I can't get there tomorrow, but I can come on Thursday - By Elizabeth Warren

[ProSense]

16. Republicans blocked the Paycheck Fairness Act

From the OP:

Women get hit hard. They still earn, on average, only 77 cents to the dollar that her male colleague earns. Bloomberg analyzed census data to find that women are paid less in 264/265 of major occupations – in 99.6% of jobs, women get paid less than men. Yet Republicans have blocked the Paycheck Fairness Act – a law that would make sure women don't get fired just for asking what the guy down the hall makes.

It's great that Senator Warren is bringing attention to the minimum wage and this issue. The vote was April 9.

Senate Republicans Block Bill on Equal Pay

By DAVID S. JOACHIMAPRIL


WASHINGTON — Senate Republicans on Wednesday blocked legislation meant to close the pay gap between men and women, framing an election-year fight between the parties over whose policies are friendlier to women.

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Republican lawmakers have said that given existing anti-discrimination laws, the legislation is redundant and is a transparent attempt by Democrats to distract from President Obama’s much-criticized health care law.

Supporters of the bill, called the Paycheck Fairness Act, say it would bring transparency to worker pay by making it illegal for employers to penalize employees who discuss their salaries and by requiring the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission to collect pay information from employers.

Mr. Obama signed executive measures on Tuesday that imposed similar requirements on government contractors.

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http://www.nytimes.com/2014/04/10/us/politics/senate-republicans-block-bill-on-equal-pay.html

President Obama to Take Major Executive Action on Equal Pay

WASHINGTON – President Obama will announce two new executive actions aimed at closing the wage gap for women during an event at the White House on Tuesday, April 8. Tuesday is Equal Pay Day, which marks how far a woman must work into 2014 to earn the same as a man did in 2013 alone.

The President will sign an executive order banning retaliation against employees of federal contractors for disclosing or inquiring about their wages. He will also instruct the Department of Labor to establish new regulations requiring federal contractors to submit data on compensation paid to employees. This information will encourage voluntary compliance with equal pay laws and assist with more focused enforcement where possible discrimination exists with taxpayer funds. The ACLU has helped lead coalition efforts to push for these actions for several years.

“This is a huge victory for the one in five American workers employed by federal contractors,” said Deborah J. Vagins, ACLU senior legislative counsel and co-chair of the National Paycheck Fairness Coalition. “From making the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act the first bill he signed into law to these actions, the President has proven himself to be a true champion for women in the workplace. Congress still needs to do its part and pass the Paycheck Fairness Act, but we’re one step closer to achieving pay equity thanks to this White House.”

In addition to the President's announcement on Equal Pay Day, the Senate is expected to vote to open debate on the Paycheck Fairness Act as soon as Tuesday. The Paycheck Fairness Act would strengthen the Equal Pay Act of 1963 and bar retaliation against all additional workers who ask about their employers’ pay practices or inquire about their own wages. It would allow women to receive the same remedies for sex-based pay discrimination that are currently available to those subjected to discrimination based on race and ethnicity.

To read the ACLU's letter to the President on both executive actions, visit https://www.aclu.org/files/assets/coalition_sign-on_letter_to_president_obama_re_pay_equity_4_4_13.pdf

To learn more about the anti-retaliation executive order, visit https://www.aclu.org/womens-rights/aclu-factsheet-anti-retaliation-executive-order-april-2014

https://www.aclu.org/womens-rights/president-obama-take-major-executive-action-equal-pay

http://www.democraticunderground.com/10024790793