http://thinkprogress.org/economy/2013/05/17/2030071/how-states-are-leading-the-way-on-equal-pay-for-women/
Legislation at the federal level designed to improve women’s economic opportunities appears stalled, including, most recently, thePaycheck Fairness Act and the Pregnant Workers Fairness Act. But some states are taking matters into their own hands and working on similar laws in their legislatures. They could serve as models for what needs to be done at the federal level.
On Tuesday, Vermont Gov. Peter Shumlin (D) signed an equal pay bill into law. The new law will require employers to prove they have legitimate business reasons for paying workers unequal wages, protect workers who discuss pay with each other, provide protections for employees who request flexible work arrangements, give mothers who need to express breast milk at work protection, and improve the process that ensures state government contracts pay equal wages. It also establishes a study committee to look at instituting a paid family leave law.New York may soon follow in Vermont’s footsteps. In his 2013 State of the State address, Gov. Andrew Cuomo (D) announced a Women’s Equality Agenda that is currently winding its way through the state legislature, and many of the provisions relate to women’s economic opportunities.
there does seem to be some sense and sensibility or is it vote driven that republican states are following suit?
While it may seem unrelated to women’s economic opportunities, access to abortion care plays a big financial role in women’s lives. Women who aren’t able to get an abortion when they seek to terminate a pregnancy are three times more likely to fall below the poverty line within two years. Controlling fertility allows women to hold jobs and invest in their education.New York and Vermont are following other state-level successes for equal pay laws. Texaspassed its own Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act to reform the constitution to allow workers more time to file a charge of discriminatory pay. New Mexico passed the Fair Pay For Women Act this year, which also eases the ability to bring cases alleging pay discrimination.
law reconsideration due to voter desertion is not real change more of necessity then the right thing to do. although it helps, what's to say they won't pull another 2010, promise all you want to hear then show you the middle finger day after election and set about their party's business while smiling in your faces and thing "SUCKERS".
