DNC Marks Equal Pay Day

Today marks Equal Pay Day 2007, which symbolizes the day in the year when women’s wages finally catch up to men’s wages of 2006. Equal Pay Day demonstrates that women must work an additional four months to take home the same income as their male counterparts do in a year. It has been over 40 years since Congress passed the Equal Pay Act to end wage discrimination and yet women still earn 77 cents for every dollar men make. Women of color earn even less.

Democratic National Committee Chairman Howard Dean and DNC Women’s Caucus Chair Mame Reiley issued the following statement marking Equal Pay Day:

“Unequal pay has real consequences, making it harder for hard working families to make ends meet and making it more difficult for families to lift themselves out of poverty. In place of policies that promote family economic security, President Bush has charted a course that has worsened inequities and wage gaps and deepened the economic insecurity of America's working families.

“Democrats in Congress are keeping their word by taking strong action to remedy the pay gap including passing legislation to raise the federal minimum wage. Women would be the largest beneficiaries of a raise to the federal minimum wage, especially women of color who continue to be compensated at even lower wages. We call on Republicans in Congress and President Bush to support this much needed legislation that will work to remedy the wage gap and strengthen America’s working families.”