AlterNet: Republicans Vote Against Equal Pay for Women–Unanimously

[marmar]

Republicans Vote Against Equal Pay for Women–Unanimously


Senate Republicans don't care about equal pay, privileging small business over gender equality. The Paycheck Fairness Act, which would have expanded womens' recourse against wage discrimination, died in the Senate today, under the oft-invoked guise of protecting small business. Even some previously pro-equal pay women turned their backs on the bill–Vermont conservatives Olympia Snowe and Susan Collins both registered “no” votes. Ironically, the bill failed by just two votes.

The bill would have worked to ensure equal pay for women, giving them more remedies in the court system for wage discrimination.

The summary of the bill states that it "amends the portion of the Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938 (FLSA) known as the Equal Pay Act to revise remedies for, enforcement of, and exceptions to prohibitions against sex discrimination in the payment of wages."

After Fair Pay was annihilated, Obama released a strong statement expressing his dismay. "I am deeply disappointed that a minority of Senators have prevented the Paycheck Fairness Act from finally being brought up for a debate and receiving a vote," he said. "This bill passed in the House almost two years ago; today, it had 58 votes to move forward, the support of the majority of Senate, and the support of the majority of Americans. As we emerge from one of the worst recessions in history, this bill would ensure that American women and their families aren't bringing home smaller paychecks because of discrimination."

Marcia Greenberger, co-president of the National Women's Law Center, echoed Obama's sentiments. “In this difficult economy, in which nearly 40 percent of mothers are primary breadwinners, women shoulder increased responsibility for supporting their families and cannot afford to have employers discounting their salaries,” she said in a statement. “Among other important provisions, the law would make it illegal for employers to retaliate against employees who seek to learn whether they are being paid unfairly.”

Republicans' justification for killing the bill was based on the potential for “excessive litigation against the small business community,” aka bosses who knowingly discriminate against their female employees might actually have to own up to their actions in a court of law. Meanwhile, women still earn 77 cents to every dollar a man earns, on average–a statistic that hasn't changed in decades, and likely won't anytime soon. So thanks for that, Republicans.


http://www.alternet.org/newsandviews/article/339467/republicans_vote_against_equal_pay_for_women%E2%80%93unanimously/

[FrenchieCat]

1. Those Women voting for Republicans ought to love this!

If the media even bothers to actually cover it....and I'm certain that they won't.

That's why I rail against the media and consider them responsible for much of the
negatives wrong with this country today......because they determine what will be covered....
and usually it ain't what it is that Republicans truly represent; assholiness and evil.

[glinda]

4. The media is totally at fault. They do nada to alert the public in real facts.

[JustAnotherGen]

2. And those Female Republican Senators

Also need to 'woman up' and take $0.23 less on the dollar than male colleagues with the same time in Congress.

Why are they 'better' than other women where they think they are *entitled* to equal pay?

ETA: I swear in the past week someone posted at DU that Snowe would be primaried (she's a target of the Teaps) and perhaps she should jump onto the Democratic party/ticket. I hope every single woman who defines herself as Democratic/Liberal/Progressive never forgets how she threw her gender under the bus.

[femrap]

7. These two women

are merely tools of the patriarchy. They're allowed into Congress as long as they 'behave.' No courage, no guts, no integrity. :puke: :puke: :puke: :puke: :puke: :puke: :puke: :puke: :puke: :puke: :puke: :puke: :puke:

[spanone]

3. i guess the female republicans got what they wanted, eh?

[librechik]

5. it's so absurd and counter productive that a 40 vote minority can rule the US.

We have to change that!

[bluestate10]

11. Collins and Snowe.

Have set themselves up for defeat. Women in Maine must realize that the two are republican to the core and care nothing about working people like most Mainers. Both will draw tea party challengers because they are not conservative enough for the far right. Regardless of whether they survive the tea party challenge or not, democrats will take their seats. Maine would have had two years of a republican loon governor after stable years under the democrat Balducci when the first of the two Maine Senators come up for re-election.

[femrap]

6. Simply pathetic.....

women are denied access to total reproductive freedom and will continue to make 'pocket change.' What do we have to do? Protest with signs around neck saying, 'We are Human Beings, Too.'

I spat upon every single repugnant in the Senate. May their lives be filled w/ flaccidity. :nuke: :nuke: :nuke: :nuke: :nuke: :nuke: :nuke: :nuke: :nuke: :nuke: :nuke: :nuke: :nuke: :nuke: :nuke: :nuke: :nuke: :nuke:

And an especially impotent future for Voinovich who is retiring....a misogynist to the end.

I think I'll send him a note he won't forget.

[Phentex]

8. kick

:kick:

[bluetrain]

9. sad kick

[Phentex]

10. kick

yes I did