Procedural Maneuvers Keep Pay Discrimination Bill from a Fair Vote

Wade Henderson, president of the Leadership Conference on Civil Rights, made the following statement on the Senate cloture vote on the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Restoration Act:

“The Ledbetter Supreme Court decision shows why Americans need to know their judges. Laws rule the land but judges interpret laws. The current Supreme Court has interpreted good, long-standing worker protection laws in strange ways that actually take away Americans’ job and salary protections.

Today’s cloture vote on the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Restoration Act is not fair. There is no excuse to let companies get away with purposely lightening paychecks because of a worker’s gender, race, or age.

Republican leaders may have blocked consideration today but this issue will not go away. The votes are there. The House passed the bill. Most Senators were set to do the right thing. 

The Senate must continue to consider the bill until it passes. Too much is at stake.”