Pence in 2014: “… more job opportunities for Hoosiers is the best pathway forward toward increasing personal income for men and women in Indiana”

Friday marks seventh anniversary of the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act

INDIANAPOLIS – With Mike Pence declaring the state’s economy “at its peak” last year, does this mean he will support equal pay for our hardworking Hoosier women? Don’t count on it – as congressman, Mike Pence voted three times against the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act in Washington, D.C.

And in 2014, Pence said Indiana had to grow its economy to achieve equal pay for Hoosier women. Well governor, Indiana’s unemployment rate is the “lowest in a decade,” but Hoosier women still make 75 cents to every one dollarearned by their male counterparts.

“If Mike Pence truly wants Indiana’s economy to ‘reach its peak,’ then why isn’t he advocating for higher wages and equal pay for Hoosier women?” said Drew Anderson, communications director. “With two out of every three minimum wage earners in Indiana being women, Hoosiers want economy security in their pocketbooks – not an unemployment figure that offers just a snapshot of the real economy. 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 39^th 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 He Wanted Women In Indiana To Make Every Bit As Much As Men, And Said The Way To Close Indiana’s 27 Cent Wage Gap Was Through Growing The Economy. “On ‘Equal Pay Day,’ which called attention Tuesday to the so-called wage gap between the earnings of men and women for similar work, Indiana Gov. Mike Pence said the way to address income inequality is by growing the state’s economy.  Hoosier women make about 73 cents for every dollar men make in comparable jobs, ranking 46th in the nation and below the national average of 77 cents, according to a study by the American Association of University Women. Pence made the comments after receiving an award for the state’s tax reform efforts by the nonpartisan Tax Foundation. ‘I want every Hoosier to make more money. I want Hoosier women to make every bit of as much money as Hoosier men do in similar positions,’ Pence said.” [Howey Politics, 4/9/14]

July 2007: Pence Voted Against H.R. 2831, The “Lily Ledbetter Fair Pay Act Of 2007.” [H.R. 2831, 110^th Congress, Vote 768, 7/31/07]

January 2009: Pence Voted Against S. 181, The “Lily Ledbetter Fair Pay Act Of 2009.” [S. 181, 111^th Congress, Vote 37, 1/27/09]

January 2009: Pence Voted Against H.R. 12, The “Paycheck Fairness Act Of 2009.” [H.R. 12, 111^th Congress, Vote 8, 1/9/09]

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