Putting Fairness First: Obama To Sign Fair Pay Acts Into Law

by Jen Nedeau · 2009-01-23 10:27:00 UTC
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In what could be the first piece of legislation that President Barack Obama will sign, the Senate passed the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act of 2009 (S. 181) last night by a strong majority (61 - 36) after defeating a series of hostile Republican amendments. The Senate floor debate for the Act was led by Senator Barbara Mikulski (D-MD), Dean of the women Senators, for Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee Chair Senator Ted Kennedy (D-MA) after Majority Leader Senator Reid (D-NV) navigated the bill to the floor.

Only one male Republican, Senator Arlen Specter from Pennsylvania voted for Ledbetter, despite the fact that all four female Republican Senators voted in favor: Susan Collins (R-ME) Kay Bailey Hutchison (R-TX), Olympia Snowe (R-ME) and Lisa Murkowski (R-AK).

From a Feminist Majority press release, Eleanor Smeal the President of the organization remarked: "President Obama and the Democratic Congress are keeping their pledge to women and all workers to reverse the Supreme Court decision that gutted the right of employees to fight wage discrimination. We're on a roll to rebuilding women's rights and civil rights taken away during the Bush era."

The Senate Act, which has already passed the House in a version coupled with the Paycheck Fairness Act, will go back to the House as a single bill. The House is expected to pass the Senate bill on Tuesday.

The Ledbetter Act corrects the John Roberts Supreme Court decision that gutted the ability of workers to sue for wage discrimination. The Act passed helps not only women, but all workers who are victims of wage discrimination on the basis of sex, race, color, religion, national origin, age, or disability. It is anticipated that Ledbetter will be appear at the White House during a signing ceremony for the legislation with President Obama.

Jen Nedeau Jen Nedeau is a media relations professional and a writer based in New York City.
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