WASHINGTON — About 77,000 federal employees across the United States — including lawyers, air traffic controllers, medical personnel and information technology specialists — had higher salaries in 2009 than the governors of the states they worked in, a new report shows.
The data from the Congressional Research Service could add fuel to a debate on Capitol Hill about whether the salaries and benefits of federal workers are too high compared with their counterparts in the private sector. The study was first reported by The Washington Times.
The information was requested by Sen. Tom Coburn, R-Okla., who has argued that federal workers should be paid less as the government seeks ways to rein in its deficit.
Colorado topped the list with 10,875 people making more than former Gov. Bill Ritter, whose pay was $90,000. The report does not account for labor and living costs among states, or take into account education levels and years of experience.
