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Wednesday, April 23, 2008

Fair Pay Legislation Facing Serious Hurdles

The Fair Pay Restoration Act - scheduled for a vote in the Senate today at 6 p.m. - is facing increasingly stiff opposition from President Bush and his allies in the Senate. The New York Times published an article this morning suggesting that Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) could have enough votes to prevent cloture, the procedural term for ending debate and holding an up-or-down vote.

If Sen. McConnell manages to stop the advancement of this legislation, it will be a devastating blow to equal employment rights, not just for women like Lilly Ledbetter, whose Supreme Court case inspired this bill but for all American workers - particularly those with disabilities, the elderly, and others who often face discrimination. Even if Sen. McConnell fails to stop the bill and Senate Democrats are successful in pushing it through to the White House, President Bush has promised to veto it.

The fight in Congress is just further evidence that the president’s ultra-conservative judicial appointments have succeeded in chipping away at countless consumer, worker and civil rights protections. While we can’t change their decisions, Congress can sometimes act to fix their mistakes. Thankfully, this is one of those opportunities. As today's vote approaches, we need your help! Contact your senators and tell them you’re watching! Demand fair pay for all workers and let them know that we must not keep victims of discrimination from seeking redress in our courts.

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