For our daughters’ sakes, pass the Paycheck Fairness Act

The much heralded and hotly contested mid-term elections are done. The ballot questions have been decided and the candidates are either grateful because they pulled out a win or gloomy because they didn’t. Either way, it’s time to move on.

It’s time now to pass the Paycheck Fairness Act.

Women have been waiting for a very long time. Frankly, we’ve grown impatient. The moment is here. The U.S. Senate must pass the Paycheck Fairness Act, for the women of today, and for the women of tomorrow.

Since the Equal Pay Act was signed in 1963, the wage gap has been closing at a snail’s pace. In 1963, women who worked in full-time, year-round, jobs made 59 cents on average for every dollar earned by men. In 2009, women earned 77 cents to men’s dollar. The wage gap has narrowed by less than half a cent per year. For women of color, the gap is even wider, with African American women and Latinas earning only 61 cents and 52 cents, respectively, on the dollar.

The pay gap is evident in almost every occupational category, in every income bracket; it’s a constant despite education, despite experience. Although enforcement of the Equal Pay Act and other civil rights laws has helped narrow the gap, it’s critical that the significant disparities in pay that remain be addressed. The Paycheck Fairness Act will be an important step to help end those disparities. It must be passed, for the women of today, and for the women of tomorrow.

Consider LaTerrell. She lives in Denver and works in the financial services industry. At one time, she worked as part of a team of three women. Then, Peter, the first male in the department, was hired. He was hired for the exact same job, only Peter didn’t have the same qualifications or the same experience. He didn’t have the same salary either. He was to be paid more. A supervisor discovered it, and the company decided to give all three women a raise to match Peter’s salary. Luckily, someone was paying attention and took action.

But women deal with unequal pay and inequitable salary ladders in all too many professions; something must be done to end it – for the women of today, and for the women of tomorrow. That something is passage of the Paycheck Fairness Act.

The Paycheck Fairness Act (S. 3772) is comprehensive legislation that updates the Equal Pay Act of 1963, strengthens penalties courts may impose for violations of existing equal pay laws, prohibits retaliation against workers who inquire about or share wage information, and empowers women to better negotiate for equal pay.

According to the National Women’s Law Center, the pay gap is about much more than fairness, it’s about women’s and families’ bottom-lines; the gap represents $10,622 a year. With that, you could buy a year’s worth of groceries ($3,210), arrange for three months of child care ($1,748), pay three months of rent and utilities ($2,265) six months of health insurance ($1,697), cover six months on a student loan ($1,602) — and buy three full tanks of gas ($100)!

Our U.S. Senate must consider how the pay gap places families of today in jeopardy; at risk, especially in these tough economic times.

But if that doesn’t do it, maybe they should consider something else.

They should think about their own daughters, their granddaughters, great-granddaughters. They should think about how they prize them, how they love them, how they treasure them, how they would fight for them. Are they really worth less?

The answer should then be obvious: Pass the Paycheck Fairness Act now, without amendments, in this session. For the good of all women – women of today and of tomorrow – and for the good of our country, it’s the right thing to do.

Linda Meric is executive director of 9to5, National Association of Working Women

CPL Political Leaders Fellowship

The Center for Progressive Leadership is accepting applications for its 2011 Political Leaders Fellowship. The Political Leaders Fellowship (PLF) a 9 month part-time leadership development program for promising future elected officials, organizational leaders, community organizers, and activists. Through training, coaching, and mentoring, the program gives political leaders the skills they need to advance positive progressive change. We highlight core leadership lessons such as the power of storytelling, vision and values, messaging, fundraising, campaign planning and collaborative leadership. For more information, click here.

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There are two ways you can help:

1) Step up and declare yourself a progressive leader by completing an application and/or

2) Take the time to nominate someone and let them know that you recognize their leadership potential.

The deadline for submitting an application is December 1st. If you have any questions or would like to speak with a CO-CPL staff member, please call (303) 861-1883 or email Emily at emily@progressiveleaders.org.

Apply Now for the Colorado Women's Appointment Project: We Need You!

The Colorado Women’s Appointment Project is here. And we need your help!

“Ultimately, we find that women, regardless of their age, partisan affiliation, income, and profession, are significantly less likely than men to express interest in seeking public office. We link this persistent gender gap in political ambition to two factors. First, we find that women are significantly less likely than men to view themselves as qualified to run for office. In addition, women are less likely than men to receive encouragement to run for office from party leaders, elected officials, and political activists. Together, these findings shed light on reasons for women’s continued under-representation in politics.” Why Don’t Women Run for Office? Issued by the Taubman Center for Public Policy Brown University

This message is meant to ENCOURAGE YOU to apply for various positions (some paid, some volunteer) in the new Governor’s office. You are qualified and you are officially invited!

What is The National Women’s Appointment Project?

