Governor Scott Walker of Wisconsin overturned Equal Pay Enforcement Act, Continuing the War on Women

Scott Walker

Last Thursday, Governor Scott Walker of  Wisconsin quietly signed a bill that overturned The Equal Pay Enforcement Act of 2009, allowing for easier discrimination and continuing the War on Women.

The Equal Pay Enforcement Act was designed to discourage employers from discriminating against certain groups and give individuals, who were discriminated against in the work force, more avenues to press charges against employers who discriminate.

The bill, titled SB202, which Walker signed on Thursday without informing the public, overturns all of that.

State Sen. Dave Hansen (D-Green Bay) and Rep. Christine Sinicki (D-Milwaukee), the authors of the Equal Pay Enforcement Act, criticized Walker on Thursday for not informing the public of his actions on SB 202.

“We are finally starting to see progress here in Wisconsin, yet like their counterparts across the country, Legislative Republicans want to turn back the clock on women’s rights in the workplace,” said Hansen.

According to Wisconsin Alliance for Women’s Health, women make 75 cents for every dollar men make in Wisconsin and 77 cents nationally for every dollar men earn.

According to Huffington Post, various Wisconsin businesses lobbied and backed SB202.

Sara Finger, executive director of WAWH, said that the repeal was a "demoralizing attack on women’s rights, health, and wellbeing."

"Economic security is a women’s health issue," she said. "The salary women are paid directly affects the type and frequency of health care services they are able to access. At a time when women’s health services are becoming more expensive and harder to obtain, financial stability is essential to maintain steady access."

Walker is up for a recall election in June.

President Obama’s campaign spokeswoman, Lis Smith, called on the Republican presidential Frontrunner nominee, Mitt Romney, to take a position on Walker’s repeal of The Equal Pay Enforcement Act.

"As he campaigned across Wisconsin, Mitt Romney repeatedly praised Governor Scott Walker's leadership, calling him a 'hero' and 'a man of courage,'" she said. "But with his signing yesterday of a bill make it harder for women to enforce in court their right to equal pay, Walker showed how far Republicans are willing to go to undermine not only women's health care, but also their economic security. Does Romney think women should have ability to take their bosses to court to get the same pay as their male coworkers? Or does he stand with Governor Walker against this?"

Recently, Romney called Walker a hero, supporting him, and said he would campaign for him during the recall election.

Walker also quietly signed two other controversial bills on Thursday, which limited access to abortion services and sex education.

At the 4:14 mark, The Ed Show discusses Walker's action:

Mriana

Mriana is a humanist and the author of "A Source of Misery". She has two grown sons and raises cats. She enjoys writing, reading, science, philosophy, psychology, and other subjects. Mriana is also an animal lover, who cares for their welfare as living beings, who are part of the earth. She is a huge Star Trek fan in a little body.

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