-
Women earn about 82 cents for every dollar a man makes for the same work.
-
The Paycheck Fairness Act has been promoted by Democrats for 20 years but has yet to pass.
-
Women need to work until April 10 to earn as much as men earn in the prior year.
International Women’s Day is Friday, March 8. The global celebration of women highlights key issues pertaining to gender, which brings the issue of the gender wage gap to the forefront. Plenty of literature has been written about it, but where do our lawmakers stand, especially the ones who are seeking to lead the country?
Here’s where presidential candidates for the 2020 election stand on the issue.
What Women Want: Study Shows Wage Gap Is Still a Top Priority for Female Jobseekers
Bernie Sanders
Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., said that workers deserve equal pay for equal work, and the fact that women make 82 cents for every dollar men make doing the exact same job is wrong. Sanders has supported legislation to help women secure equal pay. His 12-point economic agenda for America includes providing equal pay for women.
Check Out: How Much Is Bernie Sanders Worth? A Look at the Finances of the Presidential Candidate
Kamala Harris
Sen. Kamala Harris, D-Calif., called on legislators to pass the Paycheck Fairness Act when she was California’s attorney general. This bill, which Democrats have been trying to pass for 20 years, requires that employers prove that differences in pay by gender are not a result of discrimination. She supports a $15 per hour minimum wage, as well as national paid family and sick leave.
Take a Look: Sen. Kamala Harris’ Finances After Announcing Her Presidential Bid
Cory Booker
Sen. Cory Booker, D-N.J., voted in support of the Paycheck Fairness Act in 2014, stating, “We undermine the potential of all working women when we don’t challenge the wage gap.” He also supported an increase in the minimum wage.
Elizabeth Warren
Sen. Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass., celebrated Equal Pay Day last year by announcing a court ruling that said women must be paid the same as men for doing the same work.