Nearly 100 years after the right to vote was finally acknowledged, women are 52 percent of our populations but only 17 percent of Congress. We’re still waiting for our first female president, vice president, or Senate majority leader. It’s not just that a healthy democracy needs to be truly representative. Solving the complex problems of the 21st century America requires political leadership, experience, and wisdom that draw on all of our resources – not just 50 percent of them.

Based on Ambassador Swanee Hunt and Massachusetts Lt. Governor Kerry Healy’s shared vision of political parity across the United States, the Women’s Appointment Project was created. The goal is simple: start a movement to create political parity at the state level, where women hold an average of 31 percent of the cabinet and high level position in administrations nationwide. Women already run major universities and Fortune 500 companies and serve as generals. We know there are many qualified women for these positions – so let’s introduce them to the governors.

What is the Colorado Women’s State Appointment Project?

Inspired by the National project, it’s with pleasure that we introduce the Colorado Women’s State Appointment Project 2010 to you. The mission of this nonpartisanproject is to encourage and recruit women statewide to apply for an appointment on boards, commissions, or in agencies within the new gubernatorial administration that was elected this November. The Latina Initiative is the lead on this project. They have engaged The Women’s Foundation of Colorado, The White House Project, The Center for Work, Education and Employment, Mi Casa Resource Center for Women, The Colorado Women’s Bar Association, 9to5 National Association of Working Women, The Latina Chamber and the Women’s College of DU, The Colorado Civic Engagement Roundtable, The Rocky Mountain Children’s Law Center and Colorado Women in Government. These groups, along with several legislators and energized individuals, comprise the Steering Committee of organizations leading this effort to ensure we have a rich, diverse pool of women from all corners of the state included.

What are we asking of our strong, female constituents?

We want you to apply for a high-level Governor Appointment or one of the many boards and commissions throughout our state. That’s what we want! The Foundation has strong ties to amazing women throughout the state. Women who are eager to give back to their communities and get involved. Women with vast experience who can make an impact on state rules and regulations. You are a natural fit for this work! Review the list of amazing appointments through the website below, fill-out the brief form, upload your resume and get involved! The CWAP will then review all submissions and take those most qualified to the new Governor (in November and early December) and urge him to appoint you to his various open positions. Essentially, The CWAP will serve as your advocate.

Send Us Your Applications and Help Fill These Important Governor Appointments in 2011:

Please help us by encouraging women in your networks to fill out the application located on our website http://coloradowap.org/cwapptp/home so they may also be included in this project (applications are being accepted now). On this site, we have included information to answer any questions about the process and offer inspiration on the rewards for serving to potential appointees from women who are currently serving on and have served on boards and commissions around the state.

We look forward to working with you to increase the number of women in appointed office in Colorado. Please contact Juanita Chacon, Interim President of The Latina Initiative, at Juanita@latinainitiative.org for more information.

All number initiatives defeated by a landslide!!!!

This fall, we educated and mobilized hundreds of thousands of Coloradans to vote. Working in collaboration with 8 other organizations as Engage Colorado, 9to5 helped lead unprecedented efforts to implement massive coordinated electoral efforts throughout the state. Engage Colorado made over 850,000 attempted canvass, phone, and mail contacts in Denver, Adams, Arapahoe, Boulder and El Paso counties. We were encouraging voters to oppose all 6 detrimental statewide initiatives, and on November 2nd we defeated all 6 initiatives!

• Amendment 60 (75% voted NO) would have cut money for schools by 50%, cut thousands of teaching jobs, increased class sizes and cut after-school programs
• Amendment 61 (73% voted NO) would have wiped out construction jobs and halted work on vital community projects like water treatment plants and school construction
• Amendment 62 (70.5% voted NO) would have severely limited a woman's ability to make choices about her own reproductive health
• Amendment 63 (53% voted NO) would have dramatically increased health care costs
• Proposition 101 (68% voted NO) would have eliminated funding for schools and safe communities
• Proposition 102 (62% voted NO) would have compromised public safety, costing our communities millions of dollars – while increasing the income of bail bondsmen.

9to5 Colorado also led our own canvass program in Lakewood, making over 11,000 door-to-door, phone and mail contacts with voters on all 6 statewide ballot initiatives and also on the extremely harmful local Ballot Question 300 - the Vehicle Impound Initiative which would have unfairly punished people driving without their drivers license on them. We worked to defeat this measure in Denver in 2009 and our great canvassing team was once again successful in Lakewood this year: Ballot Question 300 was defeated with 63% voting NO!

To support the grassroots successes of 9to5 Colorado, www.9to5.org to make a $25 donation.

Election Day!!!!!!

This year there is too much at stake not to vote.

This isnt about political parties.Were in this for our future. This election is about creating jobs, about rebuilding our middle class, and about building a strong future for our children.

