How Congressional Republicans and Democrats Pay Women

[boston bean]

House Staff Salaries

For all House staff, women made on average $5,862.56 less annually than men

Female Republican House staff made on average $10,093.09 less annually than male Republican House staff.

Female Democratic House staff made on average $1,473.65 less annually than male Democratic House staff.

Senate Staff Salaries

For all Senate staff, women made $7,277.69 less annually on average than male staff.

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://nationaljournal.com/congress-legacy/how-congressional-republicans-and-democrats-pay-women-20120711

[mythology]

1. Well it's clear why Republicans were so against the Lilly Ledbetter act

But Senate Democrats have some work to do. I can understand some difference in average pay as women are more likely to take time off to raise kids, but $5,000 is probably too much.

I say probably because I don't know enough about the individuals involved in terms of how many women this is, and their average time out of professional work or accounting for age differences.

[boston bean]

2. The article states the more men hold higher positions, therefore the difference.

My questions is, why is that?