Republicans Block Ledbetter Fair Pay Act -- But it's Not Over! Write Your Senators Today!
Wednesday night, Senate Republicans blocked the Fair Pay Restoration Act from moving to an up or down vote. We were just three votes shy of the 60 votes needed to stop the Republican filibuster and actually hold a vote on the bill -- but it's not over! Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) has signaled that he will bring this civil rights legislation up again, as soon as we find 3 more Republicans brave enough to support women's pay equity.
Thanks to you and other NOW supporters, tens of thousands of calls and letters poured into the Senate. We garnered an impressive 57 votes -- and we can grow that number to 60 with your help.
Take Action:
Please write to your senators today. Our online system will tell you whether your senator voted YES for fair pay, or NO to continue blocking the vote. Our pre-drafted letter to YES voters will encourage them to lobby their colleagues across the aisle, and NO voters will be admonished for failing to support fair pay. We encourage you to edit these letters and personalize them with your own story or reasons for supporting fair pay. NEVADA please note: As Senate Majority Leader, Harry Reid had to vote NO in order to position himself to bring the bill up again in the future (one of those wacky procedural quirks of our legislative branch). If Reid is your senator, please make sure your message thanks him for his support and leadership on this bill.
Write NOW.
It is significant to note that six Republicans voted yes, and of those six, four of them have tough reelection races this year, facing strong, progressive challengers. In an attempt to keep their seats, these senators may have voted yes in order to appeal to much-needed moderate voters, but they failed to bring along enough of their colleagues to make their votes truly meaningful. We also have no commitment that they will actually vote yes on the main bill when it does finally come up for a vote.
If your senator is: Norm Coleman (Minn.), Susan Collins (Maine), Gordon Smith (Ore.), or John Sununu (N.H.), let them know that this vote was just the beginning of the effort to restore fair pay, and add: "In addition, I urge you to encourage your colleagues to support the Fair Pay Act so that the bill can come to the floor for a vote and your support will be truly meaningful."
Write to your senators NOW.
Background:
The Fair Pay Act is really quite simple, and it does nothing new. It just gives women back the rights that the Supreme Court took away from them.
Last year the Supreme Court sharply limited the ability of women who have suffered pay discrimination to seek back pay and other compensation. Immediately after the Court denied Lilly Ledbetter's claim for pay discrimination in May 2007, the House of Representatives passed the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act.
The Fair Pay Act will fix the Court's misinterpretation of Title VII and ensure that pay discrimination victims get their fair day in court. This Act will simply return us to the longstanding rule that treated each and every discriminatory paycheck as a new act of discrimination.
It's sad enough that women are still only paid 77 cents or less to men's dollar, even though civil rights laws banned wage discrimination over four decades ago. The Supreme Court's decision could push back much of the progress that women have been making in closing the wage gap.
That's why the Republican filibuster must end. The House passed the Fair Pay Act nearly a year ago, and we cannot let Senate Republicans sweep it under the rug.
Saturday, April 26, 2008
Wednesday, April 23, 2008
Congrats to Hillary
The National Organization for Women Political Action Committee (NOW PAC) congratulates Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton on her strong win in the Democratic primary in Pennsylvania. NOW PAC is proud to have played a part in educating voters and getting them to the polls on April 22.
When NOW PAC endorsed Senator Clinton more than a year ago, we set out to reach the widest audience possible of potential voters, using on-the-ground and online organizing. The tools of the Internet have been critical, especially given a mainstream media environment that's been far less favorable to Clinton. Politico's co-founders, two Washington Post veterans, acknowledged this unbalanced treatment, saying: "the Clintonites are fundamentally correct in their complaint that she has been flying throughout this campaign into a headwind of media favoritism for Obama," and conceding that both Obama and John McCain "have been beneficiaries of media cheerleading."
In spite of this challenge, Clinton supporters have been spreading the word about her experience, her accomplishments, her positions on the issues, and her message of equality for all.
