Keeping equal pay for women in the spotlight, April 9th is National Equal Pay Day, designated because it’s how far women had to work into 2013 to earn what men made last year.
“Women are still only making 78 cents per dollar of their male colleagues, and recognizing Equal Pay Day is really a way to raise this issue and make sure as policy makers that we’re doing everything in our power to address these inequities,” said state Representative Chris Taylor (D- Madison).
Conservatives dispute the pay gap, and in 2012 Governor Scott Walker signed a bill which repealed Wisconsin’s Pay Equity Enforcement Law, which had been in place for just two years.
“I think this is an issue that has very broad bipartisan support out there in the general population,” Taylor said. “Unfortunately things do get very politicized here in the Capitol. But this is really a no brainer for most Wisconsin families. It’s really necessary for their economic survival.”