An analysis by USA Today found that government workers make more money than their private-sector counterparts and have vastly more generous fringe benefits, facts that will irritate — even outrage — millions of American taxpayers.

First, the newspaper's analysis of Bureau of Labor Statistics data found that federal workers make more money than people in the private sector doing the same job. The analysis looked at a range of job categories, including professional, management, technical and low-skill jobs. In eight of 10 categories, the federal workers earned about $6,000 more a year than the comparable worker in the private sector.

That finding exposes as a lie the argument made for years by government workers that they earn less than their private sector counterparts, and therefore deserve a generous benefits package as compensation. It's a story heard from Washington, D.C., Harrisburg and even the Butler County Government Center.

When the USA Today analysis looked at benefit packages, the government workers were found to be receiving benefits worth more than $40,000 a year, while private-sector workers had average benefit packages worth about $10,000 a year.

Federal workers receive benefits, meaning mostly health care, pension and vacation days, that exceed the value of the average private sector worker's benefits package by $30,000 a year.

It's a stunning finding and one that might fuel more taxpayer anger — and insistence that lawmakers at every level begin to control government spending, including the cost of government itself.

With private sector workers supplying most of the tax dollars that pay government workers, the USA Today report should be something taxpayers — and voters — bring up to the attention of elected officials at all levels.

With many private-sector workers struggling financially, even as their tax dollars go to pay government employees who are making $40,000 more a year in wages and benefits, this is a powerful issue in an election year.

In reaction to the report, National Treasury Employees Union President Colleen Kelley said that USA Today comparisons are not valid because federal workers, including the federal accountants she cited as an example, do work that is more complex and requires more skill than similar work in the private sector. Her argument is arrogant and cannot be supported.

The second disturbing fact revealed by USA Today's investigation is that federal workers owe $3 billion in back taxes for 2008.

Once again, public outrage should be expected. As should outrage from elected officials.

How can it be that federal workers, paid for with tax dollars, are allowed to avoid paying $3 billion in taxes due? At the very least, the back taxes should be deducted from their pay.

A congressman from Utah, Republican Jason Chaffetz, proposes going further and plans to introduce a bill in the House that would result in those federal workers who are the most serious offenders to be fired. His bill also would prohibit people owing back taxes to the U.S. Treasury from being hired by the federal government — a reasonable proposal.

Such common sense matches President Barack Obama's directive signed in January ordering the Internal Revenue Service to conduct an audit of all federal contractors, with the objective of identifying those owing federal taxes. A study by the Government Accountability Office revealed that tens of thousands of companies doing business with the federal government owe more than $5 billion in back taxes. Again, taxpayers have to ask how that is allowed.

As many taxpayers struggle, the USA Today report will only increase concerns about how elected officials and bureaucrats spend other people's money.