Politics
GOP Derails Gender Pay Gap Bill in Senate
In this April 3, 2014, photo, clouds hang over the Capitol in Washington. Democrats from the Capitol to the White House are rallying behind campaign-season legislation curbing paycheck discrimination against women. But while the bill is partly designed to energize the partys core voters, it stands little chance of surviving a showdown vote Wednesday, April 9, in the Senate. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite)
ALAN FRAM, Associated Press
WASHINGTON (AP) — Senate Republicans have derailed an election-year Democratic bill curbing paycheck discrimination against women.
The bill’s rejection was widely expected, yet Democrats hope the effort will pay political dividends in this November’s congressional elections. They are trying to drive up turnout this fall by women, who historically lean more Democratic than men.
It was the third consecutive election year in which Senate Democrats have pushed the bill and Republicans have shot it down.
Wednesday’s vote was 53-44 for ending GOP blocking tactics against the bill — six short of the 60 votes needed.
The bill would make it harder for employers to pay women less than men in comparable jobs, and easier for aggrieved workers to sue.
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