Equal Pay – No Way, Say Republicans

[Omaha Steve]

http://www.afscmeblog.org/category/equity-for-women/

April 24th, 2008

“Senate Republicans on Wednesday blocked a measure intended to overturn a Supreme Court decision limiting pay discrimination suits in a politically charged vote certain to be replayed in the presidential and Congressional campaigns.”
From today’s New York Times (Republican Senators Block Pay Discrimination Measure)

Yesterday, Republican senators once again made it harder for women to overcome pay discrimination by preventing a measure known as the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act. Impeccable timing: The vote on a measure supporting equal pay occurred the same week that we commemorate Equal Pay Day. It was marked this year on April 22 because that date represents how far into 2008 women must work just to be paid the same amount men received in 2007. That’s because women in the United States are paid just 77 cents for every dollar paid to their male counterparts.

The act would reverse a 2007 U.S. Supreme Court decision dismissing a suit by Lilly Ledbetter, an employee for 19 years at a Goodyear Tire plant in Alabama. Her suit alleged she was paid less than her male counterparts. “They treated me like a second-class citizen not only when I worked, but for the rest of my life,” Ledbetter, now retired, said yesterday, referring to the fact that the inequity in pay also affected her pension and Social Security.

Noted by Raising Kaine: “John McCain was conveniently absent for the vote, although he says he would have voted against it if he had been there doing his job like he’s supposed to be.”

[midnight]

1. This is and should be an issue that is pounded into the ground.

Women need representation at the legal level. Our candidates need to stand up for this issue. Equitable pay, health care for all, education, privacy, ending the war. I don't care about flag pins, who worships whom, or who has more delegates. This race should of been an easy win.

[Triana]

2. Republicans are notoriously and consistently mysogenist pigs about this...

..both Dem candidates support it/Repubes are against it.

I HOPE HILLARY SUPPORTERS - who want her to stay in the race arm-locked with the GOP smearing Obama to Hell and back so he can't win in November (we already KNOW SHE can't) - to THINK about this as they and their gal Hillary BARREL towards a McSame WIN in November.

Duh. You gonna aim this thing at your foot and pull the trigger? Unfortunately - it hits MY FOOT too! Dammit.

[lukasahero]

3. Wow - I thought Hillary voted FOR the bill?

Oh. Wait, she DID.

Why did you feel the need to make this post about Hillary and her supporters?

(FTR, I voted for Obama in my state's primary, I'm just sick of the shit I'm seeing being thrown at Ms. Clinton. This post is bs that has no reflection whatsoever on the reality of the OP.)

[PeaceNikki]

4. Like I said in the other thread...

I tried to get people to contact their reps about this before the vote.

Very few cared. It's sad.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=389&topic_id=3186501

Both of my Senators voted yes.

[Omaha Steve]

5. I have Ben Nelson & Hagel

I contacted both of them on this vote too.