Pence: “encouraging more investment, job opportunities” best way to bring equal pay for women
INDIANAPOLIS – Today marks the beginning of Women’s History Month – and the question is – are Hoosier women reaching their full potential? With Mike Pence as Indiana’s governor, signs point to “no” as women and Hoosier families continue to face declining wages and are falling behind the rest of the nation.
Currently, Hoosier women make 75 cents to every one dollar earned by their male counterparts. Further, women in Indiana hold two out of every three minimum wage jobs offered in the state. But where does Mike Pence stand on economic security for women? In Congress, Pence voted twice against the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act and against the Paycheck Fairness Act. And in the words of now Gov. Pence, “encouraging more investment, job opportunities” were the best ways to “address” the pay gap between women and men.
“If Mike Pence truly wants Indiana’s economy to ‘reach its peak,’ then why has he consistently failed Hoosier women? By voting against the Lilly Ledbetter Act and by failing to advocate for equal pay for equal work, Hoosier wages continue to nosedive and families fall behind the rest of the nation,” said Drew Anderson, communications director. “When will Gov. Pence understand that women’s economic rights are economic rights for all families? Hoosier women want economic security in their pocketbooks – not through some unemployment figure. It’s time Mike Pence put the economic well-being of all Hoosiers ahead of his ideology.”
Wage inequality for women adds to the economic insecurity experienced by many Hoosier workers. Last year, Hoosiers made only 86 cents to every one American dollar – causing Indiana to fall to 39th in per capita income. Mike Pence is quick to tout unemployment figures, but he fails to mention wage inequality for our Hoosier workers. Hardworking families want to see commonsense leaders like John Gregg, who support measures like equal pay for women, but also advocate for the creation of quality jobs in Indiana.
BACKGROUND INFO: MIKE PENCE ON EQUAL PAY FOR WOMEN
Pence Said The Way To Close Indiana’s Wage Gap Was Through Growing The Economy. Rep. Linda Lawson, D-Hammond, says she and other Democrats tried to remedy those issues this past legislative session when House Democrats offered an amendment creating a commission to study pay disparity. But it was blocked by Republicans. Lawson says the first step is studying the problem. “Start with state government and then you can ask others throughout the state of Indiana to also step up to the plate and do what’s necessary to make sure that the wage gap closes,” she says. Governor Mike Pence says he believes the way to address income disparity is to promote economic growth. “Creating an environment that encourages more investment, more job opportunities for Hoosiers is the best pathway forward toward increasing personal income for men and women in Indiana,” he says. [Howey Politics, 4/9/14]
July 2007: Pence Voted Against H.R. 2831, The “Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act Of 2007.” [H.R. 2831, 110th Congress, Vote 768, 7/31/07]
January 2009: Pence Voted Against S. 181, The “Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act Of 2009.” [S. 181, 111th Congress, Vote 37, 1/27/09]
January 2009: Pence Voted Against H.R. 12, The “Paycheck Fairness Act Of 2009.” [H.R. 12, 111th Congress, Vote 8, 1/9/09]
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