Not Walking The Walk

Well, so much for the Sisterhood of the Traveling Pantsuit.

Today's Detroit Free Press published a searchable database of the salaries paid our governor's appointees. Of the top 25 positions by salary, only seven are held by women, and men occupy the top four spots. Seven out of 25 -- that's a paltry 28 percent.

In terms of salaries for the top 25, the average is $139,671, but the seven women in the top 25 average less, at $137,074. The highest paid women are the directors of the Community Health and the Corrections Departments, at $140,000 each, barely above the average for the top 25. The top four men average $164,844, which is approximately 18 percent higher than the top women.

The highest paid appointee is the Superintendent of Public Instruction, who is paid $182,173, or over 30 percent more than the highest paid woman.

It would be interesting to hear the explanation for these disparities, particularly in light of the Democratic Party's platform position:

On the average, women in Michigan are paid substantially lower than men for performing the same work. Michigan Democrats continue to support equal access to employment and pay.

Apparently, they mean that others should provide equal access to employment and pay, since the Governor has shown these admonitions don't apply to her.