Senate GOP Blocks Pay Equity Bill

Source: ThinkProgress

Today, Republicans in the Senate blocked the Paycheck Fairness Act by filibustering the bill. The legislation would have strengthened protections for women who are being paid less because of their gender by creating larger penalties for employers who discriminate, creating more transparency of salaries so that women know whether they are being paid less, and protecting those who sue for pay equity.

Republicans framed the measure as a useless bureaucratic roadblock that would have hindered free enterprise and helped trial lawyers. Sen. Dean Heller (R-NV) called the bill a “war on free enterprise.” But Heller’s record on women’s issues is far from stellar: He previously voted against Paycheck Fairness when he was in the House of Representatives and also voted against the Lily Ledbetter Fair pay act, another pay equity bill.

Pay discrimination isn’t some fantasy of the left — it actually prevents families from higher earnings. On average, women make 77 cents to a man’s dollar. And that’s happening while more women are becoming the primary breadwinners or dual-earners in their family and a larger number of women with high degrees entering the job market.

Update:The measure was blocked by a 52-47 vote. Sen. Mark Kirk (R-IL) was absent for medical reasons. Majority Harry Reid switched his vote so that the bill could come up for another vote at some point down the road.

Read more: http://thinkprogress.org/economy/2012/06/05/495106/senate-blocks-paycheck-fairness/

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Senate GOP blocks Democrats' equal pay bill
http://news.yahoo.com/senate-gop-blocks-democrats-equal-pay-bill-185521302.html;_ylt=A2KJ3CWOV85PagwAiH_QtDMD

Paycheck Fairness Act Filibustered by Senate Republicans
http://www.msmagazine.com/news/uswirestory.asp?ID=13693
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Feminist Majority President Eleanor Smeal commented, "The Republican war on women rages on. First they attacked birth control, then the Violence Against Women Act, and now they've attacking pay equity. With the straight party-line vote, the GOP caved to business interests and denied women the equality they deserve."