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The Paycheck Fairness Act, a bill that would work to ensure fair pay for women, was shot down in the senate Wednesday on a 58 - 41 vote with Republicans unanimously against it. Even though the Senate had a majority support, it failed to overcome a Republican filibuster which would have required 60 votes.
The Paycheck Fairness Act, a bill that would work to ensure fair pay for women, was shot down in the senate Wednesday on a 58 - 41 vote with Republicans unanimously against it. Even though the Senate had a majority support, it failed to overcome a Republican filibuster which would have required 60 votes.
Several Republicans who supported last year's women's rights bill, The Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act, were against this iteration. Among those senators opposing the Paycheck Fairness Act were Republican Sens. Olympia Snowe and Susan Collins from Maine.
Collins argued the bill put undue pressure on small business, and "impose increased costs and restrictions on small businesses in an already difficult economic climate."
Collins' statement is similar to language from the US Chamber of Commerce, which has claimed small business as a defense in opposing progressive legislation on numerous occasions. In her statement, Collins actually cited opposition to the bill by the Chamber.
"Many business groups oppose this legislation, including the National Federation of Independent Businesses, our nation's largest small business advocacy group, and the U.S. Chamber of Commerce," Collins said.
For Republicans, stopping the bill came as an easy way to appease the US Chamber of Commerce, along with other big business interests, that have been stalling equal pay for years.
The other Republican from Maine, Sen. Olympia Snowe, also opposed expanding the enforcement of equal pay for women, despite supporting The Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act last year. From the liberal blog ThinkProgress:
Not a single Republican supported the bill, including Sens. Olympia Snowe (R-ME) and Susan Collins (R-ME), who had previously voted in favor of the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act, which removed barriers blocking workers from seeking compensation from discriminatory pay practices. At the time, Snowe said, "This new law[] sends a clear message to the American people that this Congress is committed to these core principles and will continue to work in bipartisan fashion to break down the barriers of wage discrimination in our nation."
"Sen. Ben Nelson (D-NE), who also voted for the Lilly Ledbetter Act, was the lone Democrat voting against the bill today. Sen. Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) was not present for the vote.
The bill would have given women more solutions in the court system for wage discrimination in efforts to ensure equal pay.
In the bill's summary, it 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."
For anyone wanting to place blame on President Obama, Valerie Jarrett, the White House Council for Women and Girls, and Senator Reid, that blame is misplaced. They all continually worked with the coalition to get The Paycheck Fairness Act passed, including meetings between the President and Jarrett with women's leaders post-vote ensuring they will continue joint efforts until the bill is passed.
President Barack Obama released a statement saying he was "disappointed."
"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."
Senator Harry Reid has also been a stalwart supporter of the bill, scheduling it for a vote and delivering 57 Democrats and one independent all voting for the bill to go to the Senate floor.
