Republican presidential hopeful Newt Gingrich.
(Jim Watson/Getty)
During the Republican Presidential primary debate Monday night in South Carolina, former House Speaker Newt Gingrich singled out janitors' salaries in New York City when he defended his call for paying poor students to work in schools.
He said the city pays its janitors "an absurd amount of money because of the union."
The Department of Education said the people Gingrich appears to be talking about actually have the title of "cleaners," and are paid about $38,000 annually after two years on the job.
Custodial engineers can make three times depending on the size of their schools. The DOE said engineers need experience operating boilers, and also need certificates for certain repair duties.
Beth Fertig is WNYC’s Contributing Editor for Education. She previously covered politics, which included City Hall during the Giuliani administration, and the U.S. Senate campaigns of Charles Schumer and Hillary Clinton. She also covered transportation and infrastructure.
Comments [7]
Gingrich longs for the days when there a few Carnegies and Rockefellers - and everybody else to toil away at the mill, go back to their cold water tenements, be glad for their lot, and keep their mouths shut. That's his vision for America.
Does Gingrich really want Washington to decide how much school janitors are paid in city school systems across the country? If so, he has a weird concept of a smaller, hands-off federal government.
Child labor in 2012!!
Yes, the city janitors' wages are absurd. How can anyone be expected to live on such a tiny income in New York City?
I try and refrain from calling people "idiots" in public, and yes, even politicians. But in this case I'll make an exception.
Idiot.
a singular class of reprobate moral degenerate,that is gingrich.
Seriously,,So if some one asked you who was paid an over amount of money compared to their actual work load and responsibilities then Janitors is the first thing that comes to your mind??What a flaming royal ASS that makes you.You may want to take a look in the mirror and to your left and right before you single out anyone..
It never seems to occur the Newt G's of the world that he and his partners in crime, earn REALLY absurd amounts of
mone,y just to influence people with their hot air. Millions in fact. Since when is $38,000 an absurd amount of money? Let him try doing the same work and supporting a family on that income. A man this out of touch with
The average American has no business running for president. Fortunately, he doesn't stand a chance to even get
the nomination. Arrogance personified!
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