Today the senate declined the Paycheck Fairness Act, much to the chagrin of female and underrepresented minorities everywhere.
The purpose of the Paycheck Fairness Act was to eliminate discrepancies in salaries between underprivileged groups of society or groups who had faced discrimination in the past. The decline to pass this Act comes as a huge blow to women’s equality groups around the nation.
“To those of our colleagues who claim to be so concerned about the economy and the middle class, now is your chance to prove to your constituents that you really mean what you say,” said Sen. Patty Murray, (D) Wash., as debate opened Tuesday. “The paycheck fairness act is not just about women, and it is not just about fairness. It is about the economy.”
Lily Ledbetter, the face of the movement, complained that Obama’s republican challenger would not comment on his stance on the bill.
The Paycheck Fairness Act was defeated with a vote of 52 to 47, short of the 60 votes necessary.
Democrats were disappointed that two of their senators declined to vote on the Paycheck Fairness Act. One senators from the Republican party decided not to vote, and that was Senator Mark Kirk of Illinois.
President Obama recently released a statement about the decline of the Act. He cited it as a “major disappointment” for American women everywhere. He said that his Administration will continue to fight for a woman’s right to receive equal pay.
Paycheck Fairness Act: Senate Says No
