Republicans Blocked Pay Check Fairness For Women-- And, Yes, Even Susan Collins, Joined The GOP Filibuster

This week, Senate Republicans were unanimous in their opposition to Barbara Mikulski's equal pay for women legislation. It was filibustered by the Republicans and an attempt at cloture failed 53-44. Yes, even self-proclaimed "moderates" like Susan Collins (R-ME), Kelly Ayotte (R-NH), Mark Kirk (R-IL), Dean Heller (R-NV) and Rob Portman (R-OH) voted to keep the filibuster going. Nancy Pelosi: "The promise of equal pay for equal work should not be a partisan issue-- it should be a matter of common sense and fairness, an essential step for the security of our families, the growth of our economy, and the strength of our middle class. Unfortunately, Senate Republicans disagree."

Had it passed, the bill would have made it illegal for employers to retaliate against workers who inquire about or disclose their wages or the wages of other employees in a complaint or investigation. It also would make employers subject to civil actions by employees who feel aggrieved. As part of the bill, the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission would be required to collect pay information from employers.

The aim, Democrats have said, is to close a wage gap that finds women making 77 cents for every dollar that men earn. The push has been a major plank of the “give America a raise” and “fair shot for everyone” talking points that Democrats hope will mobilize their voter base in this year’s midterm elections and help them retain control of the Senate.

Republicans have said that, although they support equal pay for equal work, the bill would increase civil lawsuits. They also say that the bill is unnecessary because discrimination based on gender is already illegal.

Early this morning, President Obama addressed this latest injustice and the Republican obstruction to prevent progress on behalf of their corporate allies. "Earlier this week," he began, as you can see in the video above, "was Equal Pay Day. It marks the extra time the average woman has to work into a new year to earn what a man earned the year before. You see, the average woman who works full-time in America earns less than a man-- even when she’s in the same profession and has the same education."

That's wrong. In 2014, it’s an embarrassment. Women deserve equal pay for equal work.

This is an economic issue that affects all of us. Women make up about half our workforce.  And more and more, they’re our families’ main breadwinners. So it’s good for everyone when women are paid fairly. That’s why, this week, I took action to prohibit more businesses from punishing workers who discuss their salaries-- because more pay transparency makes it easier to spot pay discrimination. And I hope more business leaders will take up this cause.

But equal pay is just one part of an economic agenda for women.

Most lower-wage workers in America are women. So I’ve taken executive action to require federal contractors to pay their federally-funded employees at least ten dollars and ten cents an hour. I ordered a review of our nation’s overtime rules, to give more workers the chance to earn the overtime pay they deserve. Thanks to the Affordable Care Act, tens of millions of women are now guaranteed free preventive care like mammograms and contraceptive care, and the days when you could be charged more just for being a woman are over for good. Across the country, we’re bringing Americans together to help us make sure that a woman can have a baby without sacrificing her job, or take a day off to care for a sick child or parent without hitting hardship. It’s time to do away with workplace policies that belong in a Mad Men episode, and give every woman the opportunity she deserves.

Here’s the problem, though. On issues that would benefit millions of women, Republicans in Congress have blocked progress at every turn. Just this week, Senate Republicans blocked the Paycheck Fairness Act, commonsense legislation that would help more women win equal pay for equal work. House Republicans won’t vote to raise the minimum wage or extend unemployment insurance for women out of work through no fault of their own. The budget they passed this week would force deep cuts to investments that overwhelmingly benefit women and children-- like Medicaid, food stamps, and college grants. And of course, they’re trying to repeal the Affordable Care Act for the fiftieth or so time, which would take away vital benefits and protections from millions of women.

I’m going to keep fighting to make sure that doesn’t happen. Because we do better when our economy grows for everybody, not just a few. And when women succeed, America succeeds. Thanks, and have a great weekend.

The Blue America-endorsed candidate for Congress in the hard-pressed 31st congressional district (the Inland Empire) is Eloise Reyes. She spoke to the issue this week as well-- from the perspective of a woman who worked in the onion fields when she was growing up and works as an attorney now.

It’s been more than fifty years since the Equal Pay Act was signed into law and at the time women were paid 59 cents for every dollar earned by their male counterparts. Today women earn 77 cents for every dollar earned by men. This week the US Senate has a chance to take another step forward in the fight to end gender discrimination in pay when it votes on the Paycheck Fairness Act.

The fact that women in America earn just 77 cents for every dollar men earn is simply wrong. This bill goes a long way toward righting that wrong, with some common sense reforms.

The fight is especially important for Latino families here in California, where Latinas make an abysmal 44 cents for every dollar earned by their white male counterparts. That’s one of the widest pay gaps between Latinas and white men of any state in the nation.

This isn’t just a fight for fairness in the workplace-- it’s a fight to improve economic security for millions of children in America living in households that depend on the mothers’ earnings to make ends meet. My family was one of them. This fight matters and I urge Senators from both parties to support this important legislation.