Senate Republicans Once Again Block Passage of Bill that Would Guarantee Equal Pay for Women
Second Time in Five Months Republicans Have Voted Against Ending Gender Discrimination in Pay
Monday, September 15, 2014WASHINGTON, D.C. - Senate Republicans today blocked a final vote on legislation cosponsored by U.S. Senator Debbie Stabenow to ensure women receive equal pay for equal work. The Paycheck Fairness Act would have helped reduce gender discrimination by empowering women to negotiate for equal pay, close loopholes courts have created in the law, and create strong incentives for employers to obey the laws by strengthening federal enforcement efforts. This is the second time just this year that Senate Republicans filibustered this commonsense legislation.
"It is totally unacceptable that, once again, my Republican colleagues blocked a bill to finally guarantee women equal pay for equal work," said Stabenow. "We have no room for political stunts when it comes to the lives of women and their families in Michigan and whether or not they are able to put food on the table and a roof over their heads."
The Paycheck Fairness Act was blocked by Senate Republicans in April. Because of gender discrimination in pay, women in Michigan, on average, still earn only 74 cents on the dollar compared to men. Women nationally must work one year, three months and 8 days - more than three months into the current year - to earn the same amount a man earned during just the 12 months of 2013.
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