Senate Dems Conduct Their Own War On Women

The Dems will propose another measure designed to make the GOP look like bad guys, but they may have a harder time selling this one:

When the Senate comes back in session next week, expect an extra dose of preening about the noble cause of protecting women from the discrimination that plagues workplaces across America. The Senate plans to take up the Paycheck Fairness Act—legislation that would benefit trail lawyers, not women—as a way to once again beat the drum that Republicans are conducting a “War on Women” by not agreeing to everything on Democrats’ wish list.

These press events may be a little more awkward than usual, however. The Free Beacon recently reported that the very female Senators championing the Paycheck Fairness Act under the banner of the need for “equal pay for women” and closing the “wage gap” have considerable “wage gaps” in their own offices. Reporter Andrew Stiles wrote:

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.

Murray, who has repeatedly accused Republicans of waging a “war on women,” is one of the worst offenders. Female members of Murray’s staff made about $21,000 less per year than male staffers in 2011, a difference of 35.2 percent.

These Senators would no doubt protest that this isn’t a fair analysis: The staffers in their office perform different jobs and have different levels of experience, which is why such pay differentials exist. Yet that’s exactly why the wage gap exists in the broader economy. And that doesn’t stop these Senators from using those statistics when they call for legislation to address the so-called problem.

Every attack this year is blowing up in their faces.