Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act - SIGNED!
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Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act - SIGNED!
| Thu, 01-29-2009 - 10:46am |
President Obama just signed the bill that protects everyone from pay discrimination. A BIG step for WOMEN and minorities! History has been made today.

http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5isOFwdbq0tsqatW6vJpkDRTI1gMgD960SRKO0
WASHINGTON (AP) — President Barack Obama signed an equal pay bill into law Thursday, declaring that it's a family issue, not just a women's issue.
The president picked the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act for the first piece of legislation to sign as president.
He appeared before a packed East Room audience for a ceremony, and Ledbetter stood at his side.
His entrance in the room was met with hearty cheers from the many labor and women's groups represented there. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, the first woman speaker in the history of Congress, and Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, were present. Clinton went further than any woman previously in her campaign for the presidency, although she ultimately lost the Democratic Party competition to Obama.
The measure is designed to make it easier for workers to sue for decades-old discrimination. He said "this is a wonderful day."
The law effectively nullifies a 2007 Supreme Court decision that said workers had only 180 days to file a pay-discrimination lawsuit.
Ledbetter said she didn't become aware of a pay discrepancy until she neared the end of her 19-year career at a Goodyear Tire & Rubber Co. plant in Gadsden, Ala. She sued, but the Supreme Court in 2007 said she missed her chance.
The court said in its 5-4 ruling that a person must file a claim of discrimination within 180 days of a company's initial decision to pay a worker less than it pays another worker doing the same job. Under the new bill, given final passage in Congress this week, every new discriminatory paycheck would extend the statute of limitations for another 180 days.
Congress attempted to update the law to extend the time, but the Bush White House and Senate Republicans blocked the legislation in the last session of Congress
Opponents contended the legislation would gut the statute of limitations, encourage lawsuits and be a boon to trial lawyers. They also argued that employees could wait to file claims in hopes of reaping larger damage awards. The bill does not change current law limiting back pay for claimants to two years.
Obama, who took office on Jan. 20, spoke strongly in support of it during his campaign and the Democratic-controlled Congress moved it to the top of the agenda for the new session that opened this month.
Seems like he is trying not to waste time and has jumped on several issues that can be fixed right away! He is doing a great job so far... I just hope he doesn't get stressed out and have a nervous breakdown!
The court said in its 5-4 ruling that a person must file a claim of discrimination within 180 days of a company's initial decision to pay a worker less than it pays another worker doing the same job.
And the company is going to tell that employee that they are paying them less?
"He is doing a great job so far... I just hope he doesn't get stressed out and have a nervous breakdown!"
He was cool & calm campaigning for all those months. He has a lovely family which I'm sure helps to keep him sane.
"....this is something that really can't be applied under that unless it can be documented that the employee had proof that they were being paid less.
The new First Lady made her White House speaking debut Thursday for a cause and celebration close to her heart.
Michelle Obama warmly welcomed an overjoyed crowd invited to the White House for her husband's first bill-signing - a law designed to assure equal pay for women.
"As I told guests, feel free, walk around, touch some stuff," an inviting Obama said to laughter as she welcomed the 150 or so guests, including Secretary of State Clinton, in the White House's State Dining Room. "Just don't break anything. It's what I try to tell my kids."
The "don't break anything" line was a reprise of President Obama's gentle reminder last week to a visiting group.
Thursday's gathering came hours after the President signed the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act, named after the Alabama granny who took her pay dispute against the Goodyear Tire Co. all the way to the Supreme Court.
Snip
Displaying her own lawyerly credentials, Michelle Obama added, "This legislation is an important step forward, particularly at a time when so many families are facing economic insecurity and instability."
President Obama worked the crowd, too, but had to skip out before his wife - stylishly dressed in a businesslike purple suit, white pearls and matching purple pumps - took to the lectern. Earlier, he offered his own praise for Ledbetter, who spent 19 years working for Goodyear.
More at link..........
Michelle Obama makes speaking debut as First Lady
http://www.nydailynews.com/news/politics/2009/01/29/2009-01-29_michelle_obama_makes_speaking_debut_as_f.html