koch’s conservative front groups have battled proposed regulations on formaldehyde, and David Koch used his position on the National Institutes of Health to try to stop the EPA from classifying it as a “known carcinogen” in humans.
Gov. Scott Walker’s (R-WI) demand that he be allowed to sell off Wisconsin’s state owned power plants with no-bid contracts has fueled suspicion that Koch Industries might take advantage of the deal, especially given Koch’s support for the Walker campaign and his current power grab. But the more dangerous Koch Industries kickback from Walker is likely to be from his administration’s approach to environmental regulations. Koch owns several Georgia Pacific plants along the Fox River near Green Bay. These plants are notorious for dumping thousands of pounds of toxic waste into the river, so it is discouraging that Walker’s administration has indicated that it will rollback environmental safeguards. If Walker allows Koch to pollute Wisconsin’s waterways, he is risking the lives and health of Wisconsin’s people.
In his book, the Science of Success, Charles pays tribute to libertarian scholar F.A. Hayek as one his role models. But Hayek famously wrote that pollution should be regulated not only for the “owner of the property in question or to those who are willing to submit to the damage,” but for society at large.
As one of the leading sources of carcinogenic chemicals and greenhouse gases, Koch’s financing of anti-regulation front groups is a back-door lobbying attempt to avoid having to pay for Koch Industries’ pollution. Refusing to pay for pollution is the core of the Koch business, and allows the company to make billions in illegitimate profits. Moreover, a business refusing to pay for its own pollution violates true libertarian principles.
No. But do feel free to leave ASAP.
