The topic for Something to Think About is, “Where There is a Will, There is a Way.” Last Tuesday was Equal Pay Day. Each April, activists hold demonstrations calling on Congress to pass the Paycheck Fairness Act. The bill was initially proposed in 1997, and has not been passed and has little likelihood that it will pass anytime soon.
The premise of the legislation is that women working full time earn 79% of men on average, according to federal wage data. President Obama is doing an end run around Congress, and is instead using the EEOC to give the activists what they want, the usual approach – institute additional regulations and reporting requirements for companies. Is the 79% of pay a reliable percentage? Are there other factors to consider? What are the new regulations? Should the President bypass Congress to impose new regulations?
