This week in the Tennessee legislature, Republicans voted against the equal pay bill. Democrats voted for it. It's a good thing women already have the vote, cause the Republicans of today would vote against women's suffrage if only they could.
Thanks to the Dems, the bill, " Pay Equity in the Workplace Act of 2006" was finally passed out of subcommittee. Discussion about the apparently controversial subject of equal pay for women lasted for the entire duration of the committee hearing. Twenty-three other bills did not get discussed.
At one point, Beverly Marrero (D) said, "We really need to have a vote on this. And the people who want to vote againt equity for women need to go ahead and say, 'I don't care whether women get equal pay for equal work.'"
Republican Susan Lynn called the Equal Pay Bill, "a bill to help trial lawyers."
Stacey Campfield found equal pay to be such a difficult subject that he abstained from the vote.
Tempers flare over equal pay
NASHVILLE — House Majority Leader Kim McMillan on Wednesday accused Republican opponents of her equal pay proposal of using "stalling tactics" to keep the measure from passing out of committee.
Under a 2004 law, employers found to have knowingly violated equal pay rules must make up the difference to its employee. A second violation would lead to a payment of double the difference, and a third violation to triple payments.
The new proposal would give women the additional right to sue for punitive damages beyond the wage difference. Punitive damages are meant to deter and punish misconduct.
The Equal Pay Bill is sponsored in the House (HB2621) by Rep. Kim McMillan and Rep. Janis Sontany and in the Senate (SB3122) by Sen. Thelma Harper.
Photo: Rep. Beverly Marrero
Feminism Equal Pay Tennessee
