SENATOR COLLINS’ STATEMENT ON PAYCHECK FAIRNESS ACT

WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Susan Collins today released the following statement after voting not to proceed to the Paycheck Fairness Act:

“I support equal pay for equal work. I voted in favor of the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act last year because I believed the Supreme Court decision in the Ledbetter v. Goodyear Tire and Rubber Company case placed an unreasonable burden on a worker’s ability to seek recourse in wage discrimination cases because it did not take into account the realities of the workplace. However, I am concerned that this particular legislation would unnecessarily impose increased costs and restrictions on small businesses in an already difficult economic climate. By eliminating caps on punitive and compensatory damages, this bill would expose the small business community to excessive litigation, force employers to devote significantly more resources toward legal protections, and could stunt job creation, ultimately hurting those its supporters say they’re trying to protect.

“In addition, this bill would require businesses to disclose previously confidential salary information to the government, and it relies upon faulty methods for identifying wage discrimination. That is why many business groups oppose this legislation, including the National Federation of Independent Businesses, our nation’s largest small business advocacy group, and the U.S. Chamber of Commerce.”

###