NOW PAC launched its "Make History with Hillary" website back in March 2007, and it's been growing ever since. In the lead up to the Pennsylvania primary, NOW PAC purchased numerous web ads to invite people to our site--with great success. In just the last three weeks, our ads have been shown to millions of people, and the traffic on our NOW PAC Hillary website has tripled.
NOW PAC has coupled this online strategy with our traditional grassroots tactics, pounding the pavement and working the phones in Ohio and Pennsylvania, and now in Indiana and North Carolina. These efforts are important not just because Clinton would make the best president, but because we believe that all voters deserve a voice, particularly in such a close race. Again and again, Democratic voters have said to the media: Stop trying to close the book on this primary--it's not over until the voters say it's over!
Throughout the coming months, NOW PAC will continue our outreach, and we will continue to support Clinton, encouraging her not to buckle under to the men in power pressuring her to drop out. Being a female trailblazer has never been easy, but across the country and around the world women and men are cheering Clinton on -- not just for the sake of history, but for the future of our country.
When NOW PAC endorsed Senator Clinton more than a year ago, we set out to reach the widest audience possible of potential voters, using on-the-ground and online organizing. The tools of the Internet have been critical, especially given a mainstream media environment that's been far less favorable to Clinton. Politico's co-founders, two Washington Post veterans, acknowledged this unbalanced treatment, saying: "the Clintonites are fundamentally correct in their complaint that she has been flying throughout this campaign into a headwind of media favoritism for Obama," and conceding that both Obama and John McCain "have been beneficiaries of media cheerleading."
In spite of this challenge, Clinton supporters have been spreading the word about her experience, her accomplishments, her positions on the issues, and her message of equality for all.
NOW PAC launched its "Make History with Hillary" website back in March 2007, and it's been growing ever since. In the lead up to the Pennsylvania primary, NOW PAC purchased numerous web ads to invite people to our site--with great success. In just the last three weeks, our ads have been shown to millions of people, and the traffic on our NOW PAC Hillary website has tripled.
NOW PAC has coupled this online strategy with our traditional grassroots tactics, pounding the pavement and working the phones in Ohio and Pennsylvania, and now in Indiana and North Carolina. These efforts are important not just because Clinton would make the best president, but because we believe that all voters deserve a voice, particularly in such a close race. Again and again, Democratic voters have said to the media: Stop trying to close the book on this primary--it's not over until the voters say it's over!
Throughout the coming months, NOW PAC will continue our outreach, and we will continue to support Clinton, encouraging her not to buckle under to the men in power pressuring her to drop out. Being a female trailblazer has never been easy, but across the country and around the world women and men are cheering Clinton on -- not just for the sake of history, but for the future of our country.
Chamber issues call for permanent tax relief
Taxes: Chamber Issues Call for Permanent Tax Relief
Last Tuesday's tax deadline served as an important reminder to Congress and all Americans that unless lawmakers make the President's tax cuts permanent, massive tax hikes loom in the future. This threat to business interests is substantial and the U.S. Chamber is making every effort to provide a forum for concerned citizens to make their voice heard. Last week, the Chamber hosted America's Small Business Summit 2008. The three day event brought the collective voice of business to Washington. Over 500 community and business leaders rallied on Capitol Hill and met with their members of Congress to address their specific policy concerns.
With the presidential primary season in full swing, making the tax cuts permanent will remain a hot topic. Each candidate has their own position. Some want to repeal the present tax cuts for many American families while others want to make them permanent. Where do you stand?
Where the U.S. Chamber Stands
The U.S. Chamber of Commerce supports making the President's tax cuts permanent and here is why:
If all the President's tax cuts are allowed to expire, American taxpayers will face the largest tax increase in our nation's history.
These tax cuts have empowered small business owners to create more jobs, put more money into the hands of consumers and moved this economy from recession to recovery in the shortest time possible.
Failure to make permanent the tax cuts enacted under President Bush could result in at least a $230 billion annual tax increase -- an amount that dwarfs the $60 billion annual tax hike under President Clinton.
Among the hardest hit will be individuals and small businesses, the majority of which are taxed at the individual rate. Increases in the marginal rate alone will balloon their taxes by $120 billion annually.
