Today is Equal Pay Day – April 12. This is the day in the 2016 calendar year that women would have to work until to make the same amount that men earned in 2015. Despite President Obama’s historic Lilly Ledbetter Pay Act, the gender pay gap persists – in part because House Republicans and Bruce Poliquin have continually blocked consideration of the Paycheck Fairness Act, which would help address wage discrimination.
According to a new report from the Joint Economic Committee, the pay gap in Maine’s 2nd congressional district is 21.6%, affecting not only Maine’s working women, but their families, too. As much as 40 percent of a families’ total earnings are contributed by working women, highlighting that the gender pay gap is impacting the American families who depend on their paychecks. Closing the gender pay gap would cut the poverty rate among single-mother-led households by as much as half.
And simply put, when women make more, women spend more – so Poliquin’s refusal to consider the Paycheck Fairness Act is hurting Maine’s economy.
“This Equal Pay Day, Congressman Bruce Poliquin owes an explanation to the women of Maine’s 2nd district who still make 78 cents on the dollar,” said Bryan Lesswing at the DCCC. “By voting to block consideration of the Paycheck Fairness Act, Poliquin is helping perpetuate the gender pay gap, which is hurting women, their families and Maine’s economy.”
Background
Poliquin Voted For Blocking Consideration Of The Paycheck Fairness Act. In April 2015, Poliquin voted for blocking consideration of the Paycheck Fairness Act, a bill that would end the pay gap between men and women and unsure equal pay for equal work. “The legislation would protect workers from retaliation for sharing information about their wages, require employers to explain any pay disparities among workers performing the same job, and allow employees to seek unlimited punitive damages in wage bias cases.” The previous question passed 239 to 183. A vote against the previous question would have allowed the bill to be considered. [H. Res. 189, Vote #148, 4/14/15; Bloomberg, 4/14/15; Congressional Record, 4/14/15; Democratic Leader – Previous Questions, 4/14/15]