Senate splits on equal pay votes

By Jordain Carney

The Senate passed an equal-pay amendment to the Republican budget on Tuesday while voting down a similar measure.

Senators approved an amendment from Sen. Deb Fischer (R-Neb.).

Her proposal includes provisions to prevent workplace retaliation against employees who ask or talk about salaries.

Fischer, in a statement after the vote, said her amendment “provides a reasonable, fact-based approach” to ensuring equal pay between men and women for the same work.

“My amendment provides a reasonable, fact-based approach that will equip women and men alike with the knowledge and tools they need to fight gender-based wage discrimination,” the Nebraska Republican said.

Meanwhile, in a 45-54 vote, the Senate blocked an equal pay amendment from Sen. Barbara Mikulski (D-MD).

The senator said ahead of the vote that her proposal included provisions that would prohibit workplace retaliation for sharing pay information and block using “any reason” to pay women less.

“My Senate colleagues and I want to be sure that women get a raise,” she said.

“The way we want to do that is to put more money in the family checkbook by putting change in the federal law book.”

Sen. Mike Enzi (R-Wyo.), the Budget Committee chairman, urged senators to vote against Mikulski's amendment, which he called “corrosive.”