Poor Public Employees? Not These Guys

Not-so-rich-folks who work for government wondered who wrecked the curve for them after they read my Monday column, "Public Employees' Pensions Can Sink the Ship."

I wrote this: "The majority of union members in America today are white-collared, college-educated and work for the government, where they receive an average of $123,049 annually in pay and benefits -- twice the average of workers in the private sector."

As one of the commenters to the column put it, "$123,049!!! I truly want some of what you are smoking. Typical State of Florida is approx 25% of your figure."

Now, I'm not saying all these higher-echelon state employees around the country are union members, but I think if you read this list from The Fiscal Times and a slideshow entitled "10 Insanely Overpaid Public Employees," you'll see how state and county workers at the aide and assistant level might only be half of the salary story.

Check it out:

• Kevin Broadus, basketball coach, SUNY Binghampton, N.Y.: $1.2 million
• Kern Wildenthal, fundraiser, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center: $841,557
• Francisco G. Cigarroa, chancellor, University of Texas: $813,892
• Jeffrey W. Rohlfing, prison doctor, High Desert State Prison, Calif.: $784,596
• Fong Lai, prison psychiatrist, Stockton, Calif.: $737,057
• Steven Strongwater, CEO and vice president hospital affairs, Stonybrook Hospital, N.Y.: 721,043
• Timothy Malan, prison dentist, Avenal State Prison, Calif.: $621,971
• Matthew Goldstein, chancellor, City University of N.Y.: $560,038
• Thomas Britton Harris IV, chief investment officer, Teacher Retirement System, Texas: $480,000
• Scott Wallace (just resigned), executive director, Citizens Property Insurance Corp., Florida, $343,608.

BTW, notice there's not a woman among them.