Small businesses account for 75% of the net new jobs. Tax increases hit them doubly hard because they drive up the cost of doing business and cut into the money available to hire new workers. None of this is good for consumers, and it's certainly not good for Americans looking for jobs.
Make the Tax Cuts Permanent and Stop the $230 Billion Tax IncreaseSign Our Online Petition Today!
The U.S. Chamber is fighting to keep more money in the pockets of American taxpayers -- like yourself -- because we believe you know how to spend your money better than the government does.
If you agree, please add your name to our online petition in support of making the tax cuts permanent and to stop the $230 billion annual tax increase.
Add Your Name To Our Tax Cut Petition -- click here
Invite Others Who Support Tax Cuts To Add Their Name -- click here
The Latest Economic and Tax News
As a service to you, the Friends of the U.S. Chamber Web site features the latest news on the economy and taxes. To read this news, please visit www.FriendsoftheUSChamber.com and click the News Section.
Here are a few of the latest headlines:
Bush acknowledges tough time
Marine industry seeks tax breaks
Small Business Owners See Positive Impact Of Economic Stimulus Package
- More News -
Friends of the U.S. Chamber is a nationwide grassroots network dedicated to pro-growth policies that can strengthen the American economy. Add your voice to the national debate on critical issues that impact you and your community by taking our brief online survey.
Last Tuesday's tax deadline served as an important reminder to Congress and all Americans that unless lawmakers make the President's tax cuts permanent, massive tax hikes loom in the future. This threat to business interests is substantial and the U.S. Chamber is making every effort to provide a forum for concerned citizens to make their voice heard. Last week, the Chamber hosted America's Small Business Summit 2008. The three day event brought the collective voice of business to Washington. Over 500 community and business leaders rallied on Capitol Hill and met with their members of Congress to address their specific policy concerns.
With the presidential primary season in full swing, making the tax cuts permanent will remain a hot topic. Each candidate has their own position. Some want to repeal the present tax cuts for many American families while others want to make them permanent. Where do you stand?
Where the U.S. Chamber Stands
The U.S. Chamber of Commerce supports making the President's tax cuts permanent and here is why:
If all the President's tax cuts are allowed to expire, American taxpayers will face the largest tax increase in our nation's history.
These tax cuts have empowered small business owners to create more jobs, put more money into the hands of consumers and moved this economy from recession to recovery in the shortest time possible.
Failure to make permanent the tax cuts enacted under President Bush could result in at least a $230 billion annual tax increase -- an amount that dwarfs the $60 billion annual tax hike under President Clinton.
Among the hardest hit will be individuals and small businesses, the majority of which are taxed at the individual rate. Increases in the marginal rate alone will balloon their taxes by $120 billion annually.
Small businesses account for 75% of the net new jobs. Tax increases hit them doubly hard because they drive up the cost of doing business and cut into the money available to hire new workers. None of this is good for consumers, and it's certainly not good for Americans looking for jobs.
Make the Tax Cuts Permanent and Stop the $230 Billion Tax IncreaseSign Our Online Petition Today!
The U.S. Chamber is fighting to keep more money in the pockets of American taxpayers -- like yourself -- because we believe you know how to spend your money better than the government does.
If you agree, please add your name to our online petition in support of making the tax cuts permanent and to stop the $230 billion annual tax increase.
Add Your Name To Our Tax Cut Petition -- click here
Invite Others Who Support Tax Cuts To Add Their Name -- click here
The Latest Economic and Tax News
As a service to you, the Friends of the U.S. Chamber Web site features the latest news on the economy and taxes. To read this news, please visit www.FriendsoftheUSChamber.com and click the News Section.
Here are a few of the latest headlines:
Bush acknowledges tough time
Marine industry seeks tax breaks
Small Business Owners See Positive Impact Of Economic Stimulus Package
- More News -
Friends of the U.S. Chamber is a nationwide grassroots network dedicated to pro-growth policies that can strengthen the American economy. Add your voice to the national debate on critical issues that impact you and your community by taking our brief online survey.
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