GOP Set To Again Block Senate Dems On Women's Pay

 

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President Barack Obama speaks in the East Room of the White House in Washington, Tuesday, April 8, 2014, during an event marking Equal Pay Day, and to announce new executive actions to strengthen enforcement of equal pay laws for women. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster)

WASHINGTON (AP) — Senate Republicans were ready to derail an election-season drive by Democrats on Monday to pressure employers to pay women the same as men for comparable jobs.
Democrats planned a Monday vote on the measure and it faced a predictable defeat, which Democrats hoped will persuade women to vote for their candidates in November.
GOP senators blockaded the legislation in April and with the support of business groups like the Chamber of Commerce were ready to oppose it again. They say that by making it easier for workers to successfully win legal damages in court, the bill would make it harder for employers to defend themselves against pay disparities that are justified – such as when a worker accepts lower pay in exchange for more flexible hours.
Democrats promised to revisit the issue in the heat of this fall’s campaigns.
Census bureau figures show that on average, women made 77 cents for every dollar earned by men. Experts and politicians debate how much that reflects actual gender discrimination.
Figures show that men tend to out-earn women in comparable jobs and with equal amounts of education. But on average, women tend to accept shorter hours than men and are likelier to take lower-paying jobs.

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