TBO.com - TBO is Tampa Bay Online

House OKs Pay Equity Bill

ADVERTISEMENT

The Associated Press

Published: August 1, 2008

WASHINGTON - House Democrats pushed through legislation Thursday that would give women new tools to combat pay discrimination.

The pay equity measure, which passed with a 247-178 vote, would treat gender discrimination involving pay the same as race, disability and age discrimination. The bill would allow for compensatory and punitive damages, ban employers from retaliating against workers who share their salary with colleagues, and force employers to prove that paying a woman less than a man is job-related and necessary.

"This is a historic step forward in the fight for equal rights for women," said Democratic Rep. George Miller of California, chairman of the House Education and Labor Committee.

Congress passed the Equal Pay Act in 1963, but Democrats said companies continually have found ways around it. The Institute of Women's Policy Research says wage disparity can cost a woman as much as $2 million over her lifetime in lost wages.

Republicans said the legislation would benefit trial lawyers, a Democratic constituency.

The bill now goes to the Senate, where similar legislation has been introduced.

The White House has threatened to veto the bill.

Share this:

Loading Comments...

Email Print

ADVERTISEMENT