http://dyn.politico.com/printstory.cfm?uuid=20BEC4D5-1D3B-49DC-9DB8-78DF758369E8Senate blocks pay equity bill
By: Burgess Everett
September 15, 2014 06:04 PM EDT
Senate Republicans rejected a measure written by Senate Democrats aimed at bridging differences in pay between men and women.
The Paycheck Fairness Act fell short 52-40, failing to clear a 60-vote procedural vote hurdle on Monday evening, the third time the measure has failed since spring of 2012.
That might be the last vote this year on Democrats’ poll-driven, election-year legislation aimed at creating a national contrast between Democrats and Republicans, aides said, given this is likely the last week the Senate is in session before recessing for the midterms.
Democrats say the Paycheck Fairness Act would make significant headway to narrowing gender pay disparities by offering training for salary negotiations, increasing employees’ legal options for fighting pay disparities and prohibiting retaliation against employees seeking salary information.
Party leaders panned Republicans for again rejecting the proposal.
“Democrats offered Republicans a chance to right their wrong in blocking pay equity earlier this year but rather than reversing course, Republicans doubled down, ” said Sen. Chuck Schumer of New York, the No. 3 Senate Democrat. “Republicans have once again told women across the country that they don’t deserve a fair shot at earning equal pay for equal work.”
Republicans have deemed the bill too broad and likely to result in a rise in litigation — and criticized Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) for holding votes on legislation that has already failed this year.
“Here we have an international crisis, with the defense authorization bill out there, and we refuse to take it up,” said Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.). “We continue to take up issues that he thinks may help them in November. And we’ve got the world in turmoil.”
The issue of gender pay equity is playing a significant role on the campaign trail ahead of the November elections as Democrats seek to boost enthusiasm among women voters. Democratic incumbents and candidates in competitive states are highlighting their support for the bill and GOP opposition to it — a fact not lost on sitting Republican senators.
“It’s politics,” said Sen. Deb Fischer of Nebraska, one of four women Republicans in the Senate. “It’s a one-sided vote for political reasons, so [Democrats] can use it in campaigns.”
Democrats acknowledge the legislation is helpful in their battle to retain the Senate majority but insist their motivation is to pass legislation, not necessarily to attack Republicans.
“My goal is to have these issues be real and recognized by this country and voted on and passed,” said Sen. Patty Murray of Washington, a member of Democratic leadership.
Republicans rejected even opening debate on the legislation in April, unanimously voting it down. But the contrast between the GOP and Democrats on the issue was dulled last week when 19 Senate Republicans voted to open debate on the measure, in part to eat up Senate floor time and disrupt planned votes on raising the minimum wage and responding to the Supreme Court’s Hobby Lobby contraception decision — initiatives that already failed this year.
With time running short for Congress to pass a government funding bill and approve President Barack Obama’s plan to arm Syrian rebels, Senate Democratic leaders may now decide to abandon revisiting those votes given incumbents’ desire to get back home and campaign. Both chambers of Congress are, for now, expecting to recess at the end of the week.
