A Good Day for Women
The United States was founded in 1776 and at that time only white, male, property owners had the right to exercise their political influence via voting in an election. Women would not be granted that right until 1920. President Obama signed into law an equal-pay for equal work bill into law. This would end years of mostly gender discrimination in the labor industry that saw females underpaid compared to their male counterparts.
Phillip Elliott of the Associated Press reports that, “Obama, choosing the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act as the first bill to sign as president, called it a "wonderful day" and declared that ending pay disparities between men and woman an issue not just for women, but for all workers.”
"Making our economy work means making sure it works for everyone," Obama said. "That there are no second class citizens in our workplaces, and that it’s not just unfair and illegal — but bad for business — to pay someone less because of their gender, age, race, ethnicity, religion or disability."
Former President Bush had the same opportunity to pass a great bill for all Americans but the White House and Senate Republicans blocked the legislation They cited that such a bill would “encourage lawsuits and be a boon to trial lawyers” because “employees could wait to file claims in hopes of reaping larger damage awards.”
According to GovTrack.Us, the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act of 2009 passed in the House of Representatives by a roll call vote of 250 Ayes, 177 Nays and in Senate by 61 Ayes, 36 Nays.
It was supported strictly down by party lines with 247 Democrats and 3 Republicans voting in favor of the bill in the House. The Senate garnered support from 54 Democrats and 5 Republicans.
A total of 213 members of Congress did not believe employees but in particular women should be protected from discrimination in the work place when it comes to compensation disparities. Senator John McCain was one of those Congressmen that values discrimination in the workplace even though he selected the first woman to join him on the Republican ticket last year.
Texas Republican Senators split on this bill as Kay Bailey Hutchinson approved the bill while Senator John Cornyn opposed it. I guess he does not think that she is his equal.
While in the House all Texas Republican Congressmen believe in discrimination and Democrats dissent. Surprisingly, Kay Granger stuck to party lines until the end; undermining herself and all women she represents in the Fort Worth area.
How anyone let alone females still believe that they support or at least share the same values as the GOP amazes me. Let’s see how conservatives spin this issue.