DNC Statement on Equal Pay Day

Democratic National Committee Chairman Howard Dean issued the following statement in commemoration of Equal Pay Day today:

"Democrats are committed to the fundamental idea that all people deserve equal pay for equal work, no matter their gender, skin color, background or beliefs. But for too many women, wage disparity is still a stark reality.  This inequity can have a drastic effect on a woman's life as she works to support herself and her family, and it puts her at greater risk of living in poverty both while working and in retirement. 

"President Bush has done nothing to address this issue, and John McCain's record of denying women equal pay rights is just as bad. On Equal Pay Day, Democrats reaffirm our commitment to ensuring that all Americans receive the pay they deserve.  We will work to pass critical legislation in Congress that would restore a worker's right to have their pay discrimination claim heard in the courts.  And we stay committed to fighting for all issues that affect working families and women--the struggle to find affordable child care and health insurance, the right to work in an environment free from harassment, and the importance of eliminating all forms of discrimination, both inside and outside the workplace."

Women Earn Less Than Men.  On average, women earn approximately 77 cents for every dollar that men earn, and the wage disparity for minority women is even more significant.  Over the course of one's lifetime, a woman could earn approximately $700,000 to $2 million less than a man as a result of the current wage disparity and is less likely to receive retirement and pension benefits. [National Committee on Pay Equity, accessed 4/22/08, www.pay-equity.org/about.html; Institute For Women's Policy Research, accessed 4/22/08, www.iwpr.org/publications/pdf.htm#recent]

McCain Voted To Deny Women Equal Pay. Twice, McCain voted to deny equal pay rights for millions of women in America, as part of a supposed overhaul of minimum wage laws that would have actually removed existing protections for many workers.  [2005 Senate Vote #258, 10/19/2005; 2006 Senate Vote #180, 6/21/2006]