“When women get a mortgage, we don’t get a 23 percent discount.  When we go to buy food, we don’t get a 23 percent discount. When we go to pay our utility bills, they don’t say you’re paid less; we’re going to give you a discount. No. We get charged the same and often more for what we do, but we’re paid less.”
~Senator Barbara Mikulski (D-MD)

Here is what you need to know about this bill and our Congress.  This was a party line vote – every single Democrat voted in favor of the bill and every Republican voted against it (Harry Reid voted against it so he could bring it back to a vote later as a procedural reason).  And just like every other vote taken in the Senate … the 52 votes that the Democrats had (a majority) was not enough to get past Republican obstruction as they have abused a rule that requires 60 votes for every single bill to pass i.e. the filibuster.  So – Democrats get a majority of votes – Republicans block it.  That’s our Congress.

A few facts on what women make:

• Women on average earn $.77 for every $1.00 a man earns.
• African American women earn $.64 for every $1.00 a man earns.
• Latina women earn $.56 for every $1.00 a man earns.

What the paycheck fairness act does:

• Employers must justify reasons for pay differences
• Employers cannot retaliate against employees who share salary information
• Broadens civil action suits

Reuters has the news HERE:

Critics said the law would spur a rash of lawsuits against employers at a time when the U.S. economy is struggling to create jobs. But backers point to data showing that women on average are paid 77 cents for every dollar earned by men doing the same job.

The bill aims to close the pay gap between men and women by requiring employers to show that any pay disparities are based on work-related factors such as education, training and experience. It also would update current fair pay laws by barring employers from punishing workers who share information about their pay.

Democrats say the law builds on a 2009 law signed by Obama that made it easier for women to sue for pay discrimination.

You can find the text of S.3220 - Paycheck Fairness Act HERE.

You can see the roll call HERE.

Here is a list of the lobbying groups opposing the bill:

• Society of Human Resource Management
• American Bakers Association
• American Bankers Association
• American Hotel & Lodging Association
• College and University Professional Association for Human Resources
• Food Marketing Institute
• National Association of Wholesaler-Distributors
• National Council of Textile Organizations
• National Federation of Independent Business
• Printing Industries of America
• Small Business & Entrepreneurship Council
• U.S. Chamber of Commerce
• HR Policy Association
• International Public Management Association for Human Resources
• National Association of Manufacturers
• National Council of Chain Restaurants
• National Public Employer Labor Relations Association
• National Restaurant Association
• National Retail Federation
• National Roofing Contractors Association
• Retail Industry Leaders Association

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