Today is "Equal Pay Day," the day American women have finally earned what American men earned in 2014. Think of it as a four-month running deficit. And think about the fact that it's actually
not all women catching up to our brothers today. Because women of color have to work a few more months to catch up—African American women will catch up in July, Hispanic women in November. Let that sink in for a bit. The average Hispanic woman will have to work, full-time, 23 months to equal what a white man makes in 12.
What would closing the pay gap mean, just for white women? An annual raise of $10,876 which equals:
- Five months’ supply of groceries $3,161.50
- Three months’ rent and utilities $1,950
- Three months’ child care payments $2,550
- Four months’ health insurance premiums $1,472
- Four months’ student loan payments $1,308
- Seven tanks of gas $434.50
What's one way of fixing this? Passing the Paycheck Fairness Act. In case you're wondering, neither the Republican House nor Senate is voting on the bill today. And if you're still wondering, here's where the various
declared and not-declared but running president candidates stand on the Paycheck Fairness Act.
Former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, as a senator, was the primary sponsor of the Act after Sen. Tom Daschle left the Senate. "It was the only bill she introduced in the short time between President Obama’s swearing in and her departure for the State Department." She also paid her male and female Senate staff equally.
It's one of the primary issues on Sen. Bernie Sanders' website. He's voted consistently for the legislation.
Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX) says the legislation isn't necessary because equal pay has "been the law for decades." He voted against it, twice, and says that Democrats bringing it up is just politics that just distracts from more important issues for women. Like tax breaks for the super rich and corporations, because everyone knows how important that is to the ladies.
Sen. Rand Paul (R-KY) is a regular vote against the act. Because "government interference" and "freedom." The usual justifications.
Sen. Marco Rubio (R-FL) at least believes women should have equal pay on "principle," he's just never voted for it. Once again, it's just "politics" for Democrats to say that maybe women should be paid the same as men for doing the same job. That, he says, is just a ruse for giving lawyers more discrimination cases.
Former Gov. Jeb Bush is the standout here, not knowing what the "Paycheck Fairness Act" even is, when asked last fall. But he knew enough to know he was against it: "Equal pay for the same work, not for equal work—I think that's the problem with it. I think there's a definition issue." Because "the same" is not equal to "equal." What can you expect? He's a Bush.
Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker (R) signed a law overturning his state's Equal Pay Enforcement Act. He did so because, he said, an equal pay law exists and actually enforcing it just goes too far.