Kaine pushes paycheck fairness act

On the fifth anniversay of the day the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act was signed into law, Sen. Tim Kaine took a moment to push again for the Paycheck Fairness  Act he has co-sponsored.

The act details what employers must show to demonstrate that there are business reasons for differences in what men and women are paid for the same work. It formally bars retaliation when an employee complains of discrimination over pay, and  allows punitive and compensatory damages if an employee can prove pay discrimination. The measure has been stalled in the Senate since 2012. An earlier effort, approved in the House also stalled in the Senate.

“This isn’t just a women’s issue, it’s a family issue,” said Kaine. “Reducing the persistent wage gap is good for Virginia families, many of whom increasingly rely on two incomes to make ends meet, and will also help strengthen communities and local economies across the Commonwealth. This should be a goal that both parties can support during this Congress.”

The Lilly Ledbetter act, the first President Barack Obama signed into law, extended the time in which an employee can file a formal complaint of pay discrimination.

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