Senate Republicans Block Vote on Paycheck Fairness Act

Senate Republicans block paycheck fairness bill

Today, in yet another volley in the war on women, Senate Republicans blocked voting on the Paycheck Fairness Act. Proponents of the bill needed 60 votes in order to break a G.O.P. filibuster, but were able to muster only 52. Some 47 Republicans voted against a floor vote.

Because women continue to be paid less than men in similar positions, making just 77 cents to the dollar, the legislation was an effort to increase protections for women suing for gender discrimination. Businessweek described the legislation this way:

The bill, sponsored by Senator Barbara Mikulski, a Maryland Democrat, would increase potential damages to plaintiffs in pay- discrimination suits and enhance the legal burden on employers to show that pay disparities aren’t gender-based. It would create a grant program to train women on how to negotiate with employers on their pay.

From the Maddow Blog:   READ MORE