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In Ledbetter Debate, ‘Republicans have a better proposal,’ McConnell says
from the Office of Senator Mitch McConnell
Thursday, January 15, 2009
‘Last night, Republicans began to outline a proposal for addressing this question in a way that’s fair for everyone. Senator Hutchison’s bill strikes the right balance. It says the clock shouldn’t run out on someone who’s been discriminated against until he or she discovers the alleged discrimination’
WASHINGTON, D.C.- U.S. Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell made the following remarks Thursday on the Senate floor regarding the Ledbetter bill:
“Next week we’ll be turning to the Ledbetter legislation.
“Despite the gross distortions that voters heard about this legislation in the run-up to the November elections, the Ledbetter bill is neither about women nor fairness. And it’s not about whether pay discrimination should be illegal. Pay discrimination is illegal. And it has been, rightly, since 1963.
“Rather, this bill is about how long the statute of limitations on pay discrimination suits should be.
“Last night, Republicans began to outline a proposal for addressing this question in a way that’s fair for everyone. Senator Hutchison’s bill strikes the right balance. It says the clock shouldn’t run out on someone who’s been discriminated against until he or she discovers the alleged discrimination.
“This way, the focus is where it should be: on the injured party.
“The Ledbetter legislation unfairly targets business owners, who may or may not have discriminated against a man or a woman, on the basis of pay years or even decades ago. Its primary beneficiaries are lawyers, who want to squeeze a major settlement out of every company that fears the expense or the publicity of going to court.
“This bill is unfair to business owners, who in many cases will no longer have the evidence they would need to mount a convincing defense. And it is unfair to the millions of American workers who are worried about losing their jobs in the current economic downturn.
“Job creators have enough to worry about at the moment. Adding the threat of never-ending lawsuits is a new burden the federal government shouldn't even be considering right now.
“No right-thinking American would defend discrimination of any kind in the workplace or anywhere else. And it’s unfair to the public to suggest that those who oppose this bill endorse discrimination. It degrades our public discourse and it degrades the legislative process.
“Many of us oppose this bill, as written, because it will paralyze businesses and add an even greater strain on workers than those they currently face. We support a business climate that creates the conditions for success — not a climate that harasses the millions of men and women in this country who support themselves, their families, and their workers by owning and operating a small business.
“Republicans have a better proposal, and other good ideas to help American workers. I believe we need to get on the Ledbetter bill, and have an open debate about it, so the American people can hear Republican alternatives and the Senate has an opportunity to vote on more than what the Democrats have proposed.”
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