First Bill Obama Signed; Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act

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http://www.addictinginfo.org/2012/01/31/first-bill-obama-signed-lilly-ledbetter-fair-pay-act/

January 31, 2012
By Emine Dilek

January 29th was the third anniversary of the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act, enacted by the 111th United States Congress, and signed into law by President Barack Obama. It was the first bill Barack Obama signed into law as a brand new President.

Lilly Ledbetter was employed by Goodyear Tire and Rubber’s plant in Gadsden, Alabama, from 1979 until her retirement in 1998. She worked as an area manager, a position largely held by men in the company. Initially the company paid Ledbetter equal to other male area managers, but by retirement, she was earning $3,727 per month compared to 15 men who earned from $4,286 per month to $5,236 per month. snip

The bill was an issue in the 2008 Presidential election campaign, with Barack Obama supporting the bill and his opponent, candidate John McCain, opposing it. As promised, the President immediately signed the bill into law when it was presented to him. And in this year’s State of the Union address, he once again reaffirmed his commitment to women’s pay equality.

It is difficult for most of us to grasp that as recent as 2007, women in America could not get compensation for years of pay discrimination. So let’s thank first Mrs. Ledbetter for her courageous and unwavering determination to demand what she deserved and thank our president for his leadership and support for American women!

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