Mikulski Promotes Paycheck Fairness Act
Full-time female employees make an average 77 cents for each dollar earned by male counterparts
In Maryland, men who work full time make an average of $140 more per week than women, according to data compiled by the congressional Joint Economic Committee. Nationally, the pay gap is even greater at $148.
Over the course of a year, that's nearly a $7,700 difference in wages.
In an effort to close the income gap in Maryland and across the country, U.S. Sen. Barbara Mikulski (D-Md.) is busy promoting the Paycheck Fairness Act, scheduled for a Senate debate Tuesday.
In a telephone conference call with the press, Mikulski said the act advances pay equality beyond measures established in the Equal Pay Act of 1963 and the Lily Ledbetter Fair Pay Act, the first piece of legislation signed by President Obama (D) when he took office in 2009.
The Ledbetter Act allows female employees to sue employers for back pay. The Paycheck Fairness Act would also allow them to seek punitive damages and would prohibit employers from retaliating against them for sharing salary information with coworkers.
"American women are mad as hell," Mikulski said. "They're ready to fight."
Valerie Jarrett, senior adviser to Obama, said, "We're committed to the basic idea that equal pay for equal work is not a luxury, it's a necessity."
"You have the president's full support," Jarrett told Mikulski on the call.
DG
6:50 am on Tuesday, June 5, 2012
This is bullshit. These politicians should focus on lowering taxes and igniting economic growth.
tami
7:15 am on Tuesday, June 5, 2012
Not bullshit if you're a woman! This IS about economic growth - for over 50% of the American population. It's what we deserve as hard-working, tax-paying citizens of this country. The only BS here is when an employer thinks they can discriminate against and disenfranchise women economically by paying them any less for equal work compared to a man. Yes, that is indeed a huge stinkin load of BS!
Emily Jenness
7:26 am on Tuesday, June 5, 2012
I'm a female and I work in MD in a mostly-male company and I have no complaints about pay equity. The only thing I'm mad as hell about is the amount the State of MD and the Febs rob from my paycheck.
Seriously, Mikulski?? Is that the only thing that floated up your Ivory Tower this week? Fix your filters! How about you focus on using your elected position to lower the barriers to production that you and your Senate buddies put in play? That way, somebody doesn't have to lose a job so that some "employeed-but-mad-as-hell" women can get a raise. Or wait!! Were you thinking that all the men should take a pay cut to match the lowest paid woman? But what will THAT do to your tax revenues?
Mmmmm...maybe you'd better focus on things within the scope of your Senate position??
Debra Carrington
7:27 am on Tuesday, June 5, 2012
Yeah right, just what we need more government interference in an already broke job market. Do you want more people working? There's already laws giving equal pay for same job. What this short sighted legislation costs in taxes to enforce and good will could be just another yoke on the back of women you're professing to help. Get a clue!
swatpup102
7:31 am on Tuesday, June 5, 2012
I think there should be an outright ban for retaliation against all employees for discussing pay. If I want to know where I stand vs someone doing the same duties, that shouldn't be grounds for termination. Maybe if employers quit playing favorites and politics, we wouldn't have to bring this up.
joe bart
7:36 am on Tuesday, June 5, 2012
"mad as hell"? this is the language of our sitting senator in Maryland? Time for a change of tone in Washington. Lets vote for someone different.
NO2O
9:21 am on Tuesday, June 5, 2012
Barbara Mikulski sponsoring a bill that doesn't include a tax increase ... amazing!
Equal pay for equal work is a given (or should be) but lets stir things up some. If the job requires the lifting and carrying of a heavy weight. It takes one man to do that job or two women. Should the pay of the two women be half of the man since they can only do half the work?
OK ... fire in the hole
Laurie
9:35 am on Tuesday, June 5, 2012
Never have understood why so many of you think free markets are good for anyone other than owners. America is sliding into feudalism and the 99 Percenters are greasing the skids.
Billy the moderate
10:42 am on Tuesday, June 5, 2012
Of course.. because the lack of free markets in countries such as North Korea, Cuba, and the former Soviet Union has really benefited so much of their populace and made those countries so much more wealthy than the USA. People are certainly equally poor in these countries with the exception of party leaders who decide and control many matters regarding the means of production in the absence of a free market economy as we have. See how well things have worked out for the average person in these utopian ideal societies and why their governments have to build walls to keep their people from escaping such paradise while we build walls to keep people out of our country, right?
There is a difference between our society and others from a historical perspective - what has made us the largest and strongest economy ever is the opportunity our country provides its citizens in terms of enforcing property rights, the rule of law, and a reasonably level playing field where people can acquire the marketable skills needed to reach their potential regardless of social background. Equality of opportunity does not mean equality of outcome and some people will fail. "Fairness", "Equality", and other buzz words are the language of social engineers and utopians - they are irrational in theory and practice as they fail to take into consideration the complexities of the individual and historical precedent. The 99%'ers STILL have a better shot at success here than elsewhere.
Jeff Hawkins
11:04 am on Tuesday, June 5, 2012
I saw a survey on TV the other day that suggested that women coming out of College were making more money than their male counterparts, they took more classes or something like that.
Perhaps the it's the number of women who are employed in traditionally lower paying careers or jobs that are drawing down the numbers?
It comes down to the "individual" to succeed.........
John Naughton
11:06 am on Tuesday, June 5, 2012
Get rid of Cardin, maybe Mikulski will get a hint.
Perhaps she and her dem friends could stop stealing from everyone's children and grandchildren.
Bora Mici
7:46 pm on Wednesday, June 6, 2012
The question remains - why do women make less on a national scale?