“Governor Romney only says that he wouldn’t change existing law, raising questions about why he feels the need to parse his words on issues that are so significant to the security of women and families,” said Ben LaBolt, President Obama’s campaign spokesman. “Would he sign a veto of Lilly Ledbetter? Why won’t he express support for the Paycheck Fairness Act?”

The Paycheck Fairness Act would close loopholes in existing pay equity law and give additional funding toward programs that help women close the gender pay gap. President Obama has come out strongly in favor of the legislation, as have several prominent Democrats, but many Republicans claim that it would be a hindrance to businesses.

http://tpmdc.talkingpointsmemo.com/2012/05/dems-escalate-battle-for-women-voters-with-equal-pay-bill.php

http://dailycaller.com/2010/11/13/business-community-opposes-paycheck-fairness-act/

Vote next week spotlights issue

Mitt Romney survived an April skirmish over women’s pay, but he and fellow Republicans are about to face a tougher test as the Senate takes up the Paycheck Fairness Act — the next big fight in pay equality between the sexes.

Democrats call the legislation the logical follow-up to 2009’s Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act, which granted women more time to file discrimination lawsuits. Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid has scheduled a vote on the new bill next week, when the upper chamber returns from its Memorial Day holiday.

Business groups are opposed to the new legislation, saying it would create a legal morass — but Mr. Romney, the GOP’s presumptive presidential nominee, has been silent.

http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2012/may/29/equal-pay-bill-puts-romney-on-the-line-on-women/?page=all#pagebreak

5. Mitt Romney has not taken a position on the bill: After a very awkward moment over the Lilly Ledbetter Act, a spokesperson for his campaign said that Romney “supports pay equity and is not looking to change current law.” But it’s unclear whether this means Romney would support a new piece of legislation that protects women who don’t have full pay equity.

http://thinkprogress.org/economy/2012/05/24/489656/5-things-paycheck-fairness-act/

WE’RE STILL WAITING, MITT.

The gubernatorial recall election in Wisconsin is now less than a week away, and polls show a tight race between Gov. Scott Walker (R) and Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett (D). With this in mind, the Wisconsin chapter of the Koch-financed Americans for Prosperity is launching a 10-city bus tour this week, which will feature AFP national president Tim Phillips rallying conservatives in the state.

That’s not exactly a surprise — the Koch brothers, like so many far-right figures, consider Walker’s race critically important — but the amusing part is Americans for Prosperity’s explanation for this week’s bus tour.

Given the tour’s timing and billing, any reasonable person would view it as a statewide drive to get out the vote for Walker and his GOP allies in the June 5 election. Not AFP.

AFP’s Wisconsin director, Luke Hilgemann, says the bus tour has nothing to do the recall elections. “We’re not dealing with any candidates, political parties, or ongoing races,” Hilgemann told the Hudson, Wisconsin, Patch news site.

Got that? Just days before a closely-watched statewide election in which Scott Walker’s job is on the line, an allied group is launching a 10-city bus tour — and the group wants you to believe this has nothing to do with Walker’s recall race. Seriously.

It’s simply a remarkable coincidence. AFP’s leaders just happened to have some free time on their hands, stumbled upon an available bus, and thought they’d make 10 carefully-selected campaign stops visits around Wisconsin. And wouldn’t you know it, the Illinois chapter of Americans for Prosperity also happens to be busing in conservative activists to Wisconsin this week for pre-election canvassing, but we’re supposed to believe that’s unrelated to the recall election, too.

——————————————————————————–

As Andy Kroll explained, AFP doesn’t have much of a choice — the far-right interest group, which launched a “Stand With Walker” campaign last year, is technically a nonprofit organization, and has to be very careful about intervening on Walker’s behalf.

But if there’s anyone, anywhere, who seriously believes the group’s pre-election bus tour this week is unrelated to any “ongoing races,” I’d like to meet him or her. I can offer them a great deal on a lovely bridge.
.

http://maddowblog.msnbc.msn.com/_news/2012/05/30/11956475-afp-fails-the-straight-face-test?lite

Despite repeated media inquiries from a conservative-leaning newspaper, Mitt Romney remains stubbornly silent on the Paycheck Fairness Act, a bill that would bring up to date the 70s-era Fair Pay Law.

Congressional Democrats are gearing up for another legislative effort to ensure that women and men receive equal pay for equal work and are renewing their push for the Paycheck Fairness Act. But as with many ongoing political fights, Romney is not taking a decisive position.

Romney was originally unclear about his position on another fair pay bill, the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act and he has not spoken about this specific legislation — despite repeated requests for comment from the Washington Times:

His campaign didn’t respond to five messages left over the past week seeking his stance on the Paycheck Fairness Act. In April, when he was fending off questions about his stance on women’s compensation, his campaign would only say he “supports pay equity” but would not say any more about the new legislation.

“Governor Romney only says that he wouldn’t change existing law, raising questions about why he feels the need to parse his words on issues that are so significant to the security of women and families,” said Ben LaBolt, President Obama’s campaign spokesman. “Would he sign a veto of Lilly Ledbetter? Why won’t he express support for the Paycheck Fairness Act?”

The Paycheck Fairness Act would close loopholes in existing pay equity law and give additional funding toward programs that help women close the gender pay gap. President Obama has come out strongly in favor of the legislation, as have several prominent Democrats, but many Republicans claim that it would be a hindrance to businesses.

http://thinkprogress.org/economy/2012/05/30/492009/romney-refuses-to-say-if-he-supports-paycheck-fairness/

THE END!