April 25, 2008
Moving Away From Fair Pay?
Sadly, though not surprisingly, Republicans filibustered the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act (HR 2831) in the U.S. Senate yesterday, effectively killing the bill, the Los Angeles Times reports. The bill would have reversed a Supreme Court ruling that gives victims of pay discrimination only a narrow window — 180 days from the date they first get paid — in which to file a complaint. The bill’s defeat means that victims who discover after that six-month time frame that their employer is shafting them have little recourse.
Of course, the reason Republicans opposed the bill, according to Sen. John McCain, who didn’t bother to turn up to cast his vote but said he would’ve voted no (incidentally, Hillary Rodham Clinton and Barack Obama both turned up to support the bill), isn’t because they’re against fair pay for American workers, but because the bill might have exposed employers to lawsuits. Hey, here’s a radical idea for employers seeking to avoid litigation: Pay people fairly, and maybe they won’t sue you.
By Gabriela Montell | Posted on Friday April 25, 2008 | PermalinkComments
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OK, got it. Now, what is the official Chronicle position on the “Anti-Media Twist-the-Knife Act of 2008,” which removes time limits on suits against journalists who have criticized a public figure for no discernible reason other than personal enmity? Unlike today’s hostile, pro-journalist court environment, any reasonable evidence suffices under AMTTKA, and plaintiff (including plaintiff’s estate) can bring charges at any time after the offense, even after the death of the defendant and all of her immediate heirs. Against the weak claim that reporters shouldn’t have to retain a stable of lawyers to worry about stories from possibly decades before, AMTKKA supporters argue that justice is worth any price, any burden, any financial hardship. Where does the Chronicle come down on this legislation?
— S. Britchky Apr 25, 05:12 AM #
The bill’s title indicates hinkyness: in the mouth of a politician, “fair” is a one-word oxymoron.
— PersonFromPorlock Apr 26, 09:23 PM #