Republicans blocked a pay equity bill Tuesday, claiming it was politically inspired and would reward trial lawyers at the expense of employers.  The motion was eight votes shy of passing, receiving only 52, all by Democrats.

The bill, introduced by Democrats, intended to close loopholes in the 1963 Equal Pay Act and require employers to prove that pay differences are the result of job performance, not gender.  A bill of this nature would have allowed women to sue for damages if they believed they were being discriminated against. 

President Obama, who has largely supported this bill, called out Republicans for putting “partisan politics ahead of American women and families.”

Read more at CNN.

 

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Reach executive producer Amanda Martinez here