Republican Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison (R-TX) tried to foil the Lilly Ledbetter bill (which will overturn a 2007 Supreme Court ruling that hindered women from filing unfair pay lawsuits) with an amendment on the floor today that would have locked women into the same Catch-22: Having to prove pay discrimination before having enough time to realize they were being paid unfairly.
Hutchison’s amendment failed 55-40. Both Washington Senators Maria Cantwell and Patty Murray voted against the amendment.
Cantwell issued this statement after her vote:
“In these uncertain economic times, we have a duty and responsibility to provide a fair-pay system that accurately reflects the working reality women face each day. I believe it is important that hard work for a good job be rewarded regardless of what you look like, where you come from, or what gender you are. We must fight to restore justice and equality in the workplace, and we must do it now.”
A series of friendly amendments are passing now, and the bill may pass tonight.
The House passed the bill last week with our delegation splitting along party lines: Democrats for; Republicans, including suburban Seattle Republican Rep. Dave Reichert (R-WA, 8), against.
