Tuesday was marked as “Equal Pay Day” in Pennsylvania with a number of events in the Capitol.
Following a House Labor and Industry Committee meeting where House Resolution 716, which would direct the Legislative Budget and Finance Committee to study the issue of equal pay in Pennsylvania, was reported out with one negative vote, a group of legislators gathered to call for more action on equal pay issues.
Rep. Kathy Watson (R-Bucks) who sponsored the aforementioned resolution, explained Equal Pay Day marks the day in 2014 on which it takes a woman to earn as much as a man of equal qualifications and experience did in 2013. She said calling for equal pay is not a battle of the sexes, but about leveling the playing field.
Lt. Gov. Jim Cawley remarked the issue is not partisan and should be of interest to all Pennsylvanians since having equal pay will bring fairness and equity to the state. He argued it is important that every man or woman who wants a job in Pennsylvania be employed and get a fair wage.
House Majority Leader Mike Turzai (R-Allegheny) said all businesses employing equal pay practices should be celebrated and encouraged as a mechanism to attract women to the workforce. He further called on employers to do more to attract young girls to enter traditionally male dominated fields in science, technology, engineering, and math.