Paycheck Fairness Act Closer to Passage by Congress?

According to a recent NPR report, the Paycheck Fairness Act (click here for summary) is making some progress toward passage in Congress. The Act builds on the Equal Pay Act (passed in 1963 when women earned 59% of men’s wages). To some extent, it would also supplement the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Restoration Act (the first piece of legislation signed by President Obama), although some observers believe that the Ledbetter Act has done little to narrow the gender wage gap.

Today, women are estimated to earn 77% of what men earn. Supporters of the Paycheck Fairness Act say that both the Equal Pay Act the the Ledbetter Act have done about all they can do to equalize wages between men and women. They argue that the difference between the 59% gap in 1963 and the 77% gap today is more about the stagnation of the wages of men than about advances in female compensation. There’s been somewhat of a recent bump in female pay compared to male pay because so many men have lost jobs during the recession (sometimes dubbed the “mancession”), leaving women as the primary breadwinners.

Though Congress seems content to hunker down and not pass any more employment legislation until the mid-term elections are done (for fear their legislative vote on anything might alienate constituents), the Paycheck Fairness Act may have a chance. Women voters are a potent force, and a lot of out-of-work men might very well look favorably on this legislation, if their wives are keeping the family afloat now.

The progress of this proposed Act should be watched closely. Despite the amazing gridlock still existing in Congress, “paycheck fairness” has almost a bipartisan ring to it.