• About Us
  • Advertise
  • Contact Us
  • Privacy Policy
Wednesday, July 6, 2022
The Iowa Torch
  • Home
  • State Government
  • Federal Government
  • Local Government
  • Politics
  • Education
  • Opinion
No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • State Government
  • Federal Government
  • Local Government
  • Politics
  • Education
  • Opinion
The Iowa Torch
The Iowa Torch
No Result
View All Result
Home Federal Government

Axne Is Only Iowa U.S. House Member to Vote for Gender Wage Gap Bill

U.S. Rep. Cindy Axne, D-Iowa, voted for the Paycheck Fairness Act, H.R. 7, which passed in the U.S. House by a 217 to 210 mostly party-line vote.

Shane Vander HartbyShane Vander Hart
April 16, 2021
in Federal Government
Reading Time: 3 mins read
Hinson, Miller-Meeks, Axne, and Feenstra Sworn Into 117th Congress

U.S. Rep. Cindy Axne, D-Iowa, represents Iowa's 3rd Congressional District.

DES MOINES, Iowa – U.S. Rep. Cindy Axne, D-Iowa, on Thursday voted for the Paycheck Fairness Act, H.R. 7, that passed in the U.S. House of Representatives by a 217 to 210 mostly party-line vote. 

RELATED POSTS

Iowa’s members of Congress react to Supreme Court overturning Roe v. Wade

Eighth Circuit Court lifts preliminary injunction of Iowa mask mandate ban

Ernst introduces bill to move federal agencies out of D.C.

Axne’s office touted the bill with three Republican co-sponsors and recorded only one Republican vote as “bipartisan.” U.S. Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick, R-Pa., was the only Republican to vote in favor of the bill. The other two Republican co-sponsors, U.S. Reps. Chris Smith, R-N.J., and Jefferson Van Drew, R-N.J., voted against the bill. 

Axne, who represents Iowa’s 3rd Congressional District, was the only member of Iowa’sIowa’s U.S. House delegation to vote for the bill. U.S. Reps. Ashley Hinson, R-IA 01, Mariannette Miller-Meeks, R-IA 02, and Randy Feenstra, R-IA 04, voted no. 

“With the most recent economic turmoil disproportionately affecting working women and pushing working moms out of the workforce, it is more important than ever that we address the systemic inequities and loopholes that are preserving a gap between what women and men earn,” Axne said. “For decades, we have pledged to make equal pay for equal work a reality in our country, but our current laws are still insufficient. With this bipartisan legislation that we advanced today, we provide the tools and policies to move us closer to equal pay in the workplace.”

Her office in a press release said the bill closes “loopholes” in the Equal Pay Act of 1963. The legislation requires employers to demonstrate that any pay disparities are based on “legitimate, work-related factors.” The bill also prohibits retaliation against employees who discuss or compare their wages. The bill also limits employers’ abilities to seek the previous salaries of prospective employees. The legislation also expands damages employers could face in discrimination lawsuits and requires employees to opt-out of class-action lawsuits.

“More than five decades after the passage of the Equal Pay Act of 1963, women on average still make only 82 cents for every dollar earned by men. That gap is even wider for women of color. Compared to white men, African American women are paid 63 cents, and Latina women are paid 55 cents,” the press release said. 

Critics of the wage gap argument say that a comparison of averages does not account for factors that can affect pay and is not evidence of discrimination. Instead, they say it is evidence of the difference between men’s and women’s approaches to their careers. 

The Independent Women’s Forum (IWF) opposed the bill stating that while workplace discrimination still exists, the Civil Rights Act of 1963 and Title VII of the Civil Rights Act already make paycheck discrimination illegal and provide legal remedies for those who have been hurt.

ADVERTISEMENT

If enacted, they are concerned that the legislation would have limit workplace flexibility and employment opportunities for all workers.

“Of course equally qualified women and men who perform the same job should be paid the same amount, and federal law rightly prohibits pay discrimination. The so-called Paycheck Fairness Act will not further advance this goal. Rather, it will help line the pockets of America’s trial lawyers at the expense of workers. The Paycheck Fairness Act isn’t fair, and once again we see the left trying to fool the American public with deceptively-titled legislation,” Andi Bottner, a senior adviser with Independent Women’s Forum and former Acting Director of the U.S. Department of Justice Office on Violence Against Women, said.

Tags: 117th CongressAndi BottnerAshley HinsonCindy AxneCivil Rights ActEqual Pay ActGender Wage GapIndependent Women's ForumMariannette Miller-MeeksPaycheck Fairness ActRandy FeenstraU.S. House of Representatives
ShareTweetShare
ADVERTISEMENT
Previous Post

Sorensen: The Masked Humorless

Next Post

Iowa House Passes ‘Back the Blue’ Legislation

Shane Vander Hart

Shane Vander Hart

Shane Vander Hart is the editor of The Iowa Torch.

Related Posts

the united states capitol building in washington
Federal Government

Iowa’s members of Congress react to Supreme Court overturning Roe v. Wade

June 25, 2022
National Museum of China by Shuaizhi Tian.
Opinion

Miller-Meeks: Holding the Chinese Communist Party accountable

June 20, 2022
Axne attacks Nunn in first campaign ad
Politics

Axne attacks Nunn in first campaign ad

June 16, 2022
Opinion

Miller-Meeks: More than a high-class problem

June 13, 2022
Ernst: World War II Army Ranger vets finally get the honor they deserve
Opinion

Ernst: World War II Army Ranger vets finally get the honor they deserve

June 13, 2022
Zach Nunn Announces Congressional Bid
Politics

Nunn wins Republican nomination in Iowa’s 3rd Congressional District

June 7, 2022
Next Post
Iowa House Passes ‘Back the Blue’ Legislation

Iowa House Passes 'Back the Blue' Legislation

Grassley: Inheritance Taxes Are Bad for Farm Economy

Grassley: Inheritance Taxes Are Bad for Farm Economy

Sign-Up For Our Daily Updates

Get The Iowa Torch right in your inbox!

Please wait...

Thank you for signing up!

Recommended Articles

Miller-Meeks: The Time to Reform is Now

July 12, 2021
Iowa’s New Unemployment Rate Holds Steady, Overall Rates Rise

Iowa Unemployment Drops to 25,481 Claims

June 11, 2021

Iowa Republicans and Iowa Democrats Release Precinct Caucus Locations

February 1, 2022

Popular Stories

  • Schultz: Governor Highlights Successes in Western Iowa

    Reynolds to ask Iowa Courts to reconsider recent abortion rulings

    0 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • Iowa employers say attracting a quality workforce is a top priority

    0 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • Axne attacks Nunn in first campaign ad

    0 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • Several Republican incumbent lawmakers lose primaries

    0 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • Bill Gustoff Announces Campaign for Iowa House District 40

    0 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0

The Iowa Torch

The Iowa Torch​ is a for-profit, news organization that focuses on political news as it relates to Iowans

Categories

  • Education
  • Federal Government
  • Iowa History
  • Local Government
  • News
  • Opinion
  • Politics
  • State Government
  • Uncategorized
  • Uncategorized

Newsletter

Please wait...

Thank you for signing up!

© 2022 The Iowa Torch, a publication of 4:15 Communications, LLC.

No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • About Us
  • Advertise
  • Contact Us
  • State Government
  • Federal Government
  • Local Government
  • Politics
  • Education
  • Opinion

© 2022 The Iowa Torch, a publication of 4:15 Communications, LLC.