After House Oversight Committee Chair Jason Chaffetz (R-UT) quizzed Planned Parenthood President Cecile Richards about her salary during a Tuesday hearing, Rep. Carolyn Maloney (D-NY) took the congressman to task over his line of questioning.
“I first would like to register my opposition and my objection to the chairman beating up on a woman, on our witness today, for making a good salary,” Maloney said during the hearing.
She added that Chaffetz’s questions for Richards were “discriminatory.”
“The entire time I’ve been in Congress, I’ve never seen a witness beaten up and questioned about their salary,” she said. “Ms. Richards heads a distinguished organization providing health care services to millions of Americans. And I find it totally inappropriate and discriminatory.”
During the hearing, Chaffetz asked Richards, “Your compensation in 2009 was $353,000. Is that correct?”
Richards said she didn’t have the exact number available.
“It was. Congratulations,” Chaffetz said in response before asking Richards about a salary increase.
“In 2013, your compensation went up some $240,000. Your compensation, we’re showing, based on your tax returns, is $590,000. Correct?”
“That’s not my annual compensation,” Richards responded, noting that she earns $520,000 annually.
As she continued to explain what she earned in 2013, Chaffetz moved on to another question.
Watch Maloney’s comments below:
