Elaine & Mitch: Doing Nothing on Equal Pay for Women

[Omaha Steve]

http://shameonelaine.org/2008/04/23/elaine-mitch-doing-nothing-on-equal-pay-for-women/

Yesterday we observed Equal Pay Day on April 22, which marks how far into each year a woman must work to earn as much as a man did in the previous year. As Mary Beth Maxwell wrote recently:

In 2007, women earned only 80 cents for every dollar a man earned. This pay gap was substantially greater for minorities, with African-American women making only 70 cents and Hispanic women making only 62 cents for every dollar earned by their male counterparts.

But Elaine and Mitch don’t see a problem: in 2006 Elaine claimed the pay gap had shrunk, when all that really happened was men’s wages fell, women didn’t gain. Under Elaine’s watch, the administration also tried to cut resources for the agency that gives women information about harassment, discrimination, family leave, and childcare.

Today, Mitch McConnell led the charge in the Senate that defeated the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act, a bill that would restore the law to its original intent and help ensure that women earn equal pay for equal work. Of course, Mitch got caught distorting the truth about the bill.

It is kinda funny that a female Labor Secretary would be so silent on the issue of equal pay. Then again, Elaine doesn’t have anything to worry about: her own pay has already been raised.

[Captain Hilts]

1. and the Supremes won't do anything either. nt