On the seventh anniversary of the signing of the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act, working women are still fighting to close the gender wage gap — and Republicans, including Senator Richard Burr, are standing in their way.
- Burr voted against the Paycheck Fairness Act at least four times — once in 2012, twice in 2014, and again in 2015.
- Burr said the Lilly Ledbetter Act was “more about political theater than a serious effort to address any shortcomings.”
“Today in North Carolina, women make 85 cents to the dollar for the same work as men. Instead of supporting equal pay for equal work and ending discriminatory practices that harm families and the economy, Sen. Burr has stood in the way of creating equal opportunity for women,” said American Bridge President Jessica Mackler. “The Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act was a step in the right direction for equal pay, but Sen. Burr voted against allowing women to use the justice system to fight paycheck discrimination. There’s more work to be done and Sen. Richard Burr has proven he won’t stand up for hard working North Carolina women.”
Background:
Richard Burr
Equal Pay
Burr Called Lilly Ledbetter Act “Political Theater
Burr: Lilly Ledbetter Act Is “More About Political Theater” Than A Serious Effort To Oppose Shortcomings In Current Law.’According to The Asheville Citizen-Times, “In a statement, Burr said he’s ‘strongly opposed to pay discrimination based on gender,” but current laws already forbid it. ‘Unfortunately, the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act is more about political theater than a serious effort to address any shortcomings in current law,’ Burr said. ‘By eliminating the statute of limitations, this bill would undermine the ability of our judicial system to fairly decide cases of alleged discrimination.’” [Asheville Citizen-Times, 1/24/09]
Burr Voted At Least Four Times Against The Paycheck Fairness Act
2015: Burr Voted Against The Paycheck Fairness Act. In March 2015, Burr voted against an amendment to the Senate’s FY 2016 budget resolution that, according to Congressional Quarterly, “would [have] create[d] a deficit-neutral reserve fund to allow for legislation related to equal pay policies.” Specifically, according to a press release from Senator Barbara Mikulski, “U.S. Senator Barbara A. Mikulski (D-Md.), Dean of the Senate women and a senior member of the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP) Committee, today was joined by Senator Patty Murray (D-Wash.) in speaking out on the Senate floor calling for passage of the Paycheck Fairness Act, legislation which will help close the wage gap between women and men working equivalent jobs, costing women and their families $434,000 over their careers. Senator Mikulski introduced the legislation as an amendment to the Senate budget bill currently being debated.” The Senate rejected the amendment by a vote of 45 to 54. [Senate Vote 82, 3/24/15; Press Release – Office Of Senator Barbara Mikulski, 3/24/15; Congressional Quarterly, 3/24/15; Congressional Actions, S. Con. Res. 11]
2014: Burr Effectively Voted Against The Paycheck Fairness Act. In September 2014, Burr effectively voted against the Paycheck Fairness Act, which, according to the Congressional Research Service, “increase penalties for employers who pay different wages to men and women for ‘equal work,’ and would add programs for training, research, technical assistance, and pay equity employer recognition awards. The legislation would also make it more difficult for employers to avoid [Equal Pay Act] EPA liability, and proposed safeguards would protect employees from retaliation for making inquiries or disclosures concerning employee wages and for filing a charge or participating in any manner in EPA proceedings. In short, while this legislation would adhere to current equal work standards of the EPA, it would reform the procedures and remedies for enforcing the law.” The vote was on a motion to end debate on the legislation, which required 60 votes to pass. The Senate rejected the motion by a vote of 52 to 40. [Senate Vote 262, 9/15/14; CRS Report #RL31867, 11/22/13]
2014: Burr Effectively Voted For The Paycheck Fairness Act. In September 2014, Burr effectively voted for the Paycheck Fairness Act, which, according to the Congressional Quarterly, “would [have] require[d] employers to demonstrate that wage gaps between men and women with similar qualifications and in similar jobs have a business justification. It would prohibit employers from retaliating against employees who share salary information and authorize the Labor secretary to seek additional compensatory or punitive damages in a sex discrimination action.” The vote was on a motion invoke cloture. The Senate agreed to the motion by a vote of 73 to 25. The bill later died in the Senate. [Senate Vote 260, 9/10/14; Congressional Quarterly, 9/10/14; Senate Vote 262, 9/15/14; CRS Report #RL31867, 11/22/13]
2012: Burr Voted Against The Paycheck Fairness Act. In June 2012, Burr voted against the Paycheck Fairness Act, which, according to the Congressional Research Service, “would authorize [Equal Pay Act] class actions and ‘such compensatory and punitive damages as may be appropriate.’” The vote was on invoking cloture on the motion to proceed to the bill; it failed, 52-47. [Senate Vote 115, 6/5/12; Congressional Research Service, 6/1/12]
Published: Jan 29, 2016