In Maryland, men who work full time make an average of $140 more per week than women, according to data compiled by the congressional Joint Economic Committee. Nationally, the pay gap is even greater at $148.
Over the course of a year, that's nearly a $7,700 difference in wages.
In an effort to close the income gap in Maryland and across the country, U.S. Sen. Barbara Mikulski (D-Md.) is busy promoting the Paycheck Fairness Act, scheduled for a Senate debate Tuesday.
In a telephone conference call with the press, Mikulski said the act advances pay equality beyond measures established in the Equal Pay Act of 1963 and the Lily Ledbetter Fair Pay Act, the first piece of legislation signed by President Obama (D) when he took office in 2009.
The Ledbetter Act allows female employees to sue employers for back pay. The Paycheck Fairness Act would also allow them to seek punitive damages and would prohibit employers from retaliating against them for sharing salary information with coworkers.
"American women are mad as hell," Mikulski said. "They're ready to fight."
Valerie Jarrett, senior adviser to Obama, said, "We're committed to the basic idea that equal pay for equal work is not a luxury, it's a necessity."
"You have the president's full support," Jarrett told Mikulski on the call.
Seriously, Mikulski?? Is that the only thing that floated up your Ivory Tower this week? Fix your filters! How about you focus on using your elected position to lower the barriers to production that you and your Senate buddies put in play? That way, somebody doesn't have to lose a job so that some "employeed-but-mad-as-hell" women can get a raise. Or wait!! Were you thinking that all the men should take a pay cut to match the lowest paid woman? But what will THAT do to your tax revenues? Mmmmm...maybe you'd better focus on things within the scope of your Senate position??
Equal pay for equal work is a given (or should be) but lets stir things up some. If the job requires the lifting and carrying of a heavy weight. It takes one man to do that job or two women. Should the pay of the two women be half of the man since they can only do half the work? OK ... fire in the hole
There is a difference between our society and others from a historical perspective - what has made us the largest and strongest economy ever is the opportunity our country provides its citizens in terms of enforcing property rights, the rule of law, and a reasonably level playing field where people can acquire the marketable skills needed to reach their potential regardless of social background. Equality of opportunity does not mean equality of outcome and some people will fail. "Fairness", "Equality", and other buzz words are the language of social engineers and utopians - they are irrational in theory and practice as they fail to take into consideration the complexities of the individual and historical precedent. The 99%'ers STILL have a better shot at success here than elsewhere.
Perhaps the it's the number of women who are employed in traditionally lower paying careers or jobs that are drawing down the numbers? It comes down to the "individual" to succeed.........
Perhaps she and her dem friends could stop stealing from everyone's children and grandchildren.