Senate Republicans Block Paycheck Fairness Act
April 9, 2014 1:11 p.m. ET
WASHINGTON—Senate Republicans on Wednesday blocked a measure aimed at eliminating pay disparities between men and women, a key piece of Democrats' midterm agenda.
Democrats were unable to win the 60 votes needed to overcome a procedural hurdle and move forward on the measure, which would prevent employers from punishing workers for sharing salary information with each other, as well as require employers to demonstrate that pay disparities were based on performance rather than gender. The bill would close what many Democrats see as loopholes in a 1963 law intended to promote equal pay for women. No Republicans voted to move forward with the bill.
And the reason the Republican Poohbahs gave for thwarting the will of the majority and not allowing a vote on the measure:
Because, apparently, the only voters it's legitimate to try to attract are male ones. Oh, and white ones. Oh, and wealthy ones. Aaaannd, let's not forget the straight folks, while we're at it.Republicans have argued that the measure, which Democrats call the Paycheck Fairness Act, would make it easier for people to sue businesses and that it amounts to an election-year ploy to attract female voters.
I just love that the hypothetical possibility that at some point in the future, someone might just maybe sue a corporation over gender discrimination is a good enough reason to oppose this bill.
Remind me again: What war on women?
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