Democratic Senators reintroduces Fair Pay Act

[Mass]

http://www.iowapolitics.com/index.iml?Article=156905

HARKIN CONTINUES FIGHTS FOR PAY EQUITY; REINTRODUCES FAIR PAY ACT

Washington, D.C. - Senator Tom Harkin (D-IA) today introduced the Fair Pay Act of 2009 to address the wage gap for jobs of equal value among men and women. This legislation would address the historic pattern of undervaluing and underpaying so-called "women's" jobs, by calling for similar wages for similar working conditions regardless of gender.

“In this day in age, there is no such thing as ‘women’s work’ or ‘men’s work,” said Harkin. “In nearly 10 million American households, the mother is the only breadwinner. These families have the same struggles to pay the rent or make mortgage payments, buy the groceries, cover the medical bills and save for a child's education. In these tough economic times, we need to simply make sure an honest day’s work is rewarded. We must end wage discrimination and on Equal Pay Day, we can start by closing the pay gap and simply paying women fairly.”

More than 40 years after the passage of the Equal Pay Act, women's wages still lag behind their male counterparts' wages - women make only 78 cents for every dollar that a man makes. The average woman loses an estimated $700,000 over her lifetime due to unequal pay practices. These wages are more disproportionate for minority women. The average African-American woman earns 69 cents for every dollar that a white male earns and Latino women receive only 59 cents per dollar earned by white men.
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The following Senators co-sponsored the Fair Pay Act of 2009: Edward Kennedy (D-MA), Patty Murray (D-WA), Daniel Akaka (D-HI), Russ Feingold (D-WI), Barbara Boxer (D-CA), Patrick Leahy (D-VT), Bernie Sanders (I-VT), John Kerry (D-MA), Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chuck Schumer (D-NY) and Jeff Merkely (D-OR).

Thanks to Harkin for leading that, and happy to see my two senators are cosponsors.

[Romulox]

1. Equal pay for equal work is already the law. Equal pay for "similar" work sounds like a mess.

How is "similar work" defined? And why is equal pay for equal work not good enough?