Editor’s note: This story has been changed since original publication. An earlier version stated Charmaine Caccioppi of the United Way of Southeast Louisiana spoke against the equal pay legislation. She spoke in support of the bill. Capitol Views regrets the error.
A bill designed to close the gender pay gap in Louisiana was rejected today with a 10-5 vote by the House Committee on Labor and Industrial Relations, despite support from organizations across the state.
The next stop would have been on the House floor for a vote and then Gov. John Bel Edwards’ desk, given that the Senate already approved the measure. Edwards has been on record saying he backed the equal pay measure.
In a statement, Edwards says the House panel committed a “true disservice to the women of our state” by failing to address the worst gender wage gap in the country.
“This disparity prevents our wives, daughters, sisters, and other women from earning equal pay for equal work, and that directly impacts children and families who many in the legislative body espouse they value,” the governor says. “Actions speak louder than words, and the time has come to stop talking about family values and start making decisions that actually value families.”
Opponents say the bill mimicked current federal and state anti-discrimination laws, and complained that the proposal would have put further restraints on businesses and could lead to costly litigation.
Under the bill, employers who don’t pay similar salaries for men and women in the same job positions could have been sued if they could not provide justification or remedy for the disparity.
“What we are doing is telling businesses how to run, and it’s hard enough to run a business already,” said Rep. Blake Miguez, R-Erath.
Jim Patterson, vice president of governmental relations with the Louisiana Association of Business and Industry, also voiced opposition to the bill.
“There are already adequate protections for people to go to their employers and demand equal pay,” Patterson said. “We have no objection to that; there just needs to be better information out there for those individuals that need it. It’s not as simple as saying that everybody should be paid the same.”
Rep. Helena Moreno, D-New Orleans, presented the bill, and along with proponents from the League of Women Voters and the Association of American University Women, asked for favorable passage.
“There is still unfair practices regarding pay equity in Louisiana,” Moreno said. “I think you have an opportunity today to change headlines.”
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, Louisiana is behind every other state in the gender pay gap, with women earning earning 65 cents for every dollar paid to men
“All of you know that women are discriminated against,” said Ben Nevers, Edwards’ chief of staff. “Give each House member the chance to stand up to say we’re not going to allow discrimination against people that work for less when they deserve equal.”
—D.B. Narveson
Jeremy Alford, D.B. Narveson and Gordon Brillon will publish a daily update throughout the legislative regular session on Daily Report PM. Alford reports on Louisiana politics at LaPolitics.com. Follow him on Twitter or on Facebook. He can be reached at JJA@LaPolitics.com.