TODAY is election day!! Are you ready to cast your vote? Have you made a plan for how and when you are going to vote? If you are still looking for a polling place, please check out 9to5's website to find your poling place at www.9to5.org

President Obama Statement on Work and Family Month

We wanted to be sure that everyone saw today’s statement from the President on National Work and Family Month. We encourage everyone to take advantage of the rest of the month to get the word out on the need for strong work-family policies.

Thanks!

THE WHITE HOUSE

Office of the Press Secretary

____________________________________________________________________________________

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

October 25, 2010

Statement by the President on National Work and Family Month

National Work and Family Month serves as a reminder to all of us, especially working caregivers, their families, and their employers, that while we have made great strides as a nation to adopt more flexible policies in the workplace, there’s more we can do. Millions of Americans continue to struggle day-in and day-out to balance work and family life – to juggle their job responsibilities with caring for a child, an elderly relative, or a loved one with a disability. This is something Michelle and I understand – it wasn’t too long ago that we were both working full-time outside the home while raising two young daughters.

There are steps we can all take to help – implementing practices like telework, paid leave, and alternative work schedules – and my Administration is committed to doing its part to help advance these practices across the country. And within the federal government, we have followed the lead of many private sector companies when it comes to increasing workplace flexibility. Because at the end of the day, attracting and retaining employees who are more productive and engaged through flexible workplace policies is not just good for business or for our economy – it’s good for our families and our future.

Why Women Must Vote Tuesday

Nadir is a 29-year-old single mother of three, who runs a home-based business and is a serious Broncos fan. KeeAnn is a 45-year-old part-time call center staffer who recently started college studies. Between school, work and caring for her aging father, she doesn't have time for hobbies unless they involve her pet Yorkies, Luke and Laura.

Other than the fact that they both live in Colorado Springs, the two don't have much in common - except their beliefs about women and the political process. KeeAnn recently visited the Early Voting Center at a Colorado Springs mall because she feared she might get so busy that she'd forget to cast her vote. Nadir has her ballot in a spot on the dining table reserved for important papers. She's made a promise to her children that Mommy won't forget to get her ballot in the mail well before November 2.

If women vote, we can change our own realities, change life for our families, and change this country. Still, some wonder if we have the collective will to get to the polls in large enough numbers this time.

Women are typically more likely than men to register and to cast votes and that has made a difference in many elections. But this year, in these midterm elections, polling suggests that too many women are unenthusiastic. Unmarried women, particularly, who turned out in record numbers in 2008, report they're less likely to vote in November.

But if women don't vote, we'll all lose.

In the coming months, Congress is poised to make decisions on an array of critical issues, including unemployment, equal pay, health care, and family economic security. In Colorado, on Election Day, voters will decide important questions concerning state revenue and financing, reproductive health, and health care reform.

Women can't afford to sit this one out.

One group of 2010 ballot measures where women's voices must be heard is Amendments 60, 61 and Proposition 101. On the face of things, it seems that these initiatives promise to put extra money in voters' pockets, reducing fees on cars and trucks and cutting income taxes by as much as 25 percent. But it's all too good to be true.

In reality, Amendment 60 would cut money for schools by 50 percent, cut thousands of teaching jobs, increase class sizes and cut after-school programs. Amendment 61 would wipe out construction jobs and halt work on vital community projects like water treatment plants and school construction. And Proposition 101 would eliminate funding for schools and safe communities. That's why they're called the Ugly Three.

Two more harmful and deceitful initiatives on the 2010 Colorado ballot are Amendments 62 and 63; these would limit a woman's ability to make choices about her own reproductive health and dramatically increase health care costs in Colorado.

Women - who have a vested interest in quality public schools, safe roads, clean public parks, affordable higher education, low health care costs and choice in reproductive health - must protect our families and protect our communities. We must let our voices be heard on all 5 of these ballot initiatives.

The economy is still fighting to rebound from the worst crisis since the Great Depression, and women and our families - already vulnerable - are at greatest risk.

The decisions being made in this election are important to us; important in the short-term and important in the long-term. Voting for candidates who support our values and letting our voices be heard on this year's ballot measures will help us keep our families going and keep our state and nation strong.

That's why women like Nadir must ensure that their ballots get off the dining room table and into the ballot box. We must show up at the polls for early voting or show up on Election Day. We must vote as if our families' very lives depend upon it because, indeed, they do.

Erin Bennett is Colorado Director of 9to5, National Association of Working Women, a diverse, multi-racial membership organization that strengthens women's ability to win economic justice. EDITOR'S NOTE: This is an online-only column and has not been edited.

Read more:Why women must vote Tuesday - The Denver Posthttp://www.denverpost.com/opinionheadlines/ci_16448106#ixzz13ltp7zmu