CPA News Releases, Advisories, and Editorials

Washington, D.C. – This year’s “Equal Pay Day” is poised to be one of the most successful years for state equal pay legislation in decades.

Just over the past few weeks, legislation promoting equal pay for women and people of color has moved toward enactment in thirteen state legislatures scattered across the country from Georgia to Alaska. In 2001, 69 equal pay bills have been introduced in 31 different states. This sudden, broad progress is a huge step in the decades-long battle to achieve the goal of equal pay for equal work.

In one state (Wyoming), an equal pay law has already been enacted this year, in two others (New Mexico and Virginia), the legislation has passed both the House and Senate. Six additional states (Alaska, Arizona, Georgia, Illinois, Rhode Island and Washington) have passed equal pay bills through one house of the legislature and five others (Colorado, Connecticut, Maryland, Minnesota and Texas) have passed bills through key legislative committees.

“Our organization has been working for pay equity for the past 25 years, and 2001 will likely be one of our most successful years ever,” said Linda Tarr-Whelan, President of the Center for Policy Alternatives. “Itﾒs not just the number of states that are moving equal pay bills, itﾒs where those states are located. Equal pay is now succeeding in traditionally conservative-leaning states, from Wyoming and Alaska to New Mexico.”

Equal Pay Day, Tuesday, April 3

To help end wage inequities, the National Committee on Pay Equity (NCPE) coordinates the annual observance of Equal Pay Day. This year, Equal Pay Day will be observed by thousands of local advocates on Tuesday, April 3, 2001. Tuesday of each week symbolizes the day when women’s wages catch up to men’s wages from the previous week. In other words, because the average woman earns less, she must work longer for the same amount of pay (it takes her almost seven working days to earn what he earns in five work days.) Although the wage gap for every person is different, depending on their age, experience, education, region, race, and many other factors, April 3rd provides a symbolic day when all working women and people of color can speak out together.

Why Does a Wage Gap Exist?

Despite long-standing federal laws, wage discrimination remains commonplace in America. Women earn 72 cents for every dollar earned by men, according to the Census Bureau. African Americans are paid 78 cents for every dollar earned by whites and Latinos earn 67 cents, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.

More than half of women workers are concentrated in sales, clerical and caregiving jobs. These positions typically pay less than jobs traditionally held by white men, even if they require the same skill, effort and responsibility to do the work. A wage gap also exists regardless of occupation or title, for example, women who are managers, physicians and computer programmers are paid less than their male counterparts.

States are taking a variety of approaches to resolve the wage gap. Fifteen states have introduced legislation that will prohibit wage discrimination based on factors such as gender, race or national origin. Thirteen states have introduced legislation that would establish an equal pay commission, committee or task force and would require a study to determine the causes of pay disparities and recommend solutions. Five states have sought to diminish the wage gap in traditionally female-dominated professions by introducing legislation that would raise the wages in occupations such as child care, teaching and the provision of community-based mental health and disability services. Two states have introduced resolutions to recognize equal pay day.

Equal Pay State-by-State Information

Summary: Historically equal pay legislation has been sponsored by Democrats. While the majority of the 2001 legislation – 51 bills – has Democratic sponsorship, there is increasing bipartisan support of this issue. Republicans are sponsoring five bills this session and 13 have bipartisan sponsorship. In sum, in 2001 at least 31 states have introduced 69 pieces of legislation in an effort to close the wage gap: Alabama (3), Alaska, Arizona, California, Connecticut, Florida (2), Georgia, Iowa (3), Illinois (6), Indiana, Massachusetts (3), Maryland, Maine, Minnesota (2), Mississippi (2), Missouri (2), Nevada, New Mexico, New York (13), Oregon, Pennsylvania (3), Rhode Island (4), South Carolina (2), Tennessee, Texas (2), Virginia, Vermont (4), Washington, West Virginia (2) and Wyoming.

Maryland – Sen. Thomas Middletonﾒs bill that would require the Dept. of Health and Mental Hygiene to increase the reimbursement paid to community providers of services to individuals with disabilities was amended by the Senate Committee on Finance and the Committee amendment was adopted on the Senate floor. (Sen. Thomas Middleton ﾖ (410) 841-